How to Read a Presale Token Vesting Schedule

So you’re ready to join your first token presale. As part of your DYOR (do your own research), you want to understand the numbers and metrics. Don’t worry, this isn’t about being a math expert; it’s about knowing what details matter and how to spot them with confidence.

Once you know what to look for, reading a vesting schedule becomes much easier, and you’ll feel confident every time you see one.

Understanding Token Metrics

When checking a project’s token metrics ( the data behind the overall token value strategy, called formally “tokenomics”), you’ll usually see:

• Allocation (how many tokens go to presale, team, community, etc.)
• Allocation % (the percentage for each group)
• Price (the token sale price)
• Raise (how much money the project is targeting)
• TGE % (the percentage of tokens you receive immediately at the Token Generation Event)
• Vesting (the release schedule for the rest of the tokens)

For example, let’s say you’re looking at a project on CoinTerminal. The vesting schedule might say:

30% at TGE, 1-month cliff, 6-month vesting.

Here’s what that means:

• You’ll get 30% of your tokens immediately at the Token Generation Event.
• Then there’s a 1-month cliff; you wait a month before receiving any more tokens.
• After that, the remaining 70% unlocks gradually over 6 months (usually in equal monthly portions).

Example Timeline (for 1,000 tokens purchased)

• Month 0 (TGE): 300 tokens (30%)
• Month 1: 0 tokens (cliff)
• Months 2–7: ~117 tokens each month (70% divided across 6 months)
• Month 7: You now hold all 1,000 tokens

Why Understanding a Vesting Schedule Matters

A vesting schedule tells you when and how many tokens become available after a presale. If you skip this step, you might assume you’ll have all your tokens right away, but in most cases, that’s not how it works. 

Projects use vesting to keep the token’s price stable and to discourage immediate sell-offs that could damage the project early on.

What Is a Token Vesting Schedule?

A token vesting schedule is the way projects make sure their token doesn’t turn into a pump-and-dump right after listing. It’s basically the timeline that tells you when you’ll actually get the tokens you bought during a presale. 

By spreading out the release, projects can protect the price and give their community stability once the token hits an exchange.

Quick origin note: The word “vesting” comes from traditional finance and employment contracts. It refers to the right to receive assets (like stock options) only after a certain period of time. Crypto borrowed the same concept to structure token distribution over time.

How Does a Token Vesting Schedule Differ From Token Lockups?

They’re related but not the same thing.

• Vesting schedule: tells you when you’ll receive the tokens you purchased. Example: 20% at TGE, then monthly releases.
• Token lockups: apply to tokens that already exist but are not accessible. They’re “locked” for a set time, often to stop insiders or the team from dumping.

Note: Lockups, together with burning mechanisms, act more like inflation control tools. Vesting schedules are about planned distribution for investors, while lockups and burns are broader supply-control measures. One is about your release timeline, the others are about overall market stability.

What Are the Key Components of a Vesting Schedule?

When you read a vesting schedule, focus on:

• TGE % (Token Generation Event): How many tokens you get immediately when they’re first minted.
• Cliff period: The waiting period after TGE before more tokens unlock.
• Vesting model: How the remaining tokens are released. This could be linear (equal chunks each month) or hybrid (different percentages at different stages).

There’s also the opposite of a cliff, called a vesting acceleration, but most presales keep it simple with cliffs and linear/hybrid models.

What Are the Common Types of Vesting Structures?

The two most common are:

• Linear vesting: You get the same percentage of tokens each month. Example: 10% every month until all tokens are released.
• Hybrid vesting: A mix of upfront TGE %, cliffs, and uneven monthly releases. Example: 30% at TGE, 1-month cliff, then the rest over 6 months in varying percentages.

Hybrid is the most common in presales because it gives projects flexibility.

How to Read Vesting Tables and Charts

Follow these simple steps:

• Step 1: Go to the project’s token metrics section (this is part of their tokenomics).
• Step 2: Find the row that matches where you are buying tokens, for example, “IDO Launchpad” or “Public Sale.”
• Step 3: Look at the TGE % and vesting column. Write it down.
• Step 4: Use that info to calculate your release timeline. Example: if you bought 1,000 tokens with 30% TGE and 6-month vesting, you’ll get 300 at launch and ~117 tokens monthly for the next six months.

That’s it. Once you see how the table is structured, you can plan your investment strategy around when tokens actually hit your wallet.

What Are the Risks of Vesting Schedules?

• Liquidity delays: if the vesting is long, you might not be able to sell when you want.
• Market dumps: when a big vesting tranche unlocks, prices may dip as multiple investors sell.
• Changing timelines: in rare cases, projects adjust vesting rules after launch, which can hurt trust.

What Tools and Resources Can I Use for Tracking Vesting?

• CryptoRank: tracks token unlocks and vesting timelines across many projects.
• TokenUnlocks.app: gives detailed charts and calendars for upcoming token unlock events.
• CoinGecko / CoinMarketCap (for leading crypto projects): while not vesting-specific, they sometimes include tokenomics and supply info.

Final Thoughts

Reading a vesting schedule is one of the smartest things you can do before joining a presale. It tells you when you’ll actually get your tokens, how the circulating supply will grow, and whether the project has designed its tokenomics responsibly.

At CoinTerminal, we simplify this process by giving you full access to presale information upfront, with no hidden lockups or complicated structures. We’re the first and only open access launchpad; no staking, no token gating. 

Just complete a quick KYC and join the sales you believe in. Check our active sales now, and remember: every contribution of 250 USDT or more enters you in our monthly crypto lottery.