Five categories, one score
Every rated project gets a score from 0 to 100, built from five weighted categories: legal and entity standing at 25, security and audit posture at 25, operational track record at 20, financial transparency at 15, and user outcomes at 15. The weights are public, so you can see why a score is what it is rather than taking it on faith.
Tiers and reviews
Scores map to four tiers, from Provisional up to Certified. A score is a snapshot, not a permanent verdict, so every rated project carries a scheduled next review, and certain events, an exploit, a change of control, a governance action, pull that review forward.
What money cannot buy
A project can pay for visibility, a featured slot clearly labeled as paid. It can never pay for a higher score or a better rank. That line is the entire point. When a rating changes, the reasoning is published, including downgrades and removals. You can read the full method and contest a rating through the appeals process.