Uniswap hooks for traders: what to check before you buy

7 November 2026

More and more new tokens trade in pools with hooks. A hook can protect you, for example with a liquidity lock, or hurt you, for example with a hidden tax. Here is a quick check before you buy.

1. Find the hook

Paste the hook's address into the search on UniHooks (you'll find it on the pool's page on Uniswap or a block explorer). Every hook with a pool on the chains we cover is listed.

2. Read what it can do

The hook page lists its powers in plain English, such as "Runs code on every swap" or "Can take tokens from swaps". Taking tokens is normal for tax and fee hooks, so check the numbers make sense.

3. Check who controls it

• Admin: can someone change its settings after you buy?
• Upgradeable: can the code be replaced?
• Published code: can anyone read what it does?

4. Look at the grade

Every hook gets an A to D grade from these checks. A means registered, published, fixed and no admin. D means a combination like unreadable code plus an admin plus the power to take tokens. More in how to read a hook's grade.

5. Check the liquidity

Is there real liquidity, and is it locked? A hook with a liquidity lock shows it in its rules.

None of this tells you whether a token will go up. It tells you whether the pool is playing fair. Always do your own research.