?>

Fair Launch vs. Pre-Sale – What Is the Difference?

17 k views
Fair Launch vs. Pre-Sale - What Is the Difference

Every time we see a new crypto project entering the market, we notice different ways to launch a token. One of the teams’ most common choices is leaving (or not) access to the token to early investors.

In this context, we have all heard about pre-sales and fair launches. These two strategies represent different approaches to the crypto market. Our guide will clarify the main features of the two funding rounds for our readers.

Launching a Crypto Project – Preliminary Steps

Before understanding the difference between pre-sales and fair launches, we must take a step back. The preference for one strategy over the other may depend on how a team conceived a new project. 

In this sense, we must understand the preliminary steps in creating a new cryptocurrency. In simple terms, a team will need to complete the following milestones:

  • Concept design: Each crypto project should have a good design. In this phase, talented teams must state their vision and mission for the project.
  • Ecosystem design: A new promising cryptocurrency will need a comprehensive ecosystem to survive. In other words, investors expect projects to have several related products that enhance the user experience. For example, a new DEX may integrate a launchpad and an NFT marketplace into its ecosystem.
  • Selecting a blockchain: Each token runs on a blockchain, and the team must dedicate enough time to choose the targeted system. Developers may work on realizing a proprietary blockchain or edit the code of an open-source chain. However, the most popular choice is launching a token on an existing blockchain, an option that reduces the project’s complexity.
  • Allocate tokens: All teams need to define the supply and allocation of their token. At this point, teams generally require the help of external advisors to find the optimal token allocation. A good token allocation needs balance, where the interests of the investors, team, and users do not collide.
  • Define token utility: This step is fundamental to creating value on the market. Investors and users expect the new token to have a purpose in the project’s ecosystem. A token that limits itself to bear market value and gives internal governance represents a concept of the past. The market is moving toward a multi-utility framework, with tokens granting the possibility to earn passive income, trade NFTs, etc.

After defining the details above, a team should choose how to launch its token on the market. At this point, we need to understand the differences between a pre-sale round and a fair launch.

Pre-Sale Main Features

While some crypto projects are still in the early stages of development, they provide tokens to prospective investors. Because it occurs before the ICO, traders call this operation “pre-sale.”  

Pre-sales of cryptocurrency operate as vehicles for crowdfunding. These operations supply creators with the capital they require to take a project through to completion. As a result, investors and developers benefit from pre-sales, especially if the coin performs well and quickly gains traction. 

Investing in a cryptocurrency before it enters the market and appreciates is an opportunity for investors. In addition, developers benefit from pre-sales by getting the word out about their projects and increasing their visibility. 

Typically, teams put a limited amount of tokens up for pre-sale. Furthermore, we usually find limits to the number of tokens a wallet can own.

The pre-sale purpose is clear: introducing an idea of token scarcity at a low market price. In addition, this framework makes the whole event exclusive, helping the team create hype on a new project.

How Does a Fair Launch Work?

Fair launches are another crowdfunding in the crypto world. In this system, the project sells tokens to all participants equally. Tokens follow a fair and balanced distribution in a proper fair launch.

Fair launches are determined to eliminate team incentives as defining characteristics. In addition, a fair launch aims to prevent projects from distributing tokens before the general public can access the platform.

Most DeFi initiatives will compensate developers and teams with tokens for their contribution to the project in most instances. 

As already mentioned, small tokens may be available for pre-launch launch pads. But in the case of fair launches, launchpads cannot collect a portion of the tokens. 

If launchpad “fees” are out of the game, projects may be able to save funds for research and development. For the most part, pre-sale platforms provide many funding options. White-listed investors frequently receive tokens in the initial round at a discount. 

The public may access the market separately at a higher price. Someone may argue that pre-sales are unfair to the average trader. 

Tokens are available to anyone at the same price in a fair launch. As a result, all investors have equal access to the market.

Choosing the Best Option

At this point, you may wonder what the best choice for a team creating a cryptocurrency is. Of course, fair launches are always the best option for your wallet if you are a small trader. First, however, things may take work.

Consider the case of a project creating a complex ecosystem and developing a proprietary blockchain. In this scenario, introducing the idea of market scarcity with an exclusive pre-sale round can be a good choice.

A highly decentralized crypto project typically does not provide high benefits to its developers. As a trader, you may like the idea of a fair launch. However, a developer spending months designing smart contracts may not share your enthusiasm.

A project where developers need a particular incentive to build a successful initiative can be problematic. But, at the same time, the success of a crypto project largely relies on its community.

The bottom line is that there are great reasons to support pre-sale rounds and fair launches. However, as we clarified above, the choice mainly depends on how a team designed the project.

Ideally, the team should make investors, users, and developers happy. If the project ignores any of these stakeholder groups, the crypto initiative may stay intact.

Bottom Line

Our guide clarified the main differences between fair launches and pre-sale rounds. While you may consider this choice straightforward, all teams must consider many variables.

Bitcoin coin symbol
Btc
Bitcoin
$62.547
price
red chart
decrease symbol0.84959%
price change
TRADE NOW

The best choice mainly depends on the equilibrium among users, investors, and developers’ interests. 

Previous

SEC Launches Probe Into Binance and Binance Coin (BNB)

Next

NFT Minting – What Do We Know about Its Environmental Costs?

Written by

257 posts

Born in Italy, Gianluca is a finance and data specialist, coming from an academic education at Sorbonne University in Paris and a career as Senior Advisor at Ernst & Young in the Banking and Blockchain sector.

VIEW AUTHOR

More author posts

Banana NFT Goes Live on Telegram After Steam Success

Following the concept's success on Steam, a team of developers has brought the popular Banana Game to Telegram. The "Banana NFT" project introduces a new meta for gamers to earn rewards while playing.  This team has also implemented a unique feature. Specifically, users can mine and collect NFTs, with special bonuses for discovering rare bananas. The upcoming giveaway event will attract attention and spread the word about this new game.  From Steam to Telegram The Banana NFT team took full…

AeoN-X – A Hybrid Exchange with Proprietary Chain & Earn System Launching Soon

The centralized vs decentralized exchange debate has been ongoing, but what if you could have both on one platform? AeoN-X is introducing a hybrid exchange with a proprietary blockchain and a crypto-earning system.  With an experienced team and a complete listing strategy, many Web3 fans are more and more curious about AeoN-X. Let's examine what this AI-based platform offers and how it's rethinking the exchange model. Keep in mind that this project is set to go live through a presale…

Simplified Crypto Trading for Everyone: BYDFi’s Beginner-Friendly Platform

Over recent years, there has been a growing interest in cryptocurrency trading among a wide audience. However, the complexity of the crypto market often deters potential traders, especially beginners. Platforms like BYDFi are dedicated to making crypto trading more accessible and user-friendly for everyone. In this article, we'll explore how BYDFi simplifies crypto trading, making it easier for beginners to navigate the world of Web3. What Is BYDFi? Originally known as BitYard, BYDFi is a leading centralized exchange in the…

Driving the Beat: How Sonorus’ TrendFi Plans to Democratize the Music Industry

Sonorus is working to revolutionize the music industry by bringing fans and artists together. With their innovative TrendFi system, they are creating a space where community engagement drives music trends. Moreover, the project’s ecosystem rewards both fans and artists. Sonorus is more than just a platform. This is a movement set to reshape the way we value and experience music in the digital age. So, how exactly does TrendFi work? Let's dive in and find out. What Is Sonorus? Sonorus…

Spot On Chain – Harnessing AI and On-Chain Analytics for Smarter Crypto Investments

The world of cryptocurrency is an enigmatic labyrinth, full of potential yet rife with complexities. How can one traverse this digital terrain with confidence? A recent project, Spot On Chain (SOC), harnesses AI and on-chain analytics to provide a smarter solution to crypto investments. Today, we'll make sure to look into all the features brought together by this team. From Onchain Signals Newsfeed to Blockchain Personal AI Analyst, the project has a wide offer for the everyday crypto user. What…

The Problems Killing Web3 Projects – How Enflux’s 2-Week Free Solution Can Help

In the rapidly growing burgeoning realm of Web3, projects face unexpected hurdles that threaten their success. One of the primary challenges lies with the market makers: their lack of transparency and collaboration. This article delves into these pressing issues, exploring their implications and unveiling how they stalled growth for numerous projects. We're also shedding light on solutions that could help projects navigate through these murky waters. The Lack of Transparency Among Market Makers The cryptocurrency market, known for its pillars…

Publish your own article

Guest post article. Guaranteed publishing with just a few clicks

START PUBLISHING ADVERTISE WITH US

Browse categories

Explore trending topics in the crypto community right now.

Bitcoin

SEC Greenlights Multiple Bitcoin ETFs, Signaling Major Leap for Cryptocurrency Markets

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has made a landmark decision by approving 11 spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This move represents a significant moment in the cryptocurrency industry, marking a shift towards greater institutional adoption and accessibility for investors. The approved ETFs include products from major firms such as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF, Bitwise Bitcoin ETP Trust, WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund, Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust, VanEck Bitcoin Trust, Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin…

Bitcoin Should be Banned in the United States: Charlie Munger

Berkshire Hathaway’s vice chairman, Charlie Munger, called for a ban on cryptocurrency in the United States on Monday, similar to the one in China.  In an op-ed published with the Wall Street Journal, Munger argued that Bitcoin isn’t a currency, commodity, or security, but simply a form of gambling “ with a nearly 100% edge for the house. As such, the enactment of a federal law should ban such things from happening. Munger cited the Chinese communist party’s ban on…

Tesla’s BTC Positions Remained Unchanged in Q4 of 2022

According to a new earning report from automotive manufacturer Tesla, the company did not sell any of its BTC holdings in the fourth quarter of 2022. Amid speculations that the company had traded BTC during the testing bears, CEO Elon Musk revealed it was yet holding on to its BTC stash. Tesla Maintains Holdings After Initial Sell-Off In Q2 of 2022, Tesla opted to sell 75% of all its BTC. The car manufacturer received close to $950M in exchange. Notably,…

Here’s When Grayscale Debates the SEC in Court on its Bitcoin Spot ETF

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has marked a date for when Grayscale and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may present oral arguments regarding the approval of a Bitcoin spot ETF.  Each side will present its case at 9:30 am ET on March 7, with the SEC arguing against the product, and Grayscale arguing in favor.  Grayscale VS SEC The court date – revealed in a court order filed on Monday according to CNBC – is much earlier…

MORE ARTICLES

Ethereum

Ethereum’s Zhejiang Staking Withdrawal Testnet for Shanghai is Live

At 15:00 UTC on Wednesday, the much-anticipated Zhejiang testnet for staking withdrawal went live on Ethereum’s Beacon chain. Zhejiang will enable the testing of the Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 4895 which allows for staking withdrawals. This is in preparation for the network’s next major update, the Shanghai hard fork slated to launch sometime in March. Users Can Make Simulated Withdrawals with Zhejiang In a tweet yesterday, DevOps engineer at Ethereum foundation Barnabas Busa gave details about the Zhejiang testnet slated…

Ethereum Devs Disagree Over Technical Tweak as Shanghai Upgrade Nears

Post-merge Ethereum users have been eagerly awaiting the commencement of the network’s next major upgrade, Shanghai. However, after over 3 months of prep time, it appears the Shanghai rollout isn’t going as smoothly as expected. What Exactly is the Shanghai Upgrade? In September last year, the much-publicized Ethereum Merge also known as the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade went live. Ethereum underwent some significant changes as its consensus mechanism transitioned from proof-of-work to a cost-efficient proof-of-stake system.  However, since the Beacon launch…

FTX Hacker Converts 50k Stolen ETH to BTC

Per a report from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis, the attacker behind the Nov 11 FTX exploit, is converting the stolen ETH to Bitcoin. There were muted fears the seemingly inexperienced perpetrator could dump all its ETH holdings. On Sunday, the attacker dumped 50k ETH on-chain, with ETH's price dipping by almost 7%.  https://twitter.com/chainalysis/status/1594349583416840199?s=20&t=pgvQHeVytI20eKQ1ls9bxw Hacker Moves 50,000 ETH to New Address Over the past week, the perpetrator had been steadily swapping the cryptocurrencies they had carted off for Ether tokens. This…

Censorship Concerns: 51% of Ethereum Blocks Now OFAC Compliant

According to new data, over half of the blocks on the Ethereum network now reportedly comply with the US Treasury OFAC’s standards. This comes roughly a month after the platform’s monumental merge update. Phasing Out Tornado Cash The Office of Foreign Assets Control is the intelligence and enforcement agency of the US  Treasury Department. Indeed, the OFAC administers and enforces US  financial sanctions. A prime example of this is the recent, highly-publicized ban on crypto mixer Tornado Cash.  According to…

MORE ARTICLES

Trading

How to Leverage Arbitrage Opportunities in Crypto Markets

Cryptocurrency arbitrage has become an increasingly popular investment strategy as the crypto market grows and evolves. Arbitrage involves taking advantage of pricing discrepancies between markets or exchanges to profit.  Investors can leverage profit opportunities by understanding cryptocurrency arbitrage while managing associated risks. In this guide, we'll explore cryptocurrency arbitrage and how it works. A Bitcoin-related example will help us illustrate the concepts of this strategy. What is Arbitrage and How Does it Work in Crypto Markets Crypto arbitrage trading is…

The Different Types of Copy Trading in Crypto

Are you interested in trading cryptocurrencies but feel intimidated by the complexity of the process? Copy trading is a great way to get into crypto without needing to be an experienced trader. With copy trading, investors can benefit from the experience and knowledge of more experienced traders, allowing even beginners to succeed. How does copy trading work, and which tips do you need to know to succeed? In this article, we'll explore all aspects of copy trading in crypto. What…

How to Spot an Unsafe Crypto Exchange

Cryptocurrency exchanges have become increasingly popular as they provide a platform for people to buy and sell digital assets. Unfortunately, not all crypto exchanges are safe or reliable.  With the rise of cybercrime and fraud, you must learn to spot an unsafe crypto exchange before investing your money. This guide will help beginners identify and avoid potential risks when selecting a cryptocurrency exchange.  The Role of Crypto Exchanges on the Digital Assets Market Cryptocurrency exchanges play a crucial role in…

What Is Grid Trading in Crypto?

Crypto grid trading has become a popular strategy because of its ability to help traders capitalize on market volatility. Grid trading means you can produce consistent profits by taking advantage of price differences in different markets or time frames. By establishing buy and sell orders at predetermined intervals, you can take advantage of these fluctuations in an automated way. This guide will explore the different aspects of grid trading and provide an overview of its benefits, challenges, and more. Through…

MORE ARTICLES

Tech

Introducing una Messenger: A Paradigm Shift in Blockchain Connectivity

The digital landscape is set for an unprecedented transformation with the introduction of una Messenger, the latest innovation from web3 development powerhouse Wemade. This platform represents an evolution of the "PAPYRUS Messenger," serving as the cornerstone of the ambitious "unagi" initiative, aimed at catalyzing the mass adoption of blockchain technology. The "Unbound Networking & Accelerating Growth Initiative" seeks to bridge the divides between diverse blockchain services and networks, heralding a new era of interconnectedness. A New Frontier in Blockchain Communication…

Bit2Me Champions WEMIX Token in Pioneering European Listing

Bit2Me, Spain's premier virtual asset exchange, has recently broadened the horizons for cryptocurrency enthusiasts by listing WEMIX, the cornerstone token of the WEMIX3.0 blockchain ecosystem. This marks a notable achievement as WEMIX's inaugural venture into the European market, emphasizing the token's role in facilitating a range of blockchain-based activities, from gaming transactions to decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Launched with the intention to democratize access to WEMIX for the 450 million Spanish speakers around the globe, this strategic move aligns with…

CryptoVirally Expands with Fresh Crypto Marketing Offers and Cointelegraph Upgrades

In an exciting update for the cryptocurrency marketing landscape, CryptoVirally has announced a series of new entries and enhancements to its already comprehensive range of services. These updates, aimed at providing tailored marketing solutions for crypto projects, include new limited-time offers and expanded options for Cointelegraph publications. Limited Offers: A Game-Changer in Crypto Marketing  CryptoVirally's limited offers section presents an enticing opportunity for crypto projects to leverage high-impact marketing services at discounted rates. These offers, available for a limited period,…

Breaking Boundaries in Blockchain: WEMIX’s ‘una Wallet’ Sets New Standard for Multi-Chain Asset Management

The WEMIX Foundation has unveiled 'una Wallet,' a revolutionary digital wallet designed to offer unparalleled convenience and security in managing digital assets across various blockchain networks. The announcement, made on January 17, 2024, signifies a new era in the seamless integration of multiple blockchain protocols, including Arbitrum, Avalanche, BNB Smart Chain, Ethereum, Kroma, Optimism, Polygon, and WEMIX3.0. 'una Wallet' is more than just a digital wallet; it represents the culmination of WEMIX's innovative efforts in the blockchain space. It serves…

MORE ARTICLES