# How to use the CAPED framework for surface DYOR

![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/pvg9NCM_0xJv7Sph3a4qZWU0_USo6qLUCCUgLQJPyrPr4uQoqCBxRVlx4lxs6gUdy8ixGWzmPY65MxY7IU8L_xgpB_vj526qVJL6dgp4lRxesqZMzmRMPhUPPrE8zK3KGUFL-edmq0bGhAyfgmSZGps)

To sort the researched projects by their potential for being alpha, use the CAPED approach. Analyze and score 4 factors:

1\. Capitalization of a project:

* 0 points: Under $1M
* 1 point: $1M - $10M
* 3 points: $10M - $100M
* 2 points: $100M - $1B
* 1 point: Over $1B

Small market cap projects have higher potential returns but also higher risk, hence the U-shaped scoring.

2\. Activity of traders:

* 0 points: Under $10K
* 1 point: $10K - $100K
* 3 points: $100K - $1M
* 2 points: $1M - $10M
* 1 point: Over $10M

Again, trading volume is U-shaped since both low and high volumes can be a sign of risk - low volume means potential illiquidity, while high volume could indicate pump-and-dump schemes.

3\. Price Performance:

* 0 points: Negative performance
* 2 points: 0% - 25%
* 3 points: 25% - 50%
* 4 points: 50% - 100%
* 1 point: Over 100% gain

A recent excessive price gain might indicate a recent pump, hence a lower score.

4\. Engagement inside the community (Twitter/Discord/Telegram users):

* 0 points: Under 1,000 users
* 2 points: 1,000 - 5,000 users
* 4 points: 5,000 - 10,000 users
* 3 points: 10,000 - 50,000 users
* 1 point: Over 50,000 users

A larger community might indicate a hype-driven project, hence the inverted U-shaped scoring.

5\. **Development** (Github commits in the last 30 days):

* 0 points: 0 commits
* 3 points: 1-10 commits
* 4 points: 11-50 commits
* 2 points: 51-100 commits
* 1 point: Over 100 commits

Continue your DYOR path in the next article: How to evaluate crypto projects.

<br>


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://dyor.hacken.ai/do-your-own-research-101-crypto-course/how-to-identify-worthy-crypto-projects/how-to-use-the-caped-framework-for-surface-dyor.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
