Best Crypto Presales to Invest in: 10 Top ICOs for 2025

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Crypto presales – often structured as ICOs or token sales – have been a launchpad for some of the most successful blockchain projects. Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), BNB (BNB), and TRON (TRON) all leveraged presales to provide a first-mover advantage and often a discounted token price.

Presales can produce massive gains when projects blow up, but the risks are equally substantial. This guide discusses presales campaigns in the market this year, highlights the ones with the best long-term potential, and teaches you how to participate in presales. Read on to explore the best crypto presales in 2025.

Key Takeaways on Crypto Presales

• Crypto presales are loosely based on stock IPOs, where investors get to buy new tokens before they’re listed on public exchanges.
• The appeal of presale investing lies in the potential explosive returns if the project succeeds, resulting in increased adoption and a global community of token holders.
• Most presale events are available globally, with no minimum investment or country-specific requirements. Payments are typically accepted in cryptocurrencies.
• Selecting the best crypto presales to invest in is challenging, as the market is oversaturated and riddled with questionable projects and scams.
• Investing in new crypto startups carries inherent risks – most projects are early in development and based on unproven products or concepts.
• Best practices for risk management include independent research, limiting investment stakes, and ensuring the presale portfolio is highly diversified.

Best Crypto Presales to Invest in

Here’s a curated list of the best crypto presales currently open to the public:

1. Solaxy (SOLX) – An innovative layer-2 side-chain for the Solana ecosystem
2. BTC Bull Token (BTCBULL) – Benefit from Bitcoin’s price appreciation via airdrop rewards and token burns
3. MIND of Pepe (MIND) – Decentralized AI crypto agent operating as a self-sovereign personality
4. Best Wallet Token (BEST) – A high-utility token powering a non-custodial wallet with a range of practical use cases
5. Meme Index (MEMEX) – The world’s first decentralized index fund for meme coins
6. Harry Hippo (HIPO) – Meme-inspired presale project with gamification features and huge staking APYs
7. Spacepay (SPY) – Point-of-sale system allowing merchants to accept crypto payments seamlessly
8. Larva to Moon (LARVA) – New meme coin presale based on the popular Larva animated series
9. Multiverse Monkey (MMON) – Monkey-themed ecosystem with crypto games and a fully-fledged exchange
10. Seek Protocol (SEEK) – Immersive AR and gaming experiences built on the Solana blockchain

Top New Crypto Presales Reviewed

The following sections examine our list of crypto presales in depth. We explain how each presale project works, along with any key use cases and risks. Read on to explore the most promising presale events in [cur_year].

1. Solaxy (SOLX) – The First Layer-2 Solution for Solana With Almost $28 Million Raised

Solaxy is a popular choice with presale crypto investors, having already raised nearly $28 million. The project is developing a layer-2 solution for Solana with multi-chain capabilities. Similar to Ethereum layer-2 solutions, Solaxy provides Solana-based tokens with increased scalability, lower fees, and more reliable transaction settlement.

The target market is substantial, considering there are millions of tokens already on the Solana blockchain. The trade-off is that Solana frequently experiences network congestion and downtime, which can have serious consequences for its communities. For example, during Solana’s meme coin rally in 2024, investors were unable to buy, sell, or transfer tokens for several days.

To reduce main network stress, Solaxy’s solution is to first verify transactions off-chain, then group them into batches and securely add them to the Solana blockchain. Solaxy’s presale is offering SOLX tokens at a discounted price, with accepted payment methods including ETH, USDT, BNB, and SOL. Once launched, SOLX will be required to access and use the Solaxy layer-2 ecosystem.

2. BTC Bull Token (BTCBULL) – Earn Airdrop Rewards and Benefit From Token Burns When the BTC Price Hits Milestones

According to some Web 3.0 analysts, BTC Bull Token could be the best crypto presale to invest in, having so far reached 4$ million in funding. It’s an ERC-20 token that can be bought with ETH or USDT, aimed to provide increased exposure to the price of Bitcoin. BTC Bull Token has developed two sets of pricing milestones: one offers airdrop rewards and the other triggers a burning mechanism.

The burning mechanism triggers when Bitcoin exceeds $125,000, $175,000, and every $50,000 thereon until $1 million, and the team “burns” (or destroys) BTCBULL tokens. This is synonymous with a buyback, considering the tokens are removed from the circulating supply – they’re sent to an inaccessible wallet. Each token burning reduces the supply, making BTCBULL increasingly more scarce.

The airdrop milestone framework is designed around targets at $150,000, $200,000, and every $50,000 thereafter. When these targets are reached, this triggers airdrop distributions, with BTCBULL holders receiving a proportionate share. Crucially, airdrop rewards are paid in real Bitcoin.

3. MIND of Pepe (MIND) – Gain Exposure to Crypto AI Agents and Hive-Mind Analysis

MIND of Pepe is a crypto token sale offering exposure to the “AI agent” hype cycle. AI agents are autonomous algorithms that operate without human intervention. Unlike early models (ChatGPT, Grok, etc.), AI agents can engage with third-party platforms, taking the AI phenomenon to the next level.

MIND of Pepe, for instance, can generate social media posts based on existing trends. It can create dialogue, shape narratives, and provide updates for its community, all in a completely autonomous manner. MIND of Pepe develops its personality through real-time intelligence, leveraging Big Data and machine learning to improve and become more sophisticated.

Everything MIND of Pepe does is for the benefit of MIND holders. This includes promotional activities as well as new token launches (MIND of Pepe can deploy new meme coins on the blockchain). Ultimately, while AI agents are still a nascent technology, getting in early could be a smart move, as demonstrated by MIND of Pepe’s ongoing presale, which has raised about $7.5 million so far.

4. Best Wallet Token (BEST) – Benefit-Driven Wallet Token Offering Priority Launchpad Access and Enhanced Staking APYs

Best Wallet Token stands out as one of the top crypto presales for long-term investors with the promise of real utility and impressive returns. This utility token powers the ecosystem Best Wallet – a non-custodial wallet supporting 60+ blockchains that comes with a built-in DEX aggregator, and a discovery launchpad. BEST enhances the user experience with lower fees and exclusive perks, such as granting holders priority access to new projects on the launchpad.

Recent hits from Best Wallet’s launchpad include Catslap (SLAP), with investors netting gains of up to 9,000%. Only BEST holders can invest in the initial stage, giving them a strategic first-mover advantage and access to the lowest token price available. BEST is also a governance token, giving holders voting rights on key project proposals and ensuring Best Wallet operates on democratic initiatives.

Another use case for BEST is enhanced rewards when using the built-in staking aggregator, which is ideal for maximizing yields on the leading staking tokens. According to some analysts, BEST’s strong utility and community-led governance could make it an attractive option for institutional partnerships. Currently, BEST is available as a presale investment, with $11 million already raised.

5. Meme Index (MEMEX) – Holder-Only Index Providing Diversified Access to Meme Coins

As the coin behind the world’s first index for meme coins, Meme Index is another promising presale to watch, raising $4 million as of writing. MEMEX enables investors to gain exposure to the highly-speculative and volatile meme coin market in a more risk-averse way. Each of its index funds contains a basket of hand-picked meme coins, weighted based on various factors.

For example, the Meme Titan index weighs meme coins based on their market capitalization. It tracks Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), Pepe (PEPE), dogwifhat (WIF), and Bonk (BONK), among other market leaders. Alternatively, Meme Frenzy includes meme coins based on recent price discovery.

While riskier, this index fund offers diversified exposure to Fartcoin (FARTCOIN), Non-Playable Coin (NPC), Degen (DEGEN), and other meme coins with high-growth potential. All index funds are decentralized and require MEMEX tokens to gain access. MEMEX can still be purchased at a discounted presale rate using ETH, BNB, and USDT.

6. Harry Hippo (HIPO) – Earn Staking APYs of 601% and Compete for Rewards in a Play-to-Earn Game

Harry Hippo is a trending presale project that covers various Web 3.0 niches. It features meme elements and draws inspiration from “Hacienda Nápoles,” Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar’s family estate, which was home to various wild animals (including hippos). However, to ensure originality and long-term use cases, Harry Hippo is also developing a game.

Its blockchain-based game will leverage the play-to-earn model, meaning players can earn HIPO tokens through gameplay. While still in its early stages, the game promises to incorporate PvP mechanics where players will be able to compete against one another in a secure and private environment.

Harry Hippo is also making waves in the staking space, as it offers some of the biggest APYs in the market, with HIPO currently generating 601%. These generous staking rewards can be cashed in immediately after the presale investment is made.

Launched in January 2025, Harry Hippo’s presale just exceeded $1.8 million in funding. No minimums apply, and accepted payment methods include ETH, USDT, and USDC.

7. Spacepay (SPY) – Seamless and Cost-Effective Solutions for Merchants Wishing to Accept Crypto

Spacepay is a UK-based startup specializing in Point-of-Sale (PoS) systems. Its proprietary technology allows traditional retail merchants to accept cryptocurrencies without directly bearing any volatility risk. SPY simplifies operating with crypto, as merchants receive the full payment in their local currency, just like with other purchase methods (e.g., debit cards).

The process is relatively simple: Spacepay’s PoS terminal generates a unique QR code, which the customer can scan using their mobile wallet to initiate the payment. Spacepay then converts the user’s crypto payment into the merchant’s local currency, and the transaction is complete.

This offers the best of both worlds: the merchant can facilitate digital asset payments while still receiving the funds as they normally would.

Spacepay’s crypto token sale is still offering SPY at a discounted valuation. About $1 million has already been raised, with multiple exchange listings planned after the presale event ends. ETH, USDT, and USDC payments are accepted.

8. Larva to Moon (LARVA) – High-Potential Meme Coin Presale Launch Inspired by Larva Characters

The presale of Larva to Moon has strong potential thanks to its unique branding and a growing community support.. It offers a fresh twist to the animal-inspired meme coins, typically centered around cats and dogs. Larva to Moon is instead based on caterpillars from the “Larva” animated series, which is hugely popular in South Korea. The main characters, Yellow and Red, embody the contrast between good-naturedness and greed, respectively, which carries through to LARVA’s branding.

Importantly, however, Larva to Moon isn’t just a meme coin without use cases. To offer real utility, the team is developing a play-to-earn game, with 20% of the LARVA supply reserved for tokenized rewards to be distributed to the players.

Another feature is the AI-backed chatbot, allowing holders to interact with their favorite Larva characters. Larva to Moon has also launched a generous staking program, with 138% APYs currently available to presale buyers. As the project only launched recently, it still provides plenty of opportunity to secure a first-mover advantage. Nevertheless, it has already established itself as one of the top Ethereum presales, with about $550,000 raised so far.

9. Multiverse Monkey (MMON) – Feature-Rich Web 3.0 Ecosystem Where Holders Earn a Share of Exchange Profits

Meme coins are as hot as ever, but being a meme is not always enough to make them a worthwhile investment.. While Multiverse Monkey possesses meme-like elements, it’s also building a fully-fledged Web 3.0 ecosystem packed with features. One of its core products is the MMON Exchange, a decentralized trading platform supporting spot and futures markets.

A percentage of exchange proceeds is distributed to MMON holders, providing the community with a small slice of the profits. Multiverse Monkey also dips its toes into gaming through MMON Games, a platform that will host a wide range of play-to-earn gaming titles with tokenized rewards. However, like many presale ventures, Multiverse Monkey is still in the early development stages.

To motivate long-term holding while the underlying features are built, Multiverse Monkey is offering presale investors generous staking rewards, with APYs currently at 100%. Timing is key, and with Multiverse Monkey still being in the first stage of presale, investing now ensures the lowest entry prices for a project promising substantial returns if it follows through on its roadmap.

10. Seek Protocol (SEEK) – Innovative AR Gaming Experience in the Real World via a Native App

Last on our crypto presale list is Seek Protocol, an innovative gaming project built on the Solana blockchain. Seek Protocol combines augmented reality (AR) with AI, providing immersive experiences in the real world via a mobile app. The possibilities are endless, with a wide scope of use cases and partnerships being worked on.

For example, Seek Protocol can partner with crypto airdrop projects. Users can engage in an AR treasure hunt, searching for the airdropped tokens in their real-world environment. Web 3.0 projects can also use the Seek Protocol for engaging NFT games, with users searching for hidden drops via the AR app.

Another innovative aspect is SeekAI, which uses decentralized AI agents to offer personalized gaming experiences. These AI agents are intended to adapt in real time, creating dynamic in-game interactions that evolve based on how players engage with the platform.

The Seek Protocol presale offers a small-cap valuation to early investors, reflecting the increased risks while the AR ecosystem is still in development. Accepted payment methods include BTC, ETH, SOL, BNB, USDC, and USDT.

What is a Crypto Presale?

Presales give investors early access to new cryptocurrencies by allowing them to purchase unreleased tokens before they’re listed on exchanges. Whether labeled and structured as “ICOs” or “token sales,” these events are typically launched by crypto startups seeking funding. They’re similar to stock IPOs, as presales are often pre-revenue projects with unproven products or services.

Being untested and unproven increases the risk, as there’s no guarantee the presale project will be successful. Even so, the reason presales are so popular is that they have the potential to generate massive returns. After all, you’re investing in a new project at a discounted price before it achieves mainstream adoption and maximizes its valuation.

Many successful cryptocurrencies, including the largest by market capitalization, initiated token sales before launching – examples include Ethereum, Solana, and BNB. Early backers of these projects secured a token price worth just a small fraction of future valuations. ETH, for instance, was sold for just $0.31 in 2014, rising to almost $5,000 by 2021 (a 1.6 million percent increase).

Presale investments differ from traditional securities primarily in that fiat payments are rarely accepted due to regulatory compliance. Instead, investments are made in cryptocurrencies, with most crypto presales accepting a selection of popular crypto coins such as ETH, USDT, SOL, and USDT. Presale purchases are typically anonymous and come without minimum requirements. These factors ensure that presales are globally accessible and affordable, even for the casual retail investor.

Tokens are usually distributed to investors after the presale ends in what is known as the token generation event (TGE). This can coincide with a token’s listing on one or more exchanges, allowing it to be traded for other assets. Listing can be transformative for a token’s price, as market supply and demand dynamics take over, resulting in substantial gains or drastic losses.

How do Cryptocurrency Presales Work?

Presale investments work differently from traditional crypto purchases. You won’t be using an exchange like Binance or Coinbase. You’ll need to connect a wallet to the presale website, fill out an order form, and pay for the purchase with an accepted coin.

We’ll guide you through the presale investing process in more detail in the following sections, helping you understand how it works and what to look out for.

Token Creation, Allocation, and Audit

Like all cryptocurrencies, presale tokens are created with properties – such as supply and distribution – defined entirely by the project’s team. Most operate on existing blockchains like Ethereum and Solana – the most popular host chains for presale tokens.. No presale is like another – one presale project might have a total supply of 100 billion tokens, while another opts for a much smaller supply of just 30 million.

Properties like the supply are described in the project’s whitepaper, along with a full overview of how the tokens will be allocated. This is known as “tokenomics.” Let’s take a look at an example of well-balanced tokenomics on a presale with a 10 billion token supply:

• The team might offer 50% (5 billion) to the presale event. This means 50% of the supply is held by presale backers, which is a strong incentive for early adopters.
• The project might allocate a further 30% (3 billion) to development, which covers operating costs like wages and premises.
• The remaining 20% (2 billion) could be split between marketing, exchange liquidity, community rewards, and the founders.

Once the presale tokens have been created, they’ll appear on the blockchain with a unique smart contract address. Legitimate presale projects use reputable auditing companies to analyze their contracts, ensuring it’s free from vulnerabilities and potential manipulation.

Tip: Never invest in crypto presales unless the contract address has been audited by a reputable company. A lack of auditing could be a red flag that the project is a scam.

Presale Stages and Prices

Unlike stock IPOs, which typically have just one price per share, the crypto presales are usually run in different stages. Each stage increases the token price, so those investing early benefit from a more favorable cost basis:

• The initial presale price could be $0.02 per token. This price will remain in place until the respective batch of tokens is sold.
• After that, the presale price could increase to $0.025 per token, meaning the second wave of investors is paying a 25% premium.
• These price increases happen until all presale stages have sold out.

Now, presale opportunities come with both advantages and risks. Securing tokens during an active presale can offer immediate upsides, but some presales experience unsustainable price increases, often creating a fear of missing out (FOMO), which can inflate short-term demand. For example:

• The final presale price is $0.10 per token.
• The project plans to list the tokens on exchanges at $0.40.
• This means a 300% upside and even more for those investing early.
• The result? A large wave of presale buyers will sell their tokens as soon as possible..
• Due to significant selling pressure, the token’s price is likely to crash.

The presale length varies depending on the project. Some presales last for several months before listing on exchanges, while others are much shorter. Knowing the start and end dates is essential, as your presale investment will be locked until the TGE.

Alternatively, some presales are based on a “hard cap” target, ending once it’s achieved. The hard cap is the amount of funds the presale aims to raise and can vary drastically from project to project. Presales with larger hard caps tend to last longer, all other factors remaining the same.

Direct Presale Investments via a Non-Custodial Wallet

Presale events are run directly by the project, so investors can bypass third-party intermediaries like exchanges.

You’ll need two things to invest in a crypto presale:

1. A non-custodial wallet. These are digital wallets, usually free, controlled exclusively by the user. Examples include Best Wallet, MetaMask, and Exodus.
2. The right cryptocurrency. To participate in a presale, you’ll need some supported cryptocurrency in your wallet. Presales typically accept popular coins like ETH and USDT.

Satisfying these requirements is quite straightforward. For example, most non-custodial wallets like Best Wallet allow users to buy cryptocurrencies instantly with a credit card or e-wallet. If you already own some crypto, but not the right one, you can also quickly exchange your assets for the ones you need.

Then it’s time to take part in the presale., Visit the presale website and connect the non-custodial wallet. This enables you to make payments from the wallet balance. And finally, simply choose the investment amount and confirm it via the connected wallet.

After the Presale Crypto Event Finishes

Two key events happen after the presale ends: investors receive their tokens, and tokens are generated.

First, investors receive the presale tokens they purchased. Some projects distribute tokens automatically, while others require investors to revisit their website to manually “claim” them. Either way, the tokens will be transferred to the same wallet you used to complete the presale purchase.

Second, the TGE takes place, meaning the presale tokens are created and enter circulation. At this time, the tokens are usually also listed on one or more exchanges. The vast majority of presales use decentralized exchanges (DEXs) such as Uniswap or Raydium, as there are almost no listing restrictions, making them highly accessible for new projects. There are exceptions, especially when presale events are hugely successful, popular, or have raised a significant amount.

how to claim tokens

In this instance, the presale crypto tokens can be listed on centralized exchanges (CEXs). These platforms are much bigger than DEXs, have higher trading volumes, more active users, and greater liquidity levels. Securing tier-one exchange listings (on Binance or Kraken, for example) can be hugely beneficial for the token price.

No matter the exchange, the token’s price will be determined by market forces once it goes live. Demand and supply dictate whether the price rises or falls, further influenced by hype, investor confidence, and broader market conditions.

Why Invest in Crypto Presales?

The best crypto presales offer several benefits to speculative investors. This includes a first-mover advantage, discounted token price, and the ability to gain exposure to innovative concepts from the ground up. Not to mention the chance to make significant gains.

Let’s explore why these presale properties make them so popular in the crypto market.

Chance to Make Significant Gains

Like growth stocks, presales enable investors to target much higher gains than the market average. You’re investing in brand-new startups, meaning they’ll likely have a small market capitalization. This is beneficial, considering small-cap projects can grow considerably faster when compared to established large caps.

In crypto, it doesn’t get bigger and better established than Bitcoin. The world’s biggest crypto asset can boast the largest market capitalization in crypto, on par with that of blue-chip stocks, such as Amazon, Alphabet (Google), and Meta. Just like Bitcoin, these companies offer growth potential, but at a comparatively slow rate, considering they already have mega valuations.

Contrast this with a presale token. Similar to penny stocks, presales are often listed on exchanges with a market capitalization of just a couple of million, and rarely reaching the $100 million mark. From an investment perspective, this offers significant room for long-term growth.

In the speculative crypto markets, it’s not uncommon for a $5 million project to increase by thousands of percent, often in weeks or sometimes even days. Thanks to the small market cap, these increases can be achieved even under quite modest buying.. The best crypto presales frequently demonstrate their massive price potential compared to established market leaders – as we’ll see in examples below.

Gain Exposure to Innovative Concepts

While some presales are meme coins without real use cases, others present new and innovative concepts. Presales provide financial exposure to these concepts from the ground up. Think investing in electric cars before Tesla went public. Or Facebook long before its stock IPO.

The best part is, unlike traditional investments, presales aren’t reserved for institutions and venture capitalists. Anyone can invest, rarely with any requirement to provide personal information or government-issued ID. This makes the global investing space more accessible.

Consider Solaxy, the project building a layer-2 network for the Solana blockchain. Having raised $28 million so far, Solaxy is on course to become the best crypto presale this year. Its primary focus is to make Solana more scalable, reliable, and cost-effective, which will directly benefit millions of Solana-based tokens and can have a huge impact on their value.

Presale Buyers Often Get a Discounted Rate

Crypto presales offer financial incentives to early backers, as the token price often increases incrementally every few days. Those investing at the earliest stage secure a lower cost basis, with each subsequent price increase giving early investors a larger upside, as in the example below:

• You invest at the first presale stage at $0.50 per token.
• After 10 additional stages, the token price has increased to $0.80.
• If the presale token is listed on exchanges at $0.80, that’s 60% higher than you originally paid.

That said, presale upsides aren’t without their risks. In an ideal world, the presale project would have raised a significant sum, ensuring sufficient liquidity at the TGE, giving you a free choice to lock in that 60% upside straightaway or hold for the long term.

However, other presale investors might share your strategy and sell immediately at the TGE. Too much selling pressure at this stage without new buyers can spell disaster for the token. This risk can be mitigated to an extent by investing in presale tokens with strong utility, as investors can be more inclined to hold long-term.

Access to Specific Presales Perks and Benefits

The presale space is becoming competitive, so projects are finding new ways to incentivize investors. An increasingly common perk is to offer staking rewards for presale buyers. Historically, staking was only an option after the tokens were launched on exchanges. This is no longer the case, with the best crypto presales offering massive staking APYs from the get-go.

• Harry Hippo’s presale is currently returning a 601% APY.
• Larva to Moon investors are also getting substantial APYs at 138%.

While these staking payouts might seem unsustainable, presale projects often account for this by allocating tokens from the overall supply. For example, 10% of the supply might be reserved for presale staking, fully utilized over a preset duration.

Additionally, most staking programs have dynamic rewards. This means the APY is based on demand, so the interest rate reduces as more people stake their tokens. Just like the presale discount, early investors get the biggest staking APYs, as demand is lower in the initial stages.

Examples of Famous Cryptocurrency Presales

We’ve mentioned several times that the best crypto presales can generate massive returns. This section highlights some of the most famous examples. Read on to learn about the most successful presale events of all time and what the potential earnings on these tokens were.

1. Ethereum (2014), +1.6 million percent

Ethereum wasn’t always a mega-cap project valued at hundreds of billions of dollars. It began humbly – with a whitepaper, an innovative concept, and a presale.

Ethereum was intended to be revolutionary: it was the first blockchain to introduce smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). However, at the time, Ethereum’s ambitions were just theoretical.

• Those risking money on Ethereum’s 2014 presale would have paid just $0.31 per ETH.
• ETH exceeded $1,000 in 2018, over 320,000% higher than the presale rate.
• Anyone holding until late 2021 could have sold at almost $5,000 per ETH, a presale increase of over 1.6 million percent.

2. BNB (2017), +580,00%

Formally Binance Coin, BNB is the native crypto asset backing the Binance exchange. The BNB presale was launched in 2017, with holders getting 50% discounts on exchange commissions.

Later in BNB’s journey, the BNB Chain network was developed, creating an entire ecosystem with smart contracts and dApps, rewarding holders with broad utility and a substantial increase in the value of their assets.

• BNB’s presale price was $0.15.
• BNB enjoyed a prolonged rally after its presale event, surpassing $10 within months of the initial exchange listing.
• BNB recently hit an all-time high of over $793, a presale increase of over 528,000%.

Just like Ethereum, BNB’s price trajectory shows that long-term holders can generate the biggest returns. It can be tempting to sell early when prices rise, but investing in quality projects over multiple years is often the best strategy.

3. Solana (2020), +133,000%

Solana is a layer-1 blockchain prioritizing speed, low fees, and scalability. It can handle thousands of transactions per second, making it substantially more scalable than Ethereum (which averages about 12 transactions per second).

Solana initially started raising funds in 2018, although these were reserved for institutional investors and venture capitalists. The first public round didn’t take place until 2020, with presale buyers paying just $0.22 per SOL.

• Solana had its TGE in April 2020, opting for a list price of $0.67. Many investors snapped up the immediate upside of about 200%. Others held for the long run, believing in Solana’s potential as an Ethereum competitor.
• Solana hit an all-time high of over $294 in January, 133,000% higher than the presale rate.

How to Pick the Best Crypto Presales

Despite these lucrative examples, many presale projects fail to deliver any price gains, potentially leaving investors with big losses. Picking the best crypto presale to invest in is becoming increasingly challenging. Investors should consider multiple factors, from use cases and industry competition to the tokenomics.

This section helps investors make more informed decisions when selecting presale projects to join.

Core Functionality

Most experts agree that the presale project’s core functionality is the most important factor. This refers to the project’s main product or service, which should be innovative and provide solutions to existing problems. Great examples of this are:

• Ethereum – the first blockchain to introduce smart contracts, allowing parties to enter trustless agreements.
• Solana – the project aimed to address Ethereum’s performance woes. Solana promised faster and more scalable transactions with significantly cheaper fees.

These projects had strong fundamentals from the get-go and were able to generate sizable returns for early backers. Many presale projects have since attempted to replicate their revolutionary success, with few succeeding to such an extent. Take Meme Index, for example. Meme Index is developing the world’s first index fund for meme coins. Its clear vision and goal seem to resonate with the requirements of the market, as over a million meme coins are created every week, many of very questionable quality, making market exposure increasingly risky.

Meme Index mitigates the risks associated with meme investing through diversified and professionally managed funds. This means beginners can access a basket of meme coins without needing to actively monitor the market.

Only time will tell if Meme Index will achieve long-term success, but the fact remains that presales like it, where high-quality products and services are at the forefront, have the best chance of achieving billion-dollar valuations.

Token Use Case

Strong fundamentals and a long-term vision are important, but immediate token use cases are just as critical for driving real results. The question to ask is whether the token itself has any function other than financial speculation. If not, investor interest will likely be driven solely by the prospect of short-term gains – a mindset that can limit the token’s long-term potential.

Instead, the best crypto presales have strong token utility, ensuring long-term adoption. For example, SOLX tokens, which back Solaxy’s layer-2 network, are required to pay network fees. This is similar to Polygon (POL) and Arbitrum (ARB), layer-2 solutions for the Ethereum blockchain.

Another example is BEST, the ecosystem token backing Best Wallet. BEST holders unlock multiple perks when using the Best Wallet app, including lower fees, higher staking rewards, and access to launchpad events before the general sale.

In contrast, meme coins, while still offering price potential, rarely have any use cases. This is why meme coin rallies often peak within days or weeks before a steep and permanent decline.

Tokenomics

Tokenomics is equally important when evaluating crypto presales. Details should be outlined clearly in the presale whitepaper, with a clear overview of the supply dynamics and token allocation.

It’s essential to know how many tokens have been created and whether this figure is finite or unlimited. Presales with a finite supply are generally the safer option, as there’s no risk of new tokens being created. Similar to equity issues, creating new tokens can dilute the value for existing holders.

The next step is to assess what percentage of tokens are being sold to presale investors. For example, if only 10% of the supply has been allocated for the presale, this means 90% will be controlled by the project’s team. This is risky, as only a small percentage of tokens are in the public float.

Unless the tokens are locked in smart contracts, they could be sold at any time. This could hurt the token price and the project’s reputation, depending on the size of the sale. You should also ensure that the remaining tokens have clear assignments, including a healthy split between development costs, marketing, and exchange listings.

Market Competition

Another tactic when picking the best crypto presales is to assess broader market competition. Ideally, you’ll want to focus on niche concepts with limited competitors, giving the presale project a significant first-mover advantage.

For example, we mentioned that Solaxy aims to become the first layer-2 solution for millions of SPL tokens. This positions Solaxy in a niche market with limited competition. While new entrants are likely to emerge over time, having a first-mover advantage can be a major asset, often translating into lasting momentum and market recognition.

Now consider dog-themed meme coins. This market is oversaturated with canine coins of all varieties, many of them with no unique selling points or distinctive use cases or benefits. Most launches in this category won’t stand the test of time.

Confirmed CEX Listings

We noted that most presale coins are only listed on DEXs, which is why securing a CEX listing can be especially significant for a presale project. A DEX listing is nothing to boast about, as anyone can create and launch a DEX token, with platforms like Uniswap and Raydium only requiring a small liquidity deposit.

Therefore, when choosing the best crypto presales, look for projects with an approved listing from a notable CEX. That would include the biggest CEXs like Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken, which have millions of active traders and billions of dollars in daily trading volumes.

Lower-level CEXs have small trading volumes, sometimes even artificially inflated. These CEXs provide no added value to the presale token. It’s also important to independently verify any CEX listing announcements – some scam projects have falsely claimed upcoming listings to mislead and attract investors.

Where to Find Crypto Presales

To maximize potential presale gains, getting in at the earliest stage is often beneficial. You’ll almost always get the lowest token price, and often also the ability to immediately stake your presale tokens, converting to the highest APYs.

Read on for tips on where to find the best crypto presales to invest in, ensuring a first-mover advantage.

Google News

First, use popular search terms on Google like “new crypto presale” or “upcoming ICOs”. Most presales use crypto news websites for paid advertising, so you’ll likely come across plenty of relevant results.

Sponsored placements are commonplace on the flooded crypto market. You should always do your own research when encountering sponsored projects, considering the content isn’t organic.

That said, crypto presales can also gain organic attention, especially when a large amount of capital has been raised or the underlying product offers something unique.

Reddit (CryptoMoonShots)

Reddit is a popular online forum with a massive crypto and blockchain community. One of the best ways to find upcoming presales is on the r/CryptoMoonShots subreddit. Boasting over 2.1 million members, there are often threads about low-cap presale gems.

Moreover, Reddit is known for its no-nonsense approach to crypto hype and FOMO, so red flags are quickly called out. Even so, r/CryptoMoonShots should only be used as a reference point. Independently research any discussed presales, even if the broader sentiment is bullish.

X Hashtags

X is another social media platform with a huge crypto presence. Known as “Crypto Twitter” or CT, you can search relevant hashtags to find presale events.

Hashtags to look for include:

• #crypto presale
• #crypto ICO
• #token sale
• #new crypto launch

New presale projects will use these hashtags themselves, hoping to get as much exposure as possible. Consider using the search filters too, so that you only view recent results.

Presale and ICO Crypto Listing Sites

Next, explore some of the leading presale and ICO listing sites. These are online directories listing upcoming crypto presales. For example, ICOBench offers a table showing the latest presales alongside the start and end dates.

Clicking a presale takes you straight to its website, allowing you to read and scrutinize the whitepaper, tokenomics, and roadmap. It’s also worth following ICO Drops, another popular listing site with over 196,000 followers on X, all keeping an eye out for the latest presale announcements.

Join Reputable Telegram Communities

Some of the most promising crypto presales are first revealed in Telegram channels. These communities are typically run by well-known crypto influencers with huge followings. The benefit here is that influencers often secure private round access to new presales, either by meeting high minimum investment requirements or leveraging their strong network of contacts.

The drawback is that the best Telegram channels charge a monthly fee. While the cost could be worthwhile if you’re consistently getting into presales early, it’s important to do thorough research beforehand, as you won’t know the true value of the channel until after you’ve paid.

Potential Risks of Crypto Presales

We’ve established that presale events can be lucrative when choosing the right projects. However, the risks of presale investing shouldn’t be overlooked.

Consider the following risks before buying presale tokens.

Presale Scams

Presales are an unregulated market, unlike traditional securities. Anyone can launch a presale and collect investment funds, meaning they’re commonly used by crypto scammers.

Scammers can create a comprehensive website and whitepaper packed with “innovative features” and “development targets.” However, they have no intention of following through on any of these promises; instead, they create hype and boost the value of their tokens with aggressive sales tactics.. When they’ve collected enough, the scammers disappear, keeping all of the presale funds and laundering them on decentralized exchanges.

Unfortunately, there’s no recourse if the presale was backed by an anonymous team, which is common practice, so you need to be extra careful when placing your money and faith in unknown and unproven presale projects.

Lack of Development

Most presales are early-stage projects, meaning their product is often still in development. Depending on the complexity of the concept, it could take months or even years to complete, and there’s no guarantee the product will ever get fully developed.

Delays or failure to launch can happen for various reasons, such as the team running out of funds or shifting focus to other ventures. In any case, stalled development is likely to harm the presale token’s price.

Financial Losses

Whether or not you make money from a presale investment comes down to the price you paid for the presale token and the price you eventually sell it for.

This is no different from any investment market, and timing these entry and exit points can be extremely difficult. Crypto tokens are highly volatile, so there’s every chance you’ll be forced to sell at a loss. These losses can be significant when investing in presales, especially those with small market capitalizations.

And, if you’re unfortunate enough to invest in a scam presale, the token is likely to become worthless, and you’ll lose your entire investment.

Vesting

Even the best ICOs can have vesting terms. Vesting means the presale tokens are locked for a certain time frame after the TGE to prevent presale investors from immediately dumping their tokens to secure a quick profit.

However, vesting terms can sometimes work against investors, especially if the token surges in value early on, only to enter a bearish cycle before the lockup period ends. Consider this example:

• You invest $500 into a cryptocurrency presale at $0.10 per token, and the tokens are vested for three months.
• The tokens are listed on exchanges at $0.20. They hit $2 within the first two weeks before peaking.
• Your $500 investment was technically worth $10,000 at the peak, but the vesting terms prevented you from selling.
• By the time the three-month vesting term passes, the token falls below the original purchase price, leaving you with a loss.

Vesting terms aren’t always made clear when investing in presales, so it’s essential to do thorough research before committing any funds.

Pros & Cons of Crypto Presales

Here’s an overview of the key advantages and potential risks to consider before investing in a crypto presale:

Pros of Presale Investing:

• Invest in new and innovative concepts from the ground up
• Enter the market at a low valuation
• Benefit from a discounted token price when investing early
• The best crypto presales can produce explosive returns
• No strict investing requirements – presales are open to everyone

Cons of Presale Investing:

• Many presale tokens fail, leaving investors with losses
• Some presale projects are scams
• The presale market is highly saturated with competing presales
• Investments usually require a specific crypto (fiat is rarely accepted)
• Expect high volatility once the token is listed on exchanges

How to Make Sure a Crypto Presale is Safe & Legit

All presale investments are risky, even those building innovative solutions to real-world problems. However, following some best practices can mitigate the risks.

Consider these risk management strategies before investing in a presale.

Research and Scrutinize the Whitepaper Extensively

Reading the whitepaper should be a minimum requirement when researching presales. The whitepaper outlines everything there is to know about the project, from its core functionality and use cases to the token supply and development timelines.

Assess whether the project offers anything new or innovative, and whether there’s likely to be demand for that product. Whitepapers with limited substance or overly hyperbolic buzzwords are a big red flag.

Check the Contract Audit

Legitimate presale projects not only have robust smart contracts, but they also obtain audits from reputable blockchain security firms. This ensures the smart contract doesn’t have any terms that could be exploited by outsiders or the founders themselves.

For instance, a vulnerability in the smart contract might allow new tokens to be created at any time. If exploited, these tokens could be dumped on the market, causing the price to crash. Audits vastly reduce the risks of such exploits and scams.

Assess Working Evidence of the Product

Anyone can claim to be working on a groundbreaking technology. But without any evidence, it’s difficult to know whether these claims are credible. Legitimate presales offer verifiable materials to show their development progress, such as an early prototype, working demo, or Beta release. If none of this is available, it’s best to avoid such a presale.

Independently Verify Listing Claims

Scam presales often make bold claims about securing listings on major exchanges. However, top platforms like Binance and Coinbase have strict policies that prevent projects from announcing listings in advance.

Official listing announcements can only be made by the exchanges themselves. So, if a presale project is claiming a major listing before it’s been publicly confirmed by the exchange, it’s a strong indicator of a potential scam.

Check for Notable Presale Backers

The best crypto presales secure investments from notable companies, often big players in the blockchain sector, traditional venture capitalists, and angel investors. These stakeholders have comprehensive vetting and due diligence processes.

If established investors have gone through their due diligence and decided to back a project, it’s a strong sign the presale may be legitimate. However, it’s crucial to independently verify these claims – some presales fabricate financial backers or partnerships to falsely build credibility and attract unsuspecting investors.

How to Invest in a Crypto Presale

Investing in a crypto presale is usually a straightforward process. Most projects require you to connect a wallet and invest via a well-known cryptocurrency like ETH or USDT.

Here’s a step-by-step overview:

• Step 1: Get a Non-Custodial Wallet: Use a safe and reliable non-custodial wallet.. Choose between a mobile or browser wallet based on your preference. If you don’t have one, we recommend Best Wallet.
• Step 2: Add Crypto to the Wallet: Check which cryptocurrencies are accepted by the presale and transfer some to the wallet. Alternatively, many wallets have a built-in feature supporting instant onramping with credit cards and e-wallets.
• Step 3: Visit the Presale Website: Visit the presale website, and pay attention that you’re using the correct URL (scammers are known to create fake presale websites).
• Step 4: Connect Your Wallet: There should be a “Connect Wallet” button somewhere on the presale website. It’s usually located next to the presale dashboard. Click it to connect your wallet.
• Step 5: Complete the Presale Form: Fill in the required information, choose the payment coin and amount.
• Step 6: Confirm the Presale Purchase: Confirm the presale purchase, and a wallet notification will appear a few seconds later. Open the wallet, check that the transaction details are correct, and confirm. The payment will then be transferred to the presale wallet address.
• Step 7: Claim the Presale Tokens: You might need to return to the presale website to claim the purchased tokens. This usually happens once the presale is over. The tokens will then be transferred to your wallet.

Selling Crypto Presale Tokens

Unless vesting terms specify otherwise, presale tokens can usually be sold immediately after the TGE, as they’ll be trading on exchanges that support open market conditions. The selling process differs depending on whether the presale tokens are listed on a DEX or CEX:

• DEXs: DEXs like Uniswap, Raydium, and PacakeSwap support wallet-to-wallet swaps. The presale token will trade against another asset like ETH, BNB, or SOL. You’ll need to connect the wallet storing the presale tokens and swap them for the paired asset.
• CEXs: CEXs like Binance and Kraken are similar to traditional brokers. You’ll need to open an account, complete KYC, and then deposit the presale tokens. Note that you can only do this with an exchange that lists your presale token. You can then sell the tokens on the exchange, usually for coins like USDT.

If you’re trying to make a profit, the real challenge is knowing when to sell. Some presale investors have a short-term mindset, looking to make quick gains before moving on to the next project. This strategy helps lock in early profits, though it can mean missing out on larger long-term returns.

On the other hand, some investors focus exclusively on high-quality projects with real use cases and solutions and are happy to hold for several years. There’s no correct strategy here – it all comes down to your investing goals and risk appetite.

Conclusion

Presale investing offers high-risk, high-reward opportunities. Choosing the right project and getting in early can lead to substantial gains—both short-term and long-term. That said, many presale tokens ultimately fail, so it’s essential to fully understand the risks before getting involved.

Right now, Solaxy stands out as one of the most promising crypto presales, particularly for long-term investors focused on real-world use cases. With around $28 million raised so far, Solaxy is building an innovative layer-2 network designed to support the broader Solana ecosystem.