Snek has emerged as a groundbreaking force within the Cardano ecosystem, recently achieving a major milestone by being added to Kraken’s official roadmap for potential listing. This development marks the first time a Cardano Native Token (CNT) has advanced this far with a Tier 1 centralized exchange (CEX), signaling a pivotal moment not just for $SNEK, but for the entire Cardano network. Backed by relentless community advocacy, strong on-chain activity, and organic growth, Snek’s journey reflects a new era of merit-based recognition in the crypto space.
This article explores the significance of Snek’s inclusion on Kraken’s roadmap, the rigorous evaluation process it underwent, and how this achievement could catalyze broader adoption of Cardano-based projects across top-tier exchanges.
Kraken Roadmap Announcement: A Community-Driven Milestone
On January 23, 2025, Peter Dimitrakos, Kraken’s Principal of Business Development and Asset Listings, publicly welcomed Snek, a Cardano-based memecoin, to the exchange’s official token roadmap. This announcement confirmed that $SNEK is under active consideration for full listing following a successful initial review. Unlike many tokens that rely on paid listings or private deals, Snek earned its place through organic trading volume, robust community engagement, and technical soundness—key pillars of Kraken’s merit-based listing framework.
The roadmap includes only projects from blockchains already integrated with Kraken, ensuring compatibility and reducing technical barriers. For Snek, this represents a major validation of its ecosystem strength. The momentum was fueled by a sustained campaign on X (formerly Twitter), where thousands of supporters amplified calls for Snek’s inclusion. Their coordinated efforts demonstrated not just enthusiasm, but a highly organized and active community—a critical factor in today’s competitive crypto landscape.
With over 1.71 billion ADA traded on decentralized exchanges (DEXs), Snek has proven its market viability without relying on centralized liquidity. This level of organic demand made it impossible for Kraken to ignore, especially as the token continues to dominate Cardano DeFi metrics.
👉 Discover how decentralized communities are reshaping exchange listings in 2025.
The Road to Kraken: Rigorous Evaluation and Compliance
Gaining entry to Kraken’s roadmap is no small feat. Every project must pass through multiple stages of scrutiny conducted by the Kraken Listing Committee (KLC)—a panel of seasoned professionals in blockchain, finance, and compliance. The committee evaluates each token based on:
- Trading volume and market stability
- Security audits and smart contract integrity
- Community size, engagement, and decentralization
- Regulatory compliance and legal standing
Snek successfully cleared the KLC review, earning approval based on its transparent development, strong fundamentals, and growing ecosystem. Following this, the token moved into Kraken’s compliance and engineering phases. Here, legal teams conduct due diligence to ensure alignment with global regulatory standards, while engineers integrate Snek’s on-chain infrastructure—enabling wallet support, deposit/withdrawal functionality, and seamless trading experiences.
This multi-phase process underscores Kraken’s commitment to security and user trust. For Cardano projects, which have historically faced challenges in gaining CEX visibility, Snek’s progress sets a powerful precedent: strong fundamentals and community support can open doors previously thought inaccessible.
Why This Matters for the Cardano Ecosystem
The potential listing of $SNEK on Kraken could act as a catalyst for broader recognition of Cardano Native Tokens (CNTs) across Tier 1 and Tier 2 exchanges. With Kraken serving over 10 million active users, the exposure could introduce millions of traders to Cardano’s unique value proposition: energy efficiency, scalability, and a growing ecosystem of dApps and DeFi protocols.
More importantly, the interest doesn’t stop at Snek. Peter Dimitrakos has hinted on X that Kraken is actively exploring additional Cardano-based tokens for future listings. This signals a shift in perception—Cardano is no longer seen merely as a smart contract platform in development, but as a live ecosystem producing high-performing, community-backed assets.
Currently, most CNTs remain absent from major centralized platforms. Snek’s breakthrough could trigger a domino effect during the ongoing bull run and altcoin season, prompting other exchanges to accelerate their evaluations of promising Cardano projects. As competition intensifies among CEXs to onboard the next breakout asset, early movers like Kraken gain strategic advantage—and so do the ecosystems they choose to support.
👉 See how emerging blockchains are breaking into top exchanges in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does being on Kraken’s roadmap mean?
A: It means $SNEK has passed initial evaluation and is in active development for potential listing. It is not yet available for trading on Kraken, but integration is underway.
Q: Is Snek paying for its listing on Kraken?
A: No. Kraken operates a merit-based listing model. Snek earned its position through organic trading volume, community strength, and technical compliance—not paid promotions.
Q: Why is this listing important for Cardano?
A: It would mark the first time a Cardano Native Token reaches a Tier 1 exchange, increasing visibility, liquidity, and credibility for the entire ecosystem.
Q: How can I buy $SNEK if it’s not on Kraken yet?
A: $SNEK is currently tradable on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) within the Cardano ecosystem, such as Minswap and WingRiders.
Q: Will other Cardano tokens get listed after Snek?
A: There are strong indications that Kraken is evaluating additional CNTs. Snek’s success may pave the way for others.
Q: What is Snek.fun?
A: Snek.fun is the leading launchpad on Cardano, enabling new projects to raise funds and distribute tokens securely—further expanding Snek’s ecosystem influence.
A New Chapter for Cardano-Based Projects
Snek’s advancement toward a Tier 1 exchange listing is more than a win for one token—it’s a milestone for decentralization itself. By proving that community-driven growth and organic traction can overcome traditional gatekeeping in crypto finance, Snek exemplifies the power of grassroots movements in Web3.
Its ecosystem extends beyond the token, with Snek.fun serving as a vital hub for innovation on Cardano. As decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and real-world applications continue to grow on the network, having a flagship asset like $SNEK gain mainstream exposure could accelerate adoption across all sectors.
For investors and developers alike, this moment underscores a key trend: exchanges are increasingly prioritizing real usage over marketing budgets. Tokens with active communities, transparent teams, and sustainable ecosystems are now leading the next wave of listings.
👉 Explore how community-powered tokens are redefining market success in 2025.
Final Thoughts
As the crypto world watches closely for the official listing date, one thing is clear: Snek has broken the ceiling for Cardano Native Tokens. Its journey from memecoin to potential Tier 1 asset highlights the evolving dynamics of value creation in blockchain ecosystems.
The implications stretch far beyond price movements. This achievement validates years of development within the Cardano community and opens doors for countless other projects waiting in the wings. If $SNEK becomes the first CNT listed on Kraken, it won’t just be a personal victory—it will be a landmark moment for decentralization, meritocracy, and the future of blockchain innovation.
Core Keywords: Cardano memecoin, Snek listing, Kraken roadmap, Cardano Native Token (CNT), Tier 1 CEX, decentralized exchange (DEX), crypto community growth