Where to Find New Crypto Projects Before Listing

Where to find new crypto projects before listing

Bet on the right altcoin at the right time, and you could make millions of dollars in one swoop. 

Launchpad hunting, a.k.a. the type of cryptocurrency trading where, instead of looking at technical analysis or the news, traders scour the internet for presale crypto projects and upcoming tokens, is one of the most aggressive and potentially profitable strategies in the market. 

The goal is to find new crypto projects that will not only survive early stages of development, but also deliver a sizable return-on-investment once they launch. 

It’s far from unheard of to see traders making 40x, sometimes 100x their initial buy with early crypto investing. But if this sounds too good to be true, it’s because some very real risks come with that type of trading.

Surprisingly, finding good projects is not as simple as looking up what the latest influencer shill with a ’90s movie character as his profile pic has to say on social media. It’s a giant market, with thousands of new tokens entering the market every day. 

Picking the “right one” is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

And that influencer? Let’s just say they most likely do not have your best interests in mind.

With that said, if you know where and what to look for, and also invest responsibly in presales, this type of trading is still potentially profitable. And that’s why knowing where to find new crypto projects before listing, and how to pick the ones that actually stand a chance, is the difference between catching a “100x gem” and having to come to terms with the fact that @AltcoinCryptoWynning69 will not make you a billionaire.

Why Discovering Projects Before Listing Matters

Ever wondered what your life would look like if, instead of working all day to pay for a software development degree you’d never use because Java makes you very confused, you had bought like a couple thousand bucks in Bitcoin ten years ago? 

No? Well, yeah… me neither.

But the logic of presale investment is similar. It’s safe to say that the days of buying Bitcoin for less than $1,000 a coin are gone. But token presales and initial coin offerings (ICOs) offer you the chance to buy a token that could grow substantially after hitting the market.

They provide some early crypto opportunities for traders. Presales typically offer investors the chance to buy a bundle of tokens for less than what the development team plans to launch, making it a potential profit on the very second the altcoin launches.

But let’s be clear, this isn’t a guarantee. Presale launch prices are only an estimate, meaning that if you invest in a token that doesn’t get much social traction, its ICO could be valued less than what’s said, or even not launch at all. 

That’s why early crypto investment is all about getting in on a project that will make some noise, get some traction, and is structurally and technically sound.

How to Research a New Crypto Project Before Investing 

Everyone loves to slap DYOR  around, but what if you don’t even know what to look for in early crypto investing?

Getting to know the developer team, or at least what the plans are for the token, is a major first step. At this point, utility and roadmap goals are more of a “goal” than a tangible thing you can assess. And yet, is the team behind it capable of actually delivering on those promises? 

There are several red flags that you can look for in a project’s website. We all know, decentralization, anonymity, and all—devs rarely post their real names out there. But even so, there should be at least one track record of their competencies available. It’s their job to convince you to invest after all.

Not everyone needs to be an English major in a globalized market like crypto, but a project website full of glaring grammar and syntax errors may show some level of unprofessionalism. 

The next, and this is a good one, is if a roadmap is overly reliant on AI use. Sentences like “in the ever-evolving”, “it’s not just ‘X’, it’s ‘Y’” are some common AI tropes. Em dashes got a bad rep—but they have their use—y’know?

Let’s be clear, AI use is fine, but if a project whitepaper looks like it was created in five minutes with a few ChatGPT prompts, best not to invest your kid's college funds in it. 

Tokenomics is also a major point of interest here. First off, check token distribution. If the team holds 40% or more of the supply, without a clear vesting schedule, that could be a setup for a dump. 

The last major red flag, and it may seem counterintuitive because the goal is to find these “gems” before everybody else, but you should see at least some community engagement. 

You don’t have to be a crypto pioneer—guys like Magellan ended up having horrible deaths, you know. Instead, leave the trailblazing of the blockchain for somebody else. You want to get in early, sure, but at least make sure you’re not the only one there.

Other Red Flags

For the love of god, a token is not a “store of value” simply because it is as scarce, or scarcer than Bitcoin. Stores of value need demand as much as they need scarcity. If you buy a token that promises to be “the next Bitcoin,” you may end up with a very rare and very useless product.

Even for memecoins, you need to consider the type of following this project may or is likely to have in the future. Scouring through platforms like PinkSale and Gempad, you’ll often stumble upon hundreds of dog-inspired “Shiba Inu Killer” — but the only thing they’ll actually kill is your funds and your desire to ever touch grass again.

It’s Sam Altman’s word now; we’re just living in it. Nowadays, there are hundreds of AI crypto projects out there promising to revolutionize everything from decentralized computing to finally finding you a girlfriend (albeit digital). 

Some claim they’ll build decentralized neural networks, others promise “on-chain AGI,” but most of them are just ChatGPT wrappers tossed into the blockchain. 

Don’t get me wrong, AI is a great addition to the market, and there are hundreds of projects delivering real value and utility. But just like anything that gets popular in crypto, the market is now flooded with copycat tokens and low-value projects that—while they may sound good—are ultimately trash.

It’s important to understand that early crypto trading is as high-stakes as it gets. 

It’s more than just buying tokens, really. You’re basically an angel investor in a project that may or may not succeed—and how much you profit from it is directly tied to how well you can spot real potential before most people.

Best Places to Find New Crypto Projects Before Listing

If you’re serious about early crypto investing, you need to know where new projects actually launch—and which platforms give you a real shot at catching something before it blows up. Not all launchpads are equal, and even the best ones have their share of duds.

Crypto Launchpads (IDO/ICO Platforms)

These platforms host presales and early token offerings, usually before a token hits a major exchange. They’re the backbone of launchpad hunting.

• DAO Maker Known for its vetting process and focus on long-term holders. It offers Strong Holder Offerings (SHOs), which aim to reward committed investors rather than pump-and-dump traders. Still, not every project here performs well—some flop despite the due diligence.
• Seedify A launchpad focused heavily on GameFi and NFT projects. It’s high-volume and community-driven, but that also means you’ll need to filter through a lot of hype to find something solid.
• Polkastarter One of the earliest multi-chain launchpads. It supports Ethereum, BNB Chain, and others, and is known for hosting well-marketed IDOs. But marketing doesn’t equal quality—some projects here have launched big and crashed harder.

Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs)

DEXs like Uniswap, PancakeSwap, and QuickSwap often host early liquidity pools for new tokens. These aren’t launchpads per se, but they’re where tokens go live after presales. If you’re watching closely, you can catch a token in its first few minutes of trading—before the price moves.

Discovery Platforms and Aggregators

These tools track upcoming launches, presales, and token listings across multiple chains and platforms.

• CoinMarketCap’s ICO Calendar A centralized tracker for upcoming ICOs, IDOs, and IEOs. Good for browsing, but not always up-to-date or deeply vetted.
• CryptoRank Offers detailed analytics on token performance, launchpad ROI, and presale stats. Useful for comparing platforms and spotting trends.
• DappRadar Tracks decentralized apps and tokens across multiple chains. Not presale-specific, but helpful for seeing which projects are gaining traction post-launch.

Bottom line: no single platform will hand you a guaranteed winner. You need to combine tools, do your own research, and stay skeptical. Because in early crypto investing, the only thing worse than missing a moonshot is buying into a dumpster fire with a shiny logo.

Using a Web3 Wallet to Access Early Crypto Projects

To invest in presales, you’d need a Web3 wallet. These allow you to connect your funds to the decentralized launchpads, sign transactions, and receive the unlisted tokens. 

This requires yet another layer of risk management. Be wary of fake sites, never share your seed phrase with any application, and always triple-check the token address and the actual launchpad URL address. 

To connect your Web3 wallet to a launchpad, all you need to do is open the launchpad’s website, click “Connect Wallet,” and approve the connection through your wallet interface

You can even use hardware wallets to connect to launchpads, but the best practice is to keep your funds secure in a cold wallet and use a hot wallet like MetaMask as a middleman for transactions.

Gas fees can also get pretty expensive, depending on the activity of the network that day. If you're rushing to buy into a token the second it launches, expect to pay a premium. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where can I find new crypto projects before they list on exchanges? 

You can scout launchpads like DAO Maker, Seedify, and aggregators like CryptoRank or DappRadar.

2. Can I use a Web3 wallet to buy crypto before listing? 

Yes, Web3 wallets like MetaMask let you connect to launchpads and buy tokens during presales.

3. Do I need KYC to invest in early crypto projects? 

Some launchpads require KYC, especially for larger allocations, but others let you invest anonymously.

4. What are the risks of investing in pre-listing coins? 

You risk losing your funds to scams, failed launches, or tokens that never gain traction.

5. How can I connect my Web3 wallet to a launchpad securely? 

Always verify the launchpad URL, use a trusted wallet, and never approve suspicious transactions.