Choose a launchpad by the quality of its participants and the terms you sign: check who actually buys on the platform (and how they behave after listing), the total fees in cash and tokens, allocation and anti-bot rules, KYC and jurisdiction restrictions, the vesting it requires for sale tokens, and what liquidity is in place when trading opens. A sale with fast-flipping buyers and no market maker often means a sharp drop at listing. Plan liquidity and market making alongside the sale.
Key takeaways
- Look at post-listing performance of the platform’s recent sales, not only raises.
- Add up all fees: cash, token allocations, and required marketing spend.
- Check KYC, geography restrictions, and anti-bot rules.
- Align sale vesting with your unlock schedule and liquidity plan.
- Have a market maker ready before tokens are claimable.
12 checks before you sign
| # | Check | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Participant quality | How did the last ten sales trade 30 days after listing? |
| 2 | Real reach | Active, verified users, not follower counts |
| 3 | Total fees | Cash fee, token allocation, required marketing spend |
| 4 | Allocation rules | Tiers, staking requirements, lotteries, caps per wallet |
| 5 | Anti-bot and sybil controls | How multi-wallet buyers are filtered |
| 6 | KYC and geography | Which jurisdictions are excluded |
| 7 | Vesting for sale tokens | TGE unlock and schedule, enforced on-chain? |
| 8 | Refund policy | What happens if the token trades below the sale price |
| 9 | Listing claims | Any “guaranteed listing” language is a red flag |
| 10 | Liquidity at claim | Where will the token trade, and who quotes it? |
| 11 | Contract and audit | Is the sale contract audited? |
| 12 | Reporting | Will you get the buyer list and distribution data? |
Fit with your listing plan
Your sale terms affect how the token trades. Align the sale’s unlock with your token unlock plan, size inventory for the first venues, and sign a market maker before claims open. If you want introductions to launchpad or market-making partners, tell us what you need.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a launchpad and an exchange listing?
A launchpad sells tokens to its users before or at launch; an exchange listing opens a trading pair. Some exchanges run their own launch programs, such as Binance’s Launchpool, Megadrop, and HODLer Airdrops, which sit alongside its listing process.
Do launchpads guarantee a CEX listing?
No legitimate launchpad can guarantee a listing on an independent exchange; exchanges make their own decisions. Treat any guarantee as a red flag. See listing agencies.
How do we prepare liquidity for after the sale?
Decide where the token will trade at claim time, size the inventory with the liquidity calculator, and have a market maker quoting before claims open. See the launch day playbook.
Planning a public sale?
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