If you want to get in early on new projects, tools like Binance Launchpad make that possible. The platform allows users to invest in tokens before they reach exchanges, potentially creating outstanding profit opportunities for crypto investors. In this Binance Launchpad review, we’ll dive into how the platform works and discuss an emerging alternative.
Launchpad crypto tokens work much like an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the stock market. In the crypto world, the equivalent terms would be ICO (Initial Coin Offering) or IEO (Initial Exchange Offering). Much like in the stock market, getting in early can increase your returns. However, there are risks to consider as well. Let’s get started with key takeaways for the Binance Launchpad platform.
Key Takeaways on Binance Launchpad
- STEPN, a popular health and fitness application, launched its GMT token through Binance Launchpad. At its peak, GMT reached a market cap of 2.3 billion.
- Binance Launchpad uses a subscription model that requires investors to commit BNB tokens. Allocations for launchpad tokens are based on the percentage of the total BNB commitments for all participants.
- Maximum participation limits are capped to prevent single entities from controlling an unhealthy amount of supply.
- Binance Launchpad raises funds for new projects through token sales. In contrast, Binance’s Launchpool distributes tokens for new projects to BNB stakers.
- The Best Wallet app offers an easier-to-use alternative launchpad for new tokens and a wider selection of active listings than Binance Launchpad.
What is Binance Launchpad?
Binance Launchpad is a platform that allows new projects to raise funds while giving investors a chance to purchase tokens before they reach exchanges for trading. The platform is exclusive to Binance, although tokens launched on the platform may reach other crypto exchanges after launch.
Several notable crypto projects have launched through Binance Launchpad, benefitting from Binance’s massive user base of more than 250 trading accounts.
- 2020 – Axie Infinity (AXS)
- 2020 – The Sandbox (SAND)
- 2022 – STEPN (GMT)
Let’s explore how the platform works in more detail next in our Binance Launchpad review.
How Does Binance Launchpad Work?
Thousands of new cryptocurrency projects launch every year. Statistically speaking, most of these projects won’t survive. More than half of the cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinGecko have failed. Binance screens potential projects before a token sale.
While this doesn’t guarantee success, it helps identify promising crypto projects. Let’s examine the primary steps involved in a Launchpad listing.
Project Selection
The Binance team evaluates projects to assess the potential for adoption. Various factors considered include the team, technology or innovations, and advisors or partnerships that may help the project realize success. This step aims to eliminate money grabs disguised as legitimate projects and projects that may need more work before launch.
Projects with a clear roadmap, realistic projections, and well-planned tokenomics offer better opportunities for investors. Successful projects may also benefit Binance through additional trading volume.
Token Sale
Tokens featured on Binance Launchpad raise funds by selling tokens. These funds can help the project with additional development costs, marketing or awareness campaigns, and other expenses. In effect, token buyers at this stage provide a round of seed money or financial support for projects ready to launch.
Launchpad tokens are offered at a fixed price, putting all Launchpad investors on a level playing field. However, token allocations may differ. Let’s review how commitments and allocations work next.
Commitment and Allocation
Purchases for Binance Launchpad projects center on Binance’s BNB token rather than ETH or other cryptocurrencies commonly used for ICO funding. Binance calculates the average daily holdings by taking hourly snapshots of BNB holdings in exchange wallets during a holding period, which may last up to 30 days.
Binance assigns lottery tickets using the daily average. Each ticket represents a chance to win a token allocation. After the holding period, Binance users can claim their tickets. However, this must be done within a 24-hour window.
After a random drawing, Binance notifies winners and deducts the corresponding amount of BNB in exchange for the new Binance Launchpad coin. Binance holds these tokens in your Binance exchange wallet but supports withdrawals on several chains. This feature allows you to withdraw your tokens to a self-custody wallet if you prefer to hold your tokens in a wallet you control.
Binance Launchpad vs Binance Launchpool
The similar names and roles for Binance Launchpad and Binance Launchpool often create confusion. Let’s look at both of these token platforms to see how each one works.
- Binance Launchpad: The Binance Launchpad platform allows investors to buy new launch tokens using a lottery system. Lottery tickets are assigned based on BNB holdings.
- Binance Launchpool: By contrast, the Binance Launchpool uses staking to earn tokens for protocols in the launch pool. In this case, you’re staking existing assets to earn tokens rather than buying tokens with BNB.
Let’s compare these two platforms in more detail.
Platform | Binance Launchpad | Binance Launchpool |
Purpose | Raise funds for new projects | Stake existing assets to earn tokens |
Method | Token sale (like an IPO) | col 3 |
Cost | Requires buying tokens with BNB | Uses assets on Binance you’ve already purchased |
Risk | Higher (potential for loss of investment) | Lower (no capital at risk, although price volatility should be considered) |
Accessibility | Less accessible (limited allocation, lottery system) | More accessible (open to all eligible asset holders) |
Reward Potential | Higher (potential for significant gains if the project succeeds) | Lower (depends on staking amount, duration, and yield) |
Token Distribution | Capped supply with fixed allocation based on lottery results | Variable rewards based on staking activity and yield |
User Commitment | Requires commitment of BNB for a set period | Flexible, can unstake assets at any time |
Project Stage | Early-stage projects seeking funding | Typically, more established projects |
Binance Launchpad Services & Features
The Binance Launchpool page combines listings for Launchpad and Launchpool tokens. Let’s review this platform’s services and key features.
Binance Launchpad
The Launchpad allows investors to invest in projects vetted by the Binance team before the tokens reach the Binance exchange. While many Launchpad coins have performed extremely well and built a loyal community, investing in new tokens can carry more risk compared to investing in established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Binance’s BNB token.
Binance Launchpad offers investors a secure environment with clearly defined, albeit somewhat complex, rules for token purchases and distribution. A lottery system and per-user caps help keep the playing field fair when Launchpad tokens reach the market. The platform also provides in-depth information about the token itself, including tokenomics, details about the project and team, and whitepapers that offer a more technical explanation of the project’s mechanics.
Binance Launchpool Staking
The Launchpool and Launchpad now share the same page on Binance, which can lead to some confusion. Launchpool tokens are paid as rewards for staking. Typically, users stake BNB or FUSD (a dollar-equivalent stablecoin favored on Binance) to earn a Launchpool token. Previous Launchpools have featured BIO, VANA, and HMSTR, the last of which was a token for a popular Telegram-based game.
HODLer Airdrops
Binance also offers airdrops for users holding BNB tokens based on historical balances. The program rewards long-term BNB hodlers while creating awareness for select projects. No additional actions or purchases are required for airdrop rewards.
Listing Portal for Projects
New or established blockchain projects can use Launchpad or Launchpool to reach their target investor, although the goals of each of these tools differ. Launchpad can help projects raise funds through token sales, whereas Launchpool allows users to earn project tokens by staking BNB. Launchpool is better suited to increasing project awareness and achieving a healthy token distribution.
How to Launch a Project on Binance Launchpad
Launching a token on Binance Launchpad generates funds for the project and raises awareness. Binance is the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, so promising crypto projects and new listings get plenty of exposure. Next, in our Binance Launchpad review, let’s explore a brief overview of the launch process from a project perspective. You can find the application on the Launchpool page.
Launchpool and Launchpad listings share the same application as standard exchange listings, using a drop-down selector to choose which type of listing you want.
- Meet the eligibility criteria: Review the application and browse completed Launchpad listings to better understand the criteria Binance will review. The key points focus on the team, utility, tokenomics, pain points, and community engagement.
- Submit the application: Prepare the required information and complete the application completely. The founder or CEO must also sign the Binance Non-Disclosure Agreement (“NDA”) as part of the application.
- Undergo Due Diligence: The Binance team will review the application and verify the information you’ve provided. The team will also evaluate the project’s technology, team, whitepaper, legal considerations, and financials. Binance is selective in its listings; many projects do not get approved.
- Preparation for Token Sale: If your project is selected, the Binance team will work with you to determine the hard cap for the listing (the maximum number of tokens), token price, and listing duration.
- Marketing Collaboration: Binance assists with marketing efforts but also expects community support. The team will work closely with your project to create an effective marketing strategy that helps ensure strong demand for your token.
- Launchpad Sale: Binance will work with you to determine a launch date and duration for your listing. Once the Launchpad sale is complete, tokens will be distributed to buyers, and trading will begin on the Binance exchange.
How to Join Crypto Launches on Binance Launchpad
Due in part to a comprehensive screening process, Binance Launchpad listings are sporadic, with three occurring in 2023 and none occurring in 2024. To review Binance Launchpad listings as they go live, tap the subscribe button as shown below. This option is found under Launchpool, which aggregates both Launchpool and Launchpad listings.
Let’s walk through the basic steps to participate in a Launchpad listing. First, you’ll need to create an account if you don’t already have one. Note: Some services may not be available in all regions, and Binance does not serve US residents.
1) Open an Account.
Visit Binance.com and sign up for an account using your email address or phone number. Binance also supports social logins from Google, Apple, or Telegram.
2) Complete Identification Verification.
Binance requires ID verification in many regions. To access Launchpad, you’ll need to provide a photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. Without identity verification, you may not be able to participate in Lauchpad listings.
3) Check for New Listings.
Binance lists new Launchpad listings on the Launchpool page. You can sign up for subscription notifications just below the header.
4) Deposit BNB.
Binance Launchpad uses a subscription format and allocates lottery tickets based on average BNB holdings during the launch period. Because demand often outweighs supply for Launchpad tokens, you may be eligible for less than you’ve allocated for the purchase. The lottery system is designed to ensure fairer distribution.
5) Claim Your Tickets.
Once the launch period ends, you’ll have 24 hours to claim your tickets.
Wait for the lottery draw. If you win in the Launchpad lottery, Binance will deduct the corresponding amount of BNB and release your allocation of Launchpad tickets. Any unused BNB will be returned to your trading balance.
6) Trade or HODL.
After allocations have been distributed, you can trade your Launchpad tokens, hold them on the exchange, or withdraw them to a non-custodial wallet that you control.
Rules and Restrictions
Launchpad periods vary. For example, the Arkham launch recorded BNB balances for just six days. Binance uses this period to an average balance for each participant.
- Launchpad Hard Cap: Launchpad tokens have a limited supply. For example, Arkham (ARKM) had a total supply of 1 billion tokens, whereas the Launchpad launch was limited to 50 million tokens.
- Hard Cap Per User: Binance enforces a dollar-denominated hard cap per user. ARKM buys were capped at $15,000.
- Sale Price: All Launchpad tokens sell at the same price during the Launchpad period. Prices will diverge when tokens reach exchange trading.
- Geographic Availability: Binance does not support all countries and may limit the availability of services, such as Launchpad, in other countries.
- KYC Requirements: To comply with regulatory requirements, Binance requires Know Your Customer identification verification to participate in Launchpad.
What Makes Binance Launchpad Unique?
Although several presale and launchpad platforms exist, Binance Launchpad offers some unique features. However, the frequency with which new listings appear limits the opportunities. This comes, in part, from Binance’s rigorous project selection process. The result may represent stronger projects than found elsewhere but may also prevent viable projects from reaching a broader audience.
Let’s explore some of Binance Launchpad’s key aspects that make it a unique platform for new token launches.
- Combined Launchpool and Launchpad: Although Launchpad projects can be few and far between, investors can stake BNB of FUSD on Binance Launchpool to gain exposure to other projects.
- Rigorous Vetting Process: The vetting process for Launchpad and Launchpool listings helps ensure a safer trading environment.
- Association with Binance: The Binance name adds credibility to the projects listed on the platform, and Binance’s trading volume can help projects reach a broader audience, possibly including additional exchange listings.
- Pioneer of the IEO Model: Binance invented the Initial Exchange Offering as we know it today, giving projects the opportunity to reach their target market and raise funds that may be crucial to future goals.
- Community Engagement: Binance’s popularity as an exchange creates excitement around Launchpad and Launchpool projects. Historically, demand exceeds available supply. To manage this imbalance and maintain a healthy trading market, Binance enforces supply caps and maximum purchases with a lottery system as a tool to promote fair distribution.
Top Projects That Have Launched on Binance Launchpad
Since its launch in 2017, Binance has launched several highly successful projects. Among the best-known are Axie Infinity, The Sandbox, and STEPN. Let’s look at each of these and how they performed after launch.
2020 – Axie Infinity (AXS)
After its launch, the popular Axie Infinity game became infamous for “breaking Ethereum.” The massive number of users minting new NFTs on the platform caused congestion and spiked fees across the Ethereum ecosystem, where transaction fees are partly based on network demand.
In the Axie Infinity Game, players collect, breed, and battle fantastical creatures called Axies. The game later moved to its own network and still enjoys a worldwide community of players.
The AXS (Axie Infinity Shards) token launched on Binance Launchpad on October 27, 2020.
2020 – The Sandbox (SAND)
Metaverse play-to-earn games like The Sandbox were some of the earliest pioneers of Web3 gaming. In these games, the players hold in-game crypto assets, typically NFTs and currencies, in a crypto wallet.
The Sandbox lets players explore a decentralized virtual world where players can create assets they own and monetize their gameplay. The Sandbox uses SAND as its in-game currency, allowing players to buy and sell virtual land or create in-game assets. The project also lets users create their own games within The Sandbox, leading to a never-ending virtual landscape to explore.
The Sandbox was launched on Binance Launchpad on August 13, 2020.
2022 – STEPN (GMT)
STEPN was among the first projects to gamify exercise. This innovative lifestyle app allows users to earn rewards for healthy activities like walking or jogging. STEPN uses two tokens: GST for in-game rewards and GMT for governance. The governance token gives the community a voice in STEPN’s future direction through decentralized voting.
The STEPN app is easily one of the best-known crossover Web3 apps, with more than 5.6 million registered users. On March 9, 2022, STEPN launched the GMT token sale on Binance Launchpad.
Binance Launchpad Future Outlook – Roadmap
Like many companies, Binance doesn’t always announce its next moves for Launchpad and its other services beforehand. However, we can examine past trends and the company’s priorities to make an informed guess about what may be in store for Launchpad in the future.
- Expanding the Launchpad Ecosystem: Binance may continue expanding the Launchpad ecosystem by featuring more tokens through Launchpool and Launchpad. The platform could also integrate with the Binance Smart Chain, a Layer 1 blockchain network that’s growing in popularity due to its lower fees and Binance’s support. This move would open the opportunity to more investors while decentralizing distribution.
- Enhancing the User Experience: While Binance’s allocation and lottery system promises fairer distribution, the process can be difficult to navigate and benefits the most attentive traders. Further enhancements to the UI and a clearer process could boost engagement with a wider audience. We’ve seen Binance improve other platform areas to make trading more accessible.
- Potential Incubator Programs: The Launchpad platform opens the opportunity to provide project support for promising projects. In the future, we could see additional functionality on the platform that helps new projects find their footing and prepares them for success.
While we expect the Launchpool and Launchpad platforms to evolve, Binance has not provided many clues about their future plans.
Binance Launchpad Pros & Cons
Binance’s Launchpad offers several advantages, including early access to new projects. However, it also has some potential downsides, including a complex allocation system. Let’s review some of the pros and cons of Binance Launchpad.
Pros
- Early access to promising projects
- Secure and transparent platform
- Potential for high returns
- Lottery system for fairer access
- Clear information and guidance
Cons
- Limited allocation and lottery system
- High risk due to early-stage investment
- Requires holding and committing BNB
- No guaranteed allocation
- Potential for market volatility and project failure
Some of the platform’s cons, particularly those surrounding price volatility, are common to similar platforms. However, that same volatility could lead to outsized returns if the project performs well.
Is Binance Launchpad the Best Crypto Launchpad?
In this Binance Launchpad review, we detailed how the platform works, but we haven’t yet compared it to other platforms. While Binance has the advantage of name recognition, other platforms offer a much easier buying experience combined with comprehensive data to help guide your buying decision.
Let’s look at Best Wallet Launchpad as an alternative. Best Wallet offers an all-in-one solution that lets you buy the latest presale tokens and safely store your new tokens in a self-custody wallet.
There’s no need to lock tokens for up to 30 days or hope for a lottery selection as you would with Binance. Instead, you can buy as many presale tokens as you wish. Fewer hoops to jump through makes Best Wallet easier to use.
Popular Best Wallet tokens have included MIND of Pepe, Flockerz, and Solaxy. Best Wallet also helped launch Pepe Unchained, an audited Layer 2 blockchain that uses blockchain technology and the PEPU token and allows holders to earn staking rewards.
Best Wallet also offers its own token offering as a presale. Most presales have a time-based price schedule: the earlier you buy, the lower the price will be.
The Best Wallet app is available for mobile devices, including smartphones running iOS and Android. The app centers on ease of use without compromising on security. Best Wallet secures your wallet’s private key with your choice of two-factor authentication (2FA), biometric authentication, or passcode.
The selection of Launchpad coins varies for each platform. Best Wallet provides a user-friendly overview of each presale token on the platform, including project goals, tokenomics, roadmap, and a whitepaper offering in-depth details.
Visit Best WalletConclusion
Binance Launchpad allows crypto users to buy tokens before they reach the Binance exchange or other exchanges. The platform uses an allocation and lottery system to help ensure fair distribution. After the launchpad sale ends, trading begins on Binance, giving traders access to the most liquidity in the crypto space.
Alongside its benefits, such as careful vetting of new tokens, the Binance Launchpad token launch platform also has some stumbling blocks. These include a sparse offering of new tokens and a difficult-to-navigate buying process. Presale investors may be better served by a platform like Best Wallet, which offers a fresh selection of presale tokens and a newbie-friendly buying experience.
Visit Best WalletSee Also:
FAQs
Is Binance Launchpad safe?
What are the risks of Binance Launchpad?
Can I make money from Binance Launchpad?
What is the benefit of Binance Launchpad?
References
- Dead Coins: Over 50% of Cryptocurrencies Have Failed (coingecko.com)
- Pepe Unchained Audit (github.com)
- Makers Of STEPN Take Major Leap with STEPN GO (finance.yahoo.com)
- Largest cryptocurrency spot exchanges (statista.com)
In This Article
- Key Takeaways on Binance Launchpad
- What is Binance Launchpad?
- Binance Launchpad vs Binance Launchpool
- How to Launch a Project on Binance Launchpad
- What Makes Binance Launchpad Unique?
- Binance Launchpad Future Outlook - Roadmap
- Binance Launchpad Pros & Cons
- Is Binance Launchpad the Best Crypto Launchpad?
- Conclusion
- FAQs
- References
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