Start with the fee mechanism

Pool fees, token transfer taxes, and creator allocations can follow different rules. Identify the protocol and deployed contract before applying a percentage. Uniswap, for example, documents liquidity provider fees separately from protocol fees.

A launchpad's advertised allocation describes its policy. Confirm the configured recipients and inspect transfers before treating that allocation as money already distributed.

Keep four amounts separate

Record fees accrued, fees collected, funds still claimable, and funds already spent. A wallet balance alone cannot explain these amounts: it may contain deposits unrelated to fees or exclude funds held in another contract.

For each movement, keep the asset, amount, sender, recipient, and transaction link. Compare records over the same period and preserve any unexplained difference.

Check who controls the next step

Look for the account that collects fees and any authority to change recipients. A published schedule is a plan; confirmed transactions show execution. Label an unknown treasury relationship as unknown until evidence connects the address to the project.