Token Launch Checklist

Define your token's core purpose and utility

What problem does it solve? Why does it need to exist?

Identify your target audience and user personas

Who will use this token? What are their needs and pain points?

Conduct competitive analysis

Study similar projects, their tokenomics, and market performance

Create detailed project roadmap

Break down milestones for next 12-24 months

Assemble core team and define roles

Identify skills gaps and hiring needs

Determine total token supply and distribution

Fixed vs. inflationary? How many tokens total?

Design allocation breakdown (team, investors, community, treasury)

Typical: 15-20% team, 15-20% investors, 40-50% community, 15-20% treasury

Establish vesting schedules for team and investors

Industry standard: 1-year cliff, 4-year vesting

Define token utility mechanisms

Staking, governance, discounts, access rights, burning mechanisms

Model token economics and sustainability

Build spreadsheet models for different scenarios

Plan initial liquidity strategy

How much liquidity? On which DEXs? Lock duration?

Consult with crypto-specialized legal counsel

Don't skip this—regulatory mistakes can be catastrophic

Determine token classification (utility vs. security)

Use Howey Test analysis for U.S. markets

Choose jurisdiction and establish legal entity

Popular: Switzerland, Singapore, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands

Draft Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Ensure GDPR compliance if targeting EU users

Create token sale agreement templates (if applicable)

SAFT (Simple Agreement for Future Tokens) or similar

Establish AML/KYC procedures

Choose KYC provider (Sumsub, Jumio, Onfido)

Review tax implications and reporting requirements

Consult tax professional familiar with crypto

Identify restricted jurisdictions

Common restrictions: USA, China, North Korea, Iran

Choose blockchain platform

Ethereum, BSC, Polygon, Solana, Arbitrum, Base, etc.

Select token standard

ERC-20 (Ethereum), BEP-20 (BSC), SPL (Solana)

Develop token smart contract

Use OpenZeppelin libraries as foundation for security

Implement vesting contracts

Token vesting for team, advisors, and investors

Build staking mechanism (if applicable)

Define reward distribution logic and lock periods

Develop governance contracts (if applicable)

Proposal creation, voting mechanisms, timelock execution

Write comprehensive unit tests

Aim for 100% code coverage on critical paths

Deploy to testnet and conduct testing

Thoroughly test all functionality before mainnet

Build official website

Professional design, clear messaging, responsive

Create documentation portal

Technical docs, user guides, API reference

Develop token dashboard/interface

Wallet connection, staking UI, analytics

Integrate wallet connections

MetaMask, WalletConnect, Coinbase Wallet, etc.

Set up analytics and monitoring

On-chain analytics, user behavior tracking

Conduct internal security review

Review all code for common vulnerabilities

Hire professional smart contract auditor

Top firms: Trail of Bits, OpenZeppelin, CertiK, Quantstamp

Address all audit findings

Fix critical and high-severity issues before launch

Conduct penetration testing

Test website, APIs, and infrastructure security

Set up multi-signature wallets

For treasury, admin functions, and emergency actions

Implement emergency pause functionality

Circuit breakers for critical contract functions

Create incident response plan

Define procedures for security incidents

Launch bug bounty program

Use platforms like Immunefi or HackerOne

Publish audit reports

Transparency builds trust with your community

Develop brand identity

Logo, color scheme, visual style, tone of voice

Write comprehensive whitepaper

Technical details, tokenomics, roadmap, team

Create pitch deck

For investors, partners, and media

Produce explainer videos

Short-form content explaining your token and platform

Develop content calendar

Blog posts, tutorials, announcements, AMAs

Launch social media channels

Twitter, Discord, Telegram, LinkedIn

Build Discord/Telegram community

Active moderation, clear channels, engagement activities

Create ambassador program

Incentivize community members to spread awareness

Host AMAs and community calls

Regular updates and Q&A sessions

Engage with crypto influencers

Strategic partnerships and collaborations

Submit to crypto calendars and listing sites

CoinMarketCal, CoinGecko, CoinMarketCap

Prepare press releases

For major milestones and launch announcement

Reach out to crypto media outlets

CoinDesk, CoinTelegraph, The Block, Decrypt

Secure podcast and interview opportunities

Thought leadership and project visibility

Publish guest articles

Contribute to reputable crypto publications

Deploy smart contracts to mainnet

Triple-check addresses and parameters

Verify contracts on block explorers

Etherscan, BSCScan, etc. for transparency

Set up initial liquidity pools

On chosen DEXs (Uniswap, PancakeSwap, etc.)

Lock liquidity tokens

Use services like Unicrypt or Team Finance

Configure monitoring and alerts

Set up alerts for unusual activity

Test all user flows end-to-end

Buying, staking, claiming, governance

Prepare contract addresses document

Official list of all contract addresses

Apply to DEX aggregators

CoinGecko, CoinMarketCap, DexTools

Research CEX listing requirements

Gate.io, KuCoin, Binance (varies by tier)

Prepare exchange application materials

Documentation, legal entity info, volume data

Set exact launch date and time

Communicate clearly across all time zones

Schedule announcement posts

Coordinated across all social channels

Assign team roles for launch day

Who handles what (tech, community, media)

Prepare FAQs and support materials

Anticipate common questions and issues

Create launch day runbook

Step-by-step timeline of all tasks

Enable trading at scheduled time

Ensure liquidity is live on DEXs

Publish launch announcement

Blog post, Twitter, Discord, Telegram

Send press release to media

Distributed to pre-arranged outlets

Monitor smart contracts continuously

Watch for unusual activity or errors

Provide real-time community support

All hands on deck for questions and issues

Track key metrics

Trading volume, holders, liquidity, price

Post updates throughout the day

Share milestones and celebrate with community

Document any issues for post-mortem

Keep detailed notes of problems and solutions

Monitor trading activity 24/7

Watch for manipulation or unusual patterns

Track smart contract interactions

Ensure all functions work as expected

Provide constant community support

Answer questions and address concerns quickly

Daily social media updates

Maintain momentum and engagement

Address any bugs or issues immediately

Transparent communication about problems

Analyze launch metrics and performance

Trading volume, holder growth, engagement

Gather community feedback

Surveys, polls, and direct conversations

Optimize liquidity if needed

Add to pools or adjust ranges on concentrated liquidity DEXs

Begin executing roadmap items

Show progress on promised deliverables

Continue marketing efforts

Maintain visibility through content and partnerships

Conduct post-launch retrospective

What went well? What could be improved?

Regular development updates

Ship new features and improvements consistently

Monthly/quarterly transparency reports

Treasury status, metrics, progress updates

Active governance participation

Facilitate community proposals and voting

Strategic partnerships and integrations

Expand utility and reach of your token

Monitor competitive landscape

Stay aware of market trends and adapt

Continuous security monitoring

Regular audits for new features and contracts

Community engagement programs

Events, contests, rewards to maintain interest

Explore additional exchange listings

Gradually expand to larger CEXs as you grow