Backpack TGE - Token Launch Analysis
TL;DR
- Total supply: 1B tokens
- Day 1 circulating: 250M tokens (25%)
- Pre-IPO total: 625M tokens (62.5%) — unlocked via growth milestones, not time-based vesting
- Post-IPO: 375M tokens (37.5%) — corporate treasury, fully unlocked 1 year after IPO
- Key differentiator: No team, investor, or founder can sell before 1 year post-IPO — all insider exposure is through the corporate treasury
- Estimated FDV (via prediction markets): $500M-$1B (weak reference)
- What makes this unusual: The insider lockup structure, milestone-based unlocks, and IPO anchor fundamentally change the supply dynamics compared to a typical TGE
For general TGE concepts (market scenarios, opening mechanisms, claim friction), see the TGE Liquidity Playbook.
Table of Contents
- Token Supply Structure
- How This Compares to Typical TGEs
- Day 1 Dynamics: What's Different
- The Milestone Unlock Model
- The IPO Anchor
- The Corporate Treasury Model
- Valuation Framework
- How Each Participant Should Think About This
- Open Questions
1. Token Supply Structure
Total Supply: 1,000,000,000 (1B tokens)
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ Phase 1: TGE (Day 1) │
│ ████████████████ 250M tokens (25%) │
│ Distributed to community at TGE │
│ │
│ Phase 2: Pre-IPO Growth Unlocks │
│ ████████████████████████ 375M tokens (37.5%) │
│ Triggered by milestones, product expansion, market access │
│ (Total pre-IPO circulating: 625M = 62.5%) │
│ │
│ Phase 3: Post-IPO Corporate Treasury │
│ ████████████████████████ 375M tokens (37.5%) │
│ Fully unlocked 1 year after IPO │
│ Team, investors, founders get exposure through this │
│ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Supply Timeline:
Day 1 ██████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 250M (25%)
Pre-IPO ████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 625M (62.5%)
IPO + 1 year ██████████████████████████████ 1,000M (100%)Key Dates and Triggers
| Phase | Tokens | Trigger | Cumulative Circulating |
|---|---|---|---|
| TGE (Day 1) | 250M (25%) | Token launch | 250M (25%) |
| Pre-IPO unlocks | 375M (37.5%) | Growth milestones, product expansion, market access | Up to 625M (62.5%) |
| Post-IPO treasury | 375M (37.5%) | 1 year after IPO | 1,000M (100%) |
2. How This Compares to Typical TGEs
Typical TGE Tokenomics
Most TGEs follow a pattern like this:
Typical TGE Token Distribution:
Airdrop/Community: 10-20% ← Claimable at TGE, immediate sell pressure
Team: 15-25% ← 1 year cliff, 3-4 year vest
Investors: 15-25% ← 6-12 month cliff, 2-3 year vest
Ecosystem/Treasury: 20-30% ← DAO-controlled, gradual emission
Foundation: 10-15% ← Reserved for future use
Day 1 Circulating: ~15-25% (airdrop + some ecosystem)
Team/Investor first unlock: 6-12 months
Full dilution: 3-5 yearsBackpack vs. Typical TGE
| Aspect | Typical TGE | Backpack TGE |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 circulating | 15-25% | 25% |
| Day 1 insider selling | Possible (some tokens unlocked, or via OTC/hedging) | Impossible — no insider tokens exist yet |
| Team token structure | Direct token grants with vesting | Indirect — through corporate treasury post-IPO |
| Investor token structure | Direct token allocation with cliff + vest | Indirect — through corporate treasury post-IPO |
| Unlock schedule | Time-based (cliff + linear vest) | Milestone-based (pre-IPO) + time-based (post-IPO) |
| Unlock predictability | High — calendar dates known in advance | Lower — milestones may or may not be met, timing uncertain |
| Total unlock timeline | 3-5 years to full dilution | Unknown — depends on IPO timing |
| Insider sell pressure at TGE | Moderate-High (OTC, hedging, unlocked advisors) | Zero |
| FDV overhang concern | Yes — investors bought at lower FDV, incentivized to sell | Reduced — no investor tokens in circulation until post-IPO |
What This Means in Plain English
The biggest structural difference is: there are no insiders in the Day 1 supply.
In a typical TGE, even when team and investor tokens are "locked," there are ways insiders can get exposure to the market:
- Advisory tokens that vest earlier
- OTC deals where insiders sell their locked allocation at a discount
- Hedging via derivatives (shorting perps while holding locked tokens)
- "Ecosystem" allocations that flow to connected parties
At the Backpack TGE, none of this applies. The only Day 1 supply is the 25% community distribution. Every token in circulation was earned by community participation, not purchased at a discount by VCs or granted to insiders. This fundamentally changes the adversarial dynamic.
3. Day 1 Dynamics: What's Different
Sell Pressure Analysis
In a typical TGE, Day 1 sell pressure comes from multiple sources:
Typical TGE Sell Pressure Sources:
1. Airdrop recipients selling ████████████ (Primary)
2. Pre-sale investors hedging/OTC ████████ (Significant)
3. Market makers reducing inventory ████ (Moderate)
4. Advisors with unlocked tokens ███ (Moderate)
5. Team members hedging ██ (Lower but exists)
Total sell pressure: HIGH, from multiple informed sourcesBackpack TGE Sell Pressure Sources:
1. Airdrop recipients selling ████████████ (Primary)
2. Market makers reducing inventory ████ (Moderate)
3. Pre-market/OTC sellers covering ██ (Small)
That's it. No investor hedging. No advisor dumps. No team selling.
Total sell pressure: LOWER than typical TGEWhat This Means for Each Scenario
Recall the four market scenarios from the TGE Liquidity Playbook:
| Scenario | Typical TGE Probability | Backpack TGE Probability | Why Different |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 (Dump) | ~40-50% | ~25-35% | Less sell pressure — no insiders selling |
| S2 (Ghost) | ~15-20% | ~15-20% | Similar — depends on claim mechanics |
| S3 (Pump) | ~15-20% | ~20-30% | More likely — constrained supply + hype |
| S4 (Balanced) | ~15-25% | ~20-30% | More likely — cleaner supply dynamics |
The reduced insider sell pressure makes S3 (Pump) and S4 (Balanced) more likely than at a typical TGE. This is significant for MM positioning — the default assumption at most TGEs is S1 (Dump), but at the Backpack TGE the MM should be more balanced in their initial stance.
The "Cleaner" Supply Dynamic
Typical TGE information asymmetry:
Sellers know: MM knows:
├─ Their cost basis ($0.01/tok) ├─ Current price
├─ Total allocation ├─ Order flow
├─ Project insider info ├─ Historical patterns
└─ Other insiders' plans └─ Cross-venue data
Insiders are selling at 100x+ profit.
The MM is providing exit liquidity to informed sellers.
Adverse selection: EXTREME.
Backpack TGE information asymmetry:
Sellers know: MM knows:
├─ Their cost basis ($0 — free) ├─ Current price
├─ Their allocation size ├─ Order flow
└─ Community sentiment ├─ Historical patterns
└─ Cross-venue data
Airdrop recipients are selling tokens they got for free.
No one has insider pricing advantage (no pre-sale rounds).
Adverse selection: MODERATE (still exists but less extreme).This is an underappreciated point: because there were no private investment rounds at a lower price, there's no class of sellers who are sitting on 50-100x gains and highly motivated to exit. The airdrop recipients' cost basis is zero, but they also don't have the same "I bought at $0.01 and it's now $1.00, I must sell" urgency that early-round investors have.
4. The Milestone Unlock Model
How It Works
The 375M pre-IPO tokens (37.5%) don't unlock on a fixed calendar schedule. Instead, they unlock when specific milestones are achieved:
- Growth-triggered unlocks — hitting user/volume/TVL targets
- Key milestones — product launches, regulatory approvals, technical achievements
- Product expansion — new markets, new product lines
- Broader market access — new jurisdictions, new partnerships
Why This Is Unusual
Most token unlocks are time-based: "18 months after TGE, 10% of team tokens unlock, then linear vest over 24 months." Everyone knows exactly when new supply hits the market. They can prepare.
Milestone-based unlocks are event-based: new supply hits the market when specific achievements happen. The timing is uncertain.
Time-based unlock (typical):
Month 0: ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ No unlock
Month 6: ████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Investor cliff
Month 12: ████████░░░░░░░░░░░░ Team cliff
Month 18: ████████████░░░░░░░░ Continued vest
Month 24: ████████████████░░░░ Continued vest
Month 36: ████████████████████ Fully vested
✓ Predictable — everyone knows the schedule
✓ Can be priced in advance
Milestone-based unlock (Backpack):
Day 1: ████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ TGE (25%)
Milestone A: ████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ Growth target hit (??)
Milestone B: ████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░ Product expansion (??)
Milestone C: ████████████████████░░░░░░░░ Market access (??)
IPO + 1 year: ████████████████████████████ Full unlock
? Less predictable — nobody knows when milestones will be met
? Harder to price in advance
? Each milestone creates a "mini supply event"Implications
For MMs: Each milestone unlock is effectively a mini-TGE. When a milestone is achieved and new tokens enter circulation, the MM should expect a temporary increase in sell pressure (some recipients of the new tokens will sell). The MM playbook from the TGE Liquidity Playbook applies in miniature at each milestone.
For investors: Milestone unlocks create uncertainty about future supply. This cuts both ways:
- Bullish interpretation: Tokens only unlock when the project is growing — new supply is paired with new demand (more users, more products, bigger market)
- Bearish interpretation: You don't know when dilution is coming, so you can't position for it. Every milestone announcement carries downside surprise risk
For the project: Milestone-based unlocks align supply growth with ecosystem growth. If the project stalls, tokens don't unlock, preventing gratuitous dilution. If the project thrives, new supply enters a market with growing demand. This is arguably better-designed than time-based vesting, which dilutes regardless of project health.
The Information Problem
With time-based vesting, everyone sees the unlock schedule. With milestone-based unlocks:
| Question | Who Knows the Answer? |
|---|---|
| What are the specific milestone criteria? | Project (and hopefully publicly documented) |
| How close is the project to hitting a milestone? | Project has the best information |
| When will the next unlock happen? | Nobody knows for certain |
| How many tokens unlock per milestone? | Depends on disclosure |
| Will the market react positively or negatively? | Nobody knows |
This creates an information asymmetry that doesn't exist with time-based vesting. The project knows more about upcoming unlocks than anyone else. If milestone criteria are vague or not publicly disclosed, this asymmetry is even larger.
5. The IPO Anchor
What It Means
Backpack has stated a path toward an IPO (Initial Public Offering) — listing the company's equity on a traditional stock exchange. This is unusual for a crypto project and fundamentally changes how the token should be valued.
Why an IPO Changes Everything
Typical crypto token:
Token ─→ Governance + utility + speculation
Value driver: Protocol revenue, token burns, staking yield
Comparable to: Other tokens in the same category
Valuation ceiling: Market sentiment + fundamentals
Exit: Sell token on crypto exchange
Backpack token with IPO path:
Token ─→ Governance + utility + speculation + implied equity link
Value driver: Company revenue, growth, traditional financial metrics
Comparable to: Both crypto tokens AND public companies
Valuation ceiling: Potentially anchored to equity valuation
Exit: Sell token on crypto exchange OR (post-IPO) implied equity valueThe Dual Valuation Framework
Post-IPO, two prices exist:
Token price on crypto exchange: $X
Company stock price on stock exchange: $Y
Market cap via token: $X × 1B tokens
Market cap via stock: $Y × shares outstanding
If these diverge significantly, arbitrage pressure emerges.
- Token cheap vs. stock → buy token
- Token expensive vs. stock → buy stock, or sell token
This creates a price anchor that doesn't exist for typical tokens.Pre-IPO, the IPO Is a Narrative
Before the IPO actually happens, the "IPO path" is a narrative that affects sentiment:
Bullish narrative: "This is a real company with a path to public markets. The token isn't just speculation — it's tied to a business that intends to go public. If they IPO at a $5B valuation, the token should reflect that."
Bearish narrative: "The IPO might not happen. It could be years away. The token trades at a premium to something that doesn't exist yet. And when the IPO does happen, 375M tokens (37.5%) unlock 1 year later — massive overhang."
Realistic framing: The IPO path reduces existential risk (the project is less likely to abandon the token if they're building toward an IPO) but introduces traditional finance valuation constraints (you can't trade at a $50B FDV if the company would IPO at $5B).
6. The Corporate Treasury Model
How It Works
In a typical crypto project, team and investor tokens are allocated directly:
Typical model:
Alice (co-founder): 5M tokens, 1yr cliff, 4yr vest
Bob (investor): 2M tokens, 6mo cliff, 2yr vest
Carol (advisor): 500K tokens, 3mo cliff, 1yr vest
Each person owns their tokens directly.
When tokens vest, individuals decide to hold or sell.
Sell decisions are individual and uncoordinated.In the Backpack model, insiders get exposure through the corporate treasury:
Backpack model:
Corporate Treasury: 375M tokens, unlocked 1 year post-IPO
Alice (co-founder): Owns X% of company equity → indirect token exposure
Bob (investor): Owns Y% of company equity → indirect token exposure
Carol (employee): Owns Z% of company equity → indirect token exposure
The company owns the tokens, not individuals.
Sell decisions are corporate decisions, not individual ones.Why This Matters
1. Coordinated vs. Uncoordinated Selling
In the typical model, each insider makes independent sell decisions. This creates unpredictable, staggered sell pressure — you never know when a team member will dump their allocation.
In the corporate treasury model, selling is a corporate decision. The company's board, not individual employees, decides when and how to deploy or sell treasury tokens. This is more predictable, more transparent (likely subject to corporate disclosure requirements), and less likely to produce chaotic, uncoordinated dumps.
2. Alignment with Company Success
Typical model:
Employee receives tokens → tokens vest → employee sells
Employee incentive: Sell high, regardless of company's long-term needs
Corporate treasury model:
Company holds tokens → company uses tokens strategically
Company incentive: Maximize long-term token value (because the treasury
IS the company's balance sheet)The corporate treasury model means the company has a direct financial interest in maintaining token value — the tokens are on the company's balance sheet. Dumping them would destroy the company's own net worth.
3. The Overhang Question
375M tokens (37.5% of total supply) sitting in a corporate treasury is a significant overhang. The market will always be aware that this supply exists and could enter circulation.
How to think about the overhang:
Pessimistic: "37.5% of supply is waiting to be dumped post-IPO"
Realistic: "A public company isn't going to dump 37.5% of its
most valuable asset. They'll deploy strategically over years:
- Employee compensation
- Ecosystem grants
- Strategic partnerships
- Market making
- Buyback programs (if price drops)
The treasury is an asset, not a liability."7. Valuation Framework
Prediction Market Reference
Various prediction markets estimate Backpack's FDV at launch between $500M and $1B. This is a weak reference (see TGE Liquidity Playbook — Reference Price).
At FDV $500M:
Price per token: $0.50
Day 1 market cap: $0.50 × 250M = $125M (circulating)
At FDV $1B:
Price per token: $1.00
Day 1 market cap: $1.00 × 250M = $250M (circulating)
Wide range — 2x between low and high estimate.
Prediction markets themselves are thin and shouldn't be trusted as
a precise price target, but they indicate the order of magnitude.The FDV Trap
A common mistake for retail participants: confusing FDV with market cap.
If the token opens at $1.00:
Market cap (what's actually tradeable): $250M
FDV (if every token existed): $1B
But $750M of tokens DON'T EXIST IN CIRCULATION.
The FDV implies a valuation that only materializes
if the price stays at $1.00 through all future unlocks.
Historically, this almost never happens — as more supply
enters, price adjusts downward unless demand grows proportionally.How to Think About Valuation
Method 1: Comparable FDV
| Comparable | FDV | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Other exchange tokens (established) | $1B-$20B+ | Mature, profitable exchanges with large user bases |
| Other exchange tokens (newer) | $200M-$2B | Growing exchanges, less proven |
| Recent major TGEs (non-exchange) | $500M-$5B | Varies wildly by hype cycle |
The question for investors: "Is Backpack at the $500M-$1B FDV level comparable to what other exchange tokens achieved at a similar stage of growth?" If established exchange tokens with much more revenue/users trade at $5B+, and Backpack is expected to grow, then $500M-$1B may be reasonable or even cheap. If the comparison is to exchanges that struggled post-launch, it may be expensive.
Method 2: Revenue Multiple
If Backpack generates revenue from trading fees, a traditional finance approach would value it based on revenue:
If Backpack annual revenue: $50M
And comparable exchange revenue multiples: 10-20x
Then implied FDV: $500M-$1B
This aligns with the prediction market range, suggesting
the market is roughly pricing it on fundamentals.Method 3: Circulating Supply Approach
Some investors ignore FDV entirely and focus on what's actually tradeable:
"I don't care about FDV — I care about market cap.
$250M circulating market cap for an exchange with real users,
real revenue, and an IPO path? That's interesting.
I'm buying the circulating market cap, not the FDV.
Yes, future unlocks will dilute, but:
- Milestone unlocks mean supply only grows if the project grows
- Treasury unlocks are corporate-controlled, not individual dumps
- If I'm right about growth, demand absorbs the new supply"The Unique Pricing Factors
Several factors specific to Backpack's structure should influence how participants think about price:
1. No Insider Cost Basis
In most TGEs, investors bought tokens at a known (usually low) price. If a VC bought at $0.05 FDV and the TGE is at $1.00 FDV, that VC is sitting on 20x and highly motivated to exit. This creates a known "selling floor" — informed sellers who will sell at any price above their entry.
At Backpack's TGE, no one bought tokens at a lower price. There is no class of sellers sitting on 20x returns. The sellers are airdrop recipients whose cost basis is zero (and who are less informed about fair value than typical insiders).
2. The IPO Put
The IPO path creates an implicit floor on long-term valuation. If the company goes public, the token has a reference point in traditional equity markets. This gives long-term holders something most token holders don't have: a potential non-crypto exit.
Typical token holder's exit options:
- Sell on crypto exchange
- That's it
Backpack token holder's exit options:
- Sell on crypto exchange
- Hold until IPO → token value anchored to equity valuation
- (Potentially) participate in token-to-equity conversion3. The Corporate Treasury Ceiling
The 375M tokens in corporate treasury create a soft ceiling on price:
If the token trades at $5.00:
Corporate treasury value: 375M × $5.00 = $1.875B
This means the company has a $1.875B asset on its balance sheet.
For this to be rational, the company's total valuation must be
significantly higher than $1.875B (otherwise the token treasury
IS the company, which is circular).
If the company is worth $3B total, and $1.875B of that is token
treasury, then only $1.125B is "real" business value. This creates
a natural gravity that pulls the token toward fundamentals.8. How Each Participant Should Think About This
Market Maker
The Backpack TGE is easier to make a market in than a typical TGE because:
- Less informed selling (no insiders in Day 1 supply)
- Lower adverse selection risk
- Supply dynamics are more predictable
- Reduced probability of S1 (Dump) scenario
But it also carries unique risks:
- Higher probability of S3 (Pump) means the MM could get squeezed short
- The weak reference price (Polymarket $500M-$1B range is wide) makes initial quoting harder
- If the token pumps hard on Day 1, the MM may sell inventory into the rally and then be caught short if price holds
MM-specific playbook adjustments:
- Start with a more balanced stance (not as bid-heavy as typical TGE)
- Be prepared for S3 (Pump) — have ask-side inventory ready
- Use the Polymarket range midpoint (~$750M FDV, $0.75/token) as a loose anchor
- Widen significantly if price moves outside the $500M-$1B FDV range
- Watch for milestone-related news flow in weeks following TGE
Token Creator (Backpack)
The tokenomics design is structurally favorable compared to typical TGEs:
- No insider selling creates a cleaner narrative
- Milestone unlocks align supply growth with project growth
- Corporate treasury model gives the company control over future supply
- IPO path adds credibility and a valuation anchor
Key considerations:
- Communicate milestone criteria clearly — if the market doesn't know what triggers unlocks, it will assume the worst
- Signal treasury intent — the market will speculate about when/how treasury tokens are deployed. Proactive communication reduces uncertainty premium
- First milestone unlock is critical — it sets the precedent for how the market absorbs new supply. If handled well (pre-announced, small, paired with positive news), future unlocks will be less disruptive
Sophisticated Investor
This is more attractive than a typical TGE for fundamental investors because:
- No insider cost basis = no 100x profit-takers dumping on you
- Corporate treasury model = institutional-grade governance over future supply
- IPO path = potential valuation anchor and non-crypto exit
- Milestone unlocks = supply growth tied to business growth
Concerns:
- FDV range ($500M-$1B) is wide — hard to set precise entry targets
- Milestone timing is unknown — can't model supply schedule precisely
- Post-IPO treasury unlock is a massive overhang (375M tokens)
- IPO timeline is uncertain — could be 2 years or 5 years
Investor framework:
Decision tree:
1. Is $500M-$1B FDV reasonable for Backpack at this stage?
Compare to: Other exchange tokens at similar maturity
2. At 25% circulating, is the market cap reasonable?
$125M-$250M market cap for the circulating supply
3. What's the growth trajectory?
Can they hit milestones that justify higher FDV when
supply expands?
4. What's the IPO scenario worth?
If they IPO at $X billion, what does that imply for token price?
5. Position sizing:
Given uncertainty, size position to tolerate a 50% drawdown
from entry. Don't go all-in on Day 1.Retail Participant / Airdrop Recipient
If you received an airdrop:
The game theory is the same as any TGE (see TGE Liquidity Playbook), but with a twist: the reduced insider selling means the typical "Day 1 dump" may be less severe. This means:
- Selling in the first 5 minutes may not be optimal (no insider front-running you)
- But the prisoner's dilemma still applies — if everyone holds, price holds; if everyone sells, price dumps
- The token may actually appreciate in the first hour (S3/S4 more likely than typical TGE)
- Don't assume it will dump just because "all TGEs dump" — this structure is different
If you're considering buying on Day 1:
- The lack of insider selling is genuinely bullish for Day 1 price action
- But Day 1 prices are still volatile and spreads are wide — you'll pay a premium for immediacy
- Consider waiting for the first hour to play out before committing significant capital
- Watch for the claim flow — if airdrop recipients are selling aggressively (S1), prices may get cheaper
- Size conservatively — even a structurally better TGE can have wild Day 1 swings
9. Open Questions
These are questions that don't have clear answers yet but will significantly affect the TGE dynamics. Each participant should be thinking about these:
Tokenomics & Supply
| Question | Why It Matters | Who Needs to Answer |
|---|---|---|
| What are the specific milestone criteria for pre-IPO unlocks? | Determines predictability of future supply. Vague milestones = more uncertainty premium | Project |
| How many tokens unlock per milestone? | A 5% unlock is very different from a 15% unlock. The size determines market impact | Project |
| Are milestone unlocks announced in advance? | If the market gets 30 days notice before an unlock, it can absorb it. If it's a surprise, expect volatility | Project |
| What happens to milestone tokens if milestones aren't met? | Are they burned? Delayed? Re-allocated? This affects the long-term supply ceiling | Project |
| Is there a maximum number of tokens that can unlock in any given period? | A rate limit on unlocks prevents supply shocks. Without one, a cluster of milestones could flood the market | Project |
IPO & Corporate Structure
| Question | Why It Matters | Who Needs to Answer |
|---|---|---|
| What's the target IPO timeline? | 2 years vs. 5 years = very different token dynamics. The treasury overhang is far away or uncomfortably close | Project |
| What jurisdiction will the IPO be in? | US IPO (SEC regulated) vs. other jurisdictions have different implications for token treatment | Project |
| What's the relationship between token value and equity value? | Is there a formal conversion mechanism? Or are they independent assets? This affects the "IPO anchor" narrative | Project |
| Will the company be required to hold a minimum treasury reserve? | If the company must hold X% of treasury tokens, the effective overhang is reduced | Project / Legal |
| How does the token fit into a public company's regulatory framework? | A public company owning 37.5% of a crypto token's supply raises securities law questions | Project / Legal |
Market Structure
| Question | Why It Matters | Who Needs to Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Will the token list on other exchanges simultaneously? | Multi-venue listing = better price discovery but fragmented liquidity. Single venue = concentrated liquidity but single point of failure | Project / Exchange |
| Will there be a perpetual futures market at launch? | Perps enable hedging for MMs and directional bets for traders. No perps = spot-only, less efficient | Exchange |
| Will there be a call auction or direct open? | See Question 1 | Exchange |
| What is the claim mechanism? | Instant vs. delayed, on-chain vs. off-chain, one-click vs. multi-step | Project |
| Are there any trading restrictions at open? | Price bands, order size limits, or cooldown periods that affect Day 1 dynamics | Exchange |
Demand Side
| Question | Why It Matters | Who Needs to Answer |
|---|---|---|
| What's the expected demand from institutional buyers? | If funds and desks are waiting to buy, sell pressure from airdrops is more easily absorbed | Market |
| Is there pent-up demand from the prediction market participants? | People who bet on a high FDV on Polymarket may want to buy the token to validate their position | Market |
| Will there be a token utility at launch? | If the token has immediate utility (governance votes, staking, fee discounts), some recipients will hold rather than sell | Project |
| What's the community sentiment? | Bullish community = more holding, less Day 1 selling. Bearish community = dump | Community |