How to add liquidity on Uniswap

To make your ERC-20 token tradable, you create a liquidity pool on Uniswap by pairing it with ETH (or USDC). Uniswap runs on Ethereum, Base and Arbitrum, so the same steps work across all three.

Why your token needs liquidity

A new ERC-20 token has no market until you add liquidity. A Uniswap pool holds your token plus ETH so people can trade — see DEX vs CEX.

Step-by-step on Uniswap

1. Open Uniswap and connect your wallet on the right network.
2. Go to Pool → New position.
3. Select ETH and paste your token address.
4. Set the amounts (this sets the price) and a fee tier.
5. Confirm and approve in your wallet.

Setting the price

Price = ETH in pool ÷ tokens in pool. Plan it alongside your tokenomics and supply.

Lock liquidity & build trust

Lock your LP and renounce ownership so buyers know you cannot pull the rug. Unlocked liquidity is a classic scam signal.

Cheaper on layer-2

Adding liquidity on Ethereum mainnet costs more gas. Doing it on Base or Arbitrum — where Uniswap also runs — is far cheaper.

Why add liquidity on Uniswap?

Adding liquidity on Uniswap is what makes a token tradable: you deposit a pair of tokens into a pool, and traders swap against it, with the price set automatically. Liquidity providers earn a share of the trading fees in return. Without liquidity, a token simply cannot be bought or sold on Uniswap. To understand the mechanics of pools and pricing, see how decentralised exchanges work.

Adding liquidity for your own token on Uniswap

If you have created a token, adding liquidity on Uniswap is the moment it comes to life — you pair it with the chain’s base asset so people can trade it, and the amount you add sets the opening price and depth. Locking that liquidity is the single biggest trust signal you can give buyers, proving you cannot pull the rug. First, though, you need the token itself: you can create one with no code and keep full ownership, then add and lock its liquidity on Uniswap.

Frequently asked questions