startups

ICOs are still the breakout use case of crypto - it will be fun if this starts the next wave of community raises

Yeah I remember there were a few burgeoning platforms back during the ICO era that were attempting to create replicable frameworks for token sales. Polymath, tZero… a couple others. Going the “security token launchpad” route. As you mentioned, legal restrictions made it very difficult for teams to implement.

Then you had the early shitcoin launchpads, like DAOMaker and IBC who actually supported their launches. But those ended up being kinda dodgy (or outright scammy) as their distribution potential grew. Ironic really when you think about it. 

CEXs also tried with IEOs and DEXs with IDOs but they all fell to the same conclusion. You either gatekeep too hard or you enable too much trash to launch. In either case you don’t have the resources to support the volume launches nor the capacity to vet every single one. 

Finally we land on pumpfun, which just lets anyone deploy a shitter in two clicks. No barrier to entry. Endless noise. Nearly impossible to parse.

Pendulum has fully swung backwards. 

It’s a tough design space to nail because of the ever-shifting dynamics. But that’s what makes it a problem worth solving, imo.

yep, pf is an outlier for sure by all metrics. more pre-seed & seed stage teams can raise at reasonable valuations, letting their communities get skin in the game.

imho, the problem with current token launchers is that the tokens are anyway getting bought and traded, but teams have little strategic upside from that.

trading fees are great, but trading fees + strategic treasury from community sale is even better. it feels like the legal hurdle is why this hasn't been adopted on a large scale.

i'd much rather opt in to supporting team behind a project i care about while buying their token vs. just buying token from snipers/flippers and giving them profits.

As much as I’d love to see that happen, i think this situation was unique. 

Few projects have the visibility and distribution that PF has currently.