5. Preparing for TGE
TGE: Readiness & Strategic Positioning
Is your project truly ready to launch a token?
Table Of Content
Why Readiness Matters Quick Diagnostic Core Principles Real-World Models Final Checklist
Why Readiness Matters
In crypto, a TGE (Token Generation Event) is a system-wide coordination checkpoint.
Done right, it ignites an ecosystem. Done poorly, it dilutes your brand, bleeds liquidity, and leaves users disillusioned. Yet too many projects treat the TGE as a marketing milestone or exit event. That’s a mistake.
This module will help you assess your true TGE readiness, before you hit deploy. It’s built for founders and teams who care about long-term value creation, not just hype cycles.
Outcomes of this module:
Diagnose your strengths and gaps across product, community, and ecosystem readiness
Design a token launch that compounds growth rather than cannibalizing it
Build a team, narrative, and roadmap aligned for sustained activation
Quick Diagnostic: Are You TGE-Ready?
Use this 5-question pulse check to orient yourself before diving deeper:
Dimension | Question |
|---|---|
Product-Market Fit | Are people using your product without token incentives? |
Community Readiness | Do you have users contributing insight, not just farming points? |
Narrative & Differentiation | Can you explain why your token matters without using buzzwords? |
Team-Led Activation | Are your founders building in public and driving the message? |
Ecosystem Fit | Will your TGE plug into a larger sequencing strategy, not launch in a vacuum? |
Score:
4–5 Yes: You’re close. Time to refine.
2–3 Yes: You need to level up key areas before committing.
0–1 Yes: A token won’t save you. Focus on traction first.
Core Principles
1. TGE Is a Coordination Engine, Not a Launch Day
Tokens aren’t just incentive structures, they’re orchestration tools for ecosystems.
Your TGE should coordinate multiple stakeholders across products, primitives, and user behaviors. That means:
Designing for ecosystem sequencing (wallet → lending → DEX)
Creating liquidity ladders that make participation compounding, not cannibalizing
Timing your launch as a checkpoint, not a celebration
Think like Solana: Pump.fun → Raydium. Not like a solo protocol sprinting into a vacuum.
2. Traction Before Tokens
Hype can’t replace usage. Point systems don’t prove PMF.
Before you launch a token, you should be able to show:
Real usage and retention (wallets, DAUs, integrations)
A clear pain point your token helps solve
Partners or contributors willing to show up without incentives
↗ Use: PMF Readiness Scorecard
Checklist covering retention, engagement, and usage thresholds.
3. Narrative Drives Network Effects
Great TGEs feel inevitable. That’s narrative power.
You need:
A clear manifesto: what you stand for
A hero: your users, your team, your cause
A villain: the broken system you’re here to replace
Narrative creates cultural gravity. Your token should feel like the next chapter, not the first.
Complete the Core Narrative & Messaging module
Review Narrative Case Studies
4. Founder-Led Marketing Is the Moat
If your founder isn’t building in public, you’re flying blind.
In Web3, the founder is the brand. Their X account, Discord presence, and narrative alignment shape the tone and reach of the project.
It’s not about being an influencer—it’s about being visible, vocal, and values-driven.
Complete Founder & Team-led Marketing module
Score visibility, narrative consistency, and social proof across founders and key team members.
5. Community Quality > Community Size
Airdrop farmers are not your community.
Look for signs of:
Insightful contributions (feedback, content, ideas)
Unincentivized participation
Identity alignment and values expression
Complete Community Building module
6. Ecosystem Fit and Sequencing
A token without context is a gimmick. Where does your token plug in?
Are there upstream or downstream protocols to integrate with?
Are you part of a broader roadmap (Stellar DeFi stack)?
What primitives (wallets, bridges, liquidity, KYC rails) need to be ready?
7. Airdrop Horizon and Token Design
Airdrop aren’t a one-day reward, they’re the start of a four-year story.
Too many launches die in the hands of mercenary airdrop claimers.
You need:
A phased airdrop plan (e.g. 10% now, 15% after governance, 15% via partner campaigns)
Incentives to return, stake, vote, build
A message that grows with time: “It’s not too late.”
Map short-, mid-, and long-term incentive arcs. Make sure to sanity-check FDV, unlocks, and price storytelling.
Real-World Models and Archetypes
Case studies alone aren’t enough. You need strategic archetypes you can learn from or consciously reject.
Jupiter
Organic-first, staggered product reveals
Founder-led narrative, minimal VCs
Long-tail airdrop structure
→ Ideal for community-first protocols with existing traction
Blast
High-FDV, heavy gamification, KOL-driven points
→ High-risk, high-reward meta play with built-in mercenary behavior
dYdX
Phased governance unlocks, institutional-grade staking
→ Best for mature protocols with real volume and partners
Final Checklist: Are You TGE-Ready?
✓ We have real usage and retention, not just points.
✓ Our token utility is essential, not bolted on.
✓ Our team is visible, aligned, and vocal.
✓ Our community participates without needing bribes.
✓ We have a strong narrative and cultural identity.
✓ We’re launching in sequence with ecosystem partners.
✓ We’ve planned for long-term token and airdrop momentum.
