New IDO launchpads launch regularly — promising better vetting, fairer allocation, or chain-specific specialisation. Most fail within 12 months as deal flow dries up without established brand recognition. Identifying the minority of new launchpads with genuine staying power requires applying specific evaluation criteria before committing staking capital to their native tokens.
Why Most New Launchpads Fail
The launchpad business is a two-sided marketplace: it needs quality projects (supply) and invested community (demand) simultaneously. New launchpads face the cold-start problem — quality projects choose established platforms (DAO Maker, Polkastarter) for their proven communities; without quality projects, the community doesn't grow; without community, quality projects don't come. Breaking this cycle requires either exceptional differentiation or being chain-specific at the right time (when a new ecosystem is growing and established launchpads haven't established presence).
Evaluation Framework for New Launchpads
1. Chain Timing
The most successful new launchpads have been chain-specific first movers: Solanium when Solana emerged (2021), Avalaunch when Avalanche grew (2021-2022), BSCPad when BNB Chain dominated (2021). In 2026, potential chain-specific opportunities: SUI ecosystem launchpad (SUI growing rapidly), TON-native launchpad (leveraging Telegram's distribution), and Bitcoin L2-specific launchpad.
2. Team Credentials
New launchpad teams should have: prior crypto project delivery, relevant exchange or launchpad relationships, and ideally a network that provides initial project deal flow. A team that can bring 5-10 quality projects in the first 6 months demonstrates real relationships — not a whitepaper promise of "we'll attract quality projects."
3. First Launches Quality
The first 3-5 projects on a new launchpad are the clearest signal. Check: are these projects from recognisable teams? Do they have VC backing? Did they perform post-listing? A new launchpad whose first 5 projects all decline 80%+ below listing price doesn't have the project quality relationships to justify capital deployment.
4. Native Token Liquidity
The launchpad's native token must have sufficient DEX liquidity to allow entering and exiting a staking position without significant slippage. A native token with $50K daily volume is suitable for small positions; one with $5K daily volume makes staking positions illiquid — a risk if the platform stalls.
For the established launchpad ecosystem to compare against newcomers, see our best ICO platforms guide. For how to find new IDO projects before they launch on launchpads, see our finding new IDO projects guide. For the tier system mechanics that new launchpads typically replicate, see our IDO tier system guide.
Glossary
- Cold-Start Problem
- The challenge new marketplace platforms face — needing both supply (projects) and demand (investors) simultaneously, with neither willing to participate without the other already being present.
- Chain-Specific First Mover
- A launchpad that establishes dominance on a new blockchain ecosystem before established competitors expand — the most reliable path for new launchpad success.
- Deal Flow
- The volume and quality of projects applying to list on a launchpad — the primary indicator of a platform's network strength and market reputation.
Disclaimer
Important: New launchpad native tokens are highly speculative. Platform stall risk is significant. This guide is educational only. CryptoPresaleNews.com is not a licensed financial advisor.
