learn · What is a honeypot token?
Honeypot: when you can buy but never sell
A honeypot is a contract that lets you buy but blocks or taxes your sell into nothing. On BNB Chain, Ethereum and Base, ApeCheck simulates a sell to detect it.
What it is
EVM tokens are programmable contracts. A honeypot adds conditions to the transfer function so that sells fail, only the owner can sell, or the sell tax is 99%.
How it's detected
GoPlus and honeypot.is simulate a buy and a sell against the live contract. If the sell reverts or the effective tax is extreme, the token is flagged.
Related owner powers
Pausable trading, blacklists, modifiable taxes and hidden owners are the softer versions: not a honeypot yet, but the owner can turn it into one at any time.
Caveats
A simulation is a snapshot. A contract can be changed later (proxies) or switch behaviour after a set time. Unverified source code means nothing can be audited at all.
where to find it on a report
Security checks → Honeypot, Buy / sell tax, Blacklist, Contract verified (EVM reports)