In the crypto market, participating in new token launches—commonly referred to as launchpads—is a popular way to pursue high returns by getting early access to promising projects. Launchpads serve asIn the crypto market, participating in new token launches—commonly referred to as launchpads—is a popular way to pursue high returns by getting early access to promising projects. Launchpads serve as
Launchpad Token Offerings: How to Capitalize on High-Return Opportunities While Avoiding Risks
In the crypto market, participating in new token launches—commonly referred to as launchpads—is a popular way to pursue high returns by getting early access to promising projects. Launchpads serve as the primary platforms for these offerings, leveraging blockchain technology to eliminate traditional financial barriers and provide global access to investment opportunities. Currently, launchpads fall into two main categories:
CEX Launchpads: These operate through centralized exchanges (such as MEXC and Binance) and conduct Initial Exchange Offerings (IEOs). They offer the advantage of platform-backed credibility, with rigorous project vetting to provide user protection. Additionally, the liquidity resources of CEXs often lead to active post-listing trading, making them well-suited for a broad user base.
DEX Launchpads: Built on decentralized exchanges, these platforms use smart contracts and liquidity pools to facilitate token distribution via Initial DEX Offerings (IDOs). Projects collaborate with DEXs to set issuance parameters, and users participate directly on-chain. While the entry barrier is lower, the associated risks tend to be higher.
Given the high-reward yet high-risk nature of launchpads, this article offers a comprehensive guide covering the opportunities and challenges involved, the protective mechanisms of MEXC Launchpad, and practical strategies for safer participation—helping investors engage with new offerings more securely and effectively.
1. Opportunities and Risks of Launchpad Investments
1.1 Why Launchpads Are Attractive
Amid the crypto market boom, launchpads have become a popular choice for investors due to their low entry barriers and high return potential. Unlike traditional IPOs, launchpads require neither large capital nor complex qualifications, allowing everyday retail investors to participate in early-stage projects and benefit from early access.
Low Entry Barrier: For example, MEXC Launchpad only requires users to complete KYC verification and a few simple tasks to participate. Decentralized launchpads go further—often requiring only a wallet connection—greatly lowering the barrier to entry.
High Return Potential: Launchpads offer the chance to purchase tokens at early-stage discounted prices. For instance, BEE saw significant price gains after its debut on MEXC Launchpad, delivering up to 20x returns for early participants.
However, high returns often come with high risks. Investors should remain vigilant to avoid potential losses.
1.2 Risks of Launchpad Participation
Despite their appeal, launchpads carry various risks, including external risks (market, project, and platform-related) and internal operational risks. This section focuses on external risks, while internal risks will be discussed later.
1.2.1 Market Risks:
Tokens launched via launchpads are exposed to multiple market risks. In the short term, prices may drop rapidly due to sell-off pressure or market sentiment—especially on decentralized platforms with limited liquidity. In the long run, as market narratives shift and users tend to chase new trends, many projects face the dilemma of "peaking on launch day."
Short-Term Sell-Off Pressure: After token generation events (TGEs), early investors often sell quickly at peak prices to cash out. Combined with low liquidity, this leads to sharp price swings. Tokens frequently spike on the first day or week, only to drop just as fast. Retail investors who fail to sell in time or buy at inflated prices often suffer losses.
Low Liquidity and Price Manipulation: Some small-cap tokens on decentralized platforms have limited early liquidity, making them vulnerable to price manipulation through pump-and-dump tactics. Prices may fluctuate wildly with low trading volume, and retail holders may find their tokens rapidly devalued with no buyers in sight.
Long-Term Volatility: According to CryptoRank data (July 2024–July 2025), except for the Blockchain Infrastructure category (19 projects, ~100% average return), other sectors—including Meme (15 projects), Blockchain Service (80 projects), GameFi (67 projects), and DeFi (50 projects)—recorded negative average returns, with many falling below their initial offering price.
Image Source: https://cryptorank.io/ieo-platforms-roi
1.2.2 Project Risk
The rapid increase in the number of launchpad projects and their uneven quality pose significant risks to investors and impact potential returns.
High Volume, Inconsistent Quality: Between June 1 and July 1, 2025, a total of 2,315 token sales were conducted across launchpad and IDO platforms (based on publicly available data). While project volume is high, many platforms lack robust vetting processes, resulting in variable quality. Some teams operate with unclear backgrounds, prior misconduct, or unfeasible technologies—making it difficult for investors to identify credible projects and increasing the risk of losses due to malicious behavior by project teams.
Security Vulnerabilities and Hacks: Projects launched via decentralized platforms often rely on automated tools and community trust rather than strict audits, making it difficult to ensure technical competence or contract security. Without professional code audits, vulnerabilities in smart contracts can be exploited by hackers. In particular, newly deployed liquidity pools are susceptible to attack. If exploited, hackers may drain these pools, resulting in major losses for investors who participated in presales or token distributions.
1.2.3 Platform Risk
Launchpad platforms themselves face risks including hacking, smart contract flaws, and operational errors. Both centralized and decentralized platforms have seen incidents where user funds were compromised due to security issues. Additionally, lack of transparency and fairness in token allocation can lead to issues such as whale dominance or insider manipulation, undermining the interests of retail investors.
2. MEXC Launchpad Protection Mechanisms
Given these risks, investors should opt for platforms with clear protective measures. MEXC provides a relatively secure environment through rigorous project screening, fair distribution mechanisms, robust security protocols, and investor education.
2.1 Rigorous Project Selection
MEXC has developed a comprehensive evaluation framework, reviewing projects across multiple dimensions including technological innovation, tokenomics, team background, and market potential. Only projects that pass thorough due diligence are eligible to launch on MEXC Launchpad. Some may also receive support from MEXC Ventures, further validating their viability and long-term potential. This pre-screening process helps filter out low-quality projects, saving users time and significantly reducing investment risk.
2.2 Fair Allocation Mechanism
To address issues such as whale monopolization and insider allocations, MEXC Launchpad adopts a transparent, proportional distribution model. Retail users only need to hold designated tokens (e.g., USDT, USD1) to participate—no complex tasks required. In non-oversubscription modes, users receive tokens proportional to their subscribed amount. In oversubscription scenarios, tokens are still distributed fairly. Unlike lottery-based or stake-weighted models, this ensures equal opportunities for all participants.
2.3 Comprehensive Security Measures
MEXC employs AI-based monitoring and third-party audits (e.g., Hacken) to detect and address smart contract vulnerabilities in real time. To further mitigate fraud, all users must complete KYC verification, which helps prevent bot-driven purchases that crowd out legitimate participants.
2.4 Investor Education
Investing through Launchpads involves speculation and uncertainty. Users must be equipped with sound investment judgment and risk management skills. MEXC Learn provides educational resources on topics like project evaluation, timing exit strategies, and setting stop-losses. These materials empower users to make informed decisions, manage market fluctuations, and avoid liquidity traps. Learning how to assess project fundamentals and execute timely exits can help reduce losses and improve outcomes.
In addition to external risks, personal investment decisions can significantly impact returns. The next section will explore common types of user losses in Launchpad investments from a micro-level perspective, along with strategies for mitigation.
3. Common Loss Types in Launchpad Investments and Corresponding Strategies
3.1 Common Types of Losses
Opportunity Cost: Missing Better Investment Opportunities
Capital allocated to launchpad projects is no longer available for other potentially higher-yielding opportunities, such as spot market trading or staking for yield. If the launchpad project underperforms, the opportunity cost becomes more pronounced.
Regulatory Losses: Uncertainty in Policy Changes
The global cryptocurrency industry is still in its early stages, with unclear and frequently changing regulations in many countries. New regulatory restrictions may limit user participation in Launchpads or negatively affect the value of tokens already acquired.
Information Asymmetry: Misleading Information and Cognitive Bias
Retail investors often face an information disadvantage in Launchpad investments.
Exaggerated Marketing by Project Teams: Some projects may overhype their potential, technology, or team to attract investment, leading to misinformed valuations.
Influence from KOLs and Media: Certain influencers or media outlets may promote biased content due to vested interests, encouraging investors to follow blindly.
Cognitive Bias: Retail investors may overemphasize short-term gains while ignoring long-term fundamentals and risks, or make impulsive decisions under FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
3.2 Risk Mitigation Strategies
Despite these risks, investors are not powerless. The following strategies can help reduce exposure in launchpad investments:
Conduct Thorough Due Diligence
Avoid chasing "get-rich-quick" narratives or relying on "insider tips." Before participating in any launchpad project, conduct in-depth research. This includes reading the whitepaper carefully, evaluating the team's background and credibility, assessing community engagement, performing competitor analysis, and examining backing from institutional investors.
Diversify Investments
Diversification should be applied in two ways. First, through project diversification, investors can spread their funds across multiple launchpad projects. This way, if one project underperforms, potential gains from others may help offset losses. Second, asset diversification involves allocating funds not only to launchpads but also to other types of crypto assets, such as major cryptocurrencies or DeFi mining. This approach helps mitigate the impact of overall market volatility on the investment portfolio.
Practice Budget Management
Only invest idle funds. Before participating in any launchpad, determine your maximum acceptable loss and set a budget accordingly. Avoid going all-in.
4. User Guide: How to Safely Participate in MEXC Launchpad
Below is a practical step-by-step guide for participating in MEXC Launchpad, designed to help users avoid common mistakes during the process.
4.1 Participation Overview
To access the Launchpad subscription page, go to the MEXC website and click on Events → Launchpad in the navigation bar. There, you can find details about upcoming projects, subscription rules, and timelines. If you do not yet meet the participation criteria, complete the required trading or deposit tasks before joining.
Select the desired pool, click Subscribe Now to enter the details page, enter the amount you wish to commit, and click Confirm to complete your participation. Note that Launchpad events usually have a minimum participation amount, and the tokens subscribed will be temporarily frozen during the event.
If your subscription is successful, your funds will be deducted and converted into project tokens. If unsuccessful (e.g., due to incomplete tasks, oversubscription, project cancellation, or account anomalies), the funds will be refunded to your Spot account within 24 hours.
The number of tokens received depends on whether the event is oversubscribed. In non-oversubscription cases, tokens are allocated based on the full subscribed amount. In oversubscription cases, tokens are distributed proportionally.
4.2 Common Mistakes to Avoid
Missing the Launch Time and Potential Peak: Token prices often experience sharp volatility at launch, with potential peaks appearing briefly. Failing to monitor the launch time may cause users to miss optimal selling opportunities and result in being stuck at a higher price.
Chasing the Price Without a Profit-Taking Plan: Some users hesitate to sell after seeing initial price surges, hoping for higher returns, only to miss the opportunity entirely. To avoid this, set a clear target price and take-profit plan in advance to reduce the influence of FOMO and ensure timely action.
4.3 Practical Tips
Understand the Project Timeline in Advance: Pay attention to key phases: subscription period, token distribution, and listing time. Follow both MEXC and project social media channels for real-time updates. Familiarize yourself with the project's typical listing pattern, such as which exchanges it launches on first and expected price trends.
Set TP/SL Orders at Launch: For tokens acquired through Launchpad, predefine your take-profit and stop-loss (TP/SL) levels. For example, set a 50% or 100% profit target and sell a portion or all once reached. Likewise, establish a stop-loss level to limit downside. If the price falls below a key support level, exit even at a loss to prevent further decline. Having a clear plan helps reduce emotionally driven decisions. Also note: while tokens are typically tradable immediately after distribution, check the project announcement for any lock-up periods.
5. Balancing Opportunity and Risk with a Rational Mindset
Launchpad, as a unique mechanism for early-stage token offerings, has indeed opened the door for everyday crypto investors to access promising early projects. For those seeking the next big trend or aiming for high returns, early participation can lead to significant gains. However, investing is always a game of managing risk, and launchpad projects are no exception. They are a double-edged sword—offering the potential for high returns on one side, and uncertainty and challenges on the other.
Faced with various types of potential losses—capital loss, opportunity cost, liquidity risk, security vulnerabilities, regulatory uncertainty, and information asymmetry—investment strategies must go beyond luck or emotion. They should be grounded in thorough research, careful planning, and rational execution. Platforms like MEXC Launchpad provide the tools and frameworks to help mitigate these risks, but ultimately, the ability to avoid losses depends on the investor's understanding of risk and the discipline with which they execute their strategy.
As a high-quality platform, MEXC Launchpad offers access to early-stage projects. But for users, truly achieving manageable risk and expected returns requires a clear understanding of the balance between opportunity and risk.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this material does not constitute advice on investment, taxation, legal, financial, accounting, or any other related services, nor does it serve as a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold any assets. MEXC Learn offers this information for reference purposes only and does not provide investment advice. Please ensure you fully understand the risks involved and exercise caution when investing. MEXC is not responsible for users' investment decisions.
热门文章
守住底线与避免误伤：风控系统的动态优化逻辑
随着加密市场中的攻击手段日益精密与隐蔽，交易平台的风控系统也在不断升级。然而，在保护市场公平和资产安全的同时，风控系统也面临着两难困境：过于严格的策略会提升“误报”率，而标准宽松又无法有效打击损害市场与用户利益的违规行为。MEXC 2025年第三季度的风控数据清晰地展现了这一挑战的复杂性： 成功识别并阻断45,513起协同欺诈行为，有效遏制了有组织的市场操纵。在东南亚，通过加强提现验证和深入排查可
什么是预测合约？一种简单快捷的合约交易方式
加密货币合约交易以其高杠杆和多空双向获利的能力吸引了无数投资者，但其复杂的机制——保证金、杠杆、强平价格等，也让许多新手望而却步。为了降低衍生品交易的门槛，MEXC 创新性地推出了“预测合约”。它摒弃了传统合约的复杂性，将交易回归到最核心的本质：判断涨跌。*BTN-开启您的合约交易之旅&BTNURL=https://www.mexc.com/futures/BTC_USDT *1. 什么是预测合约
MEXC 全球数字资产交易所七周年：以"多"为基因，铸造加密新基建
当时针指向第七个刻度，MEXC 交易所正持续以"多"为战略基因，在数字金融的星辰大海中书写着属于创新者的史诗。七载光阴，MEXC 打造的不仅是一个交易平台，更是一个多维立体的加密生态系统——在这里，多样性是流淌在一行行代码里的血液。一、热币矩阵：构建数字资产超级市场2,905 种现货币对与 1,130 种合约币种构成的数字资产宝库，让 MEXC 稳居全球热币数量王座。这不是简单的数字堆砌，而是精准
如何在MEXC上线项目：申请流程完整指南
将您的加密货币项目在MEXC上市需要几个步骤和要求。以下是一份全面的指南：1. MEXC上市流程概述MEXC根据您的项目阶段、社区规模和资源提供不同的上市路径。与Coinbase等其他交易所相比，MEXC以相对易于访问而闻名。第1步：了解MEXC的上市标准基于项目价值的审查流程最适合具有强大基础的项目第2步：准备您的项目在申请之前，请确保您准备好这些必需品：技术要求智能合约信息合约地址（在区块链浏
热门加密动态
XRP价格面临重大考验：分析师警告可能跌破1美元大关
Key Takeaways XRP价格在2美元下方显示出明显的看跌信号多项技术指标显示XRP可能在未来几周内下跌至1美元市场波动加剧，投资者需要关注关键支撑位MEXC交易所提供最优交易环境和零手续费优势专业交易者建议在波动市场中选择深度好的交易平台 Summary 近期，加密货币市场再次陷入动荡，XRP作为市值排名前列的数字资产，正面临严峻的技术性挑战。多位资深分析师指出，XRP在2美元下方构建了
Solana价格保卫战：SOL能否守住$120关键支撑位？
Key Takeaways Solana (SOL) 目前在 $120 关键支撑位附近激烈争夺，市场情绪谨慎技术指标显示 SOL 面临下行压力，但长期基本面依然强劲交易量和链上活动数据成为判断后续走势的重要参考MEXC 交易所提供业内最低手续费和最深流动性，是交易 SOL 的理想平台 Summary Solana 正处于关键的技术转折点，$120 价格水平成为多空双方的主战场。本文深度分析 SOL
以太坊价格警报：12月收盘若跌破关键支撑位，ETH或暴跌至$2,000
Key Takeaways 分析师警告：以太坊若在12月收盘价低于$3,200关键支撑位,可能引发进一步下跌至$2,000技术指标显示ETH正处于关键拐点,短期走势将决定中长期价格方向市场情绪转向谨慎,交易者需密切关注月度收盘价格水平在波动市场中,MEXC交易所凭借业内最低手续费和最佳流动性成为交易ETH的理想选择 Summary 近期以太坊(ETH)价格走势引发市场广泛关注。知名加密货币分析师发
比特币价格徘徊在86,500美元：美国CPI数据公布前的市场观望与投资策略
Key Takeaways 比特币价格在美国关键通胀数据发布前维持在86,500美元附近，市场情绪谨慎12月CPI数据将直接影响美联储利率政策走向，进而左右加密货币市场走势技术面显示BTC在关键支撑位徘徊，突破方向取决于宏观经济数据MEXC交易所凭借零手续费、最深流动性和100%储备金成为BTC交易首选平台短期波动加剧，但长期持有者应关注基本面和链上数据变化 Summary 在美国12月消费者物价
相关文章
守住底线与避免误伤：风控系统的动态优化逻辑
随着加密市场中的攻击手段日益精密与隐蔽，交易平台的风控系统也在不断升级。然而，在保护市场公平和资产安全的同时，风控系统也面临着两难困境：过于严格的策略会提升“误报”率，而标准宽松又无法有效打击损害市场与用户利益的违规行为。MEXC 2025年第三季度的风控数据清晰地展现了这一挑战的复杂性： 成功识别并阻断45,513起协同欺诈行为，有效遏制了有组织的市场操纵。在东南亚，通过加强提现验证和深入排查可
七载锋芒！MEXC 7周年庆揭秘“合约交易”的5大优势
在加密货币市场快速发展的今天，合约交易因其高效性和灵活性已成为众多交易者的重要工具。作为全球领先的加密货币交易平台，MEXC 自 2018 年成立以来，始终致力于为全球用户提供专业、安全、高效的交易服务。在 MEXC 7 周年之际，本文特别总结了 MEXC 合约交易的全面优势，帮助用户更好地了解为何选择 MEXC 进行合约交易。了解合约交易合约交易是一种衍生品交易形式，允许交易者在未来以预定价格买
MEXC 七周年：锚定“上币最快”，领航加密货币交易新纪元
七年前，MEXC 交易所怀揣着对加密货币的无限热情与憧憬，投身于这片机遇与挑战并存的蓝海。七年风雨兼程，MEXC 凭借快速上币的显著优势，在全球加密资产交易市场中脱颖而出，成为众多投资者的首选平台。数据见证：MEXC 快速上币的辉煌成就自成立以来，MEXC 始终将用户需求置于首位，致力于为用户提供最全面、最丰富的交易选择。截至 2025 年 4 月 16 日 15:00（UTC+8），ME
七年耕耘，步步向“好”——MEXC 与用户共赢未来
2025 年，MEXC 迎来七周年。从默默无闻的创新者，到如今深受全球用户信赖的领先平台，MEXC 始终秉持“精于细节、臻于至善”的理念，力求在每一个环节都做到严谨与完善。七年来，我们持续专注于打造安全、便捷、高效的交易体验，凭借技术创新与服务优化，不断突破行业边界，成功实现了从挑战者到引领者的华丽转身。1.好平台：从“上币快”到“币种全”在加密市场瞬息万变的节奏中，MEXC 始终跑在前列。平台以
