It takes several steps of research before trusting a new altcoin. First I consider if its relevant to create a new coin and what they can bring to the market. Then I search up the CEO and developers of the project to see if they have experience to support their plans. And then I read carefully the whitepaper to set a potential gauge for the coin. If there is an ICO, the results are a good indicator of the future success of the company. I also assess if the route map is realistic. I graduate my investment according to the results of the first stages of the project.