February 22, 2026
10 mins
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September 9, 2025
September 9, 2025
When we talk about investing, timing is everything. Accessing the right opportunities at the right time will determine your return on investment and the predictability of that return, based on the value you see in the asset.
Having early access to projects with strong fundamentals can lead to a profitable investment portfolio. This applies to both traditional finance and Web3, but in this case, we focus on the opportunities available in the crypto space.
A token represents the value of a project in the crypto space. It is a digital asset that can be broken into thousands or millions of pieces, and each piece represents a share of the project’s value.
A token presale happens before the token becomes available to the general public. In crypto, a sale usually refers to the moment a token is listed on a public exchange, whether centralized or decentralized. When the token is open to everyone, that is a public sale. If that listing has not happened yet, we are talking about a presale.
In simple terms, a token presale is an event that takes place before the token is listed on an exchange. This gives investors the opportunity to get early access to projects.
A presale is simply getting access to a project before it is listed on an exchange. An ICO, or Initial Coin Offering, is one way of doing a presale, but it is conducted directly by the project team through their own website and their own means.
A presale can take different forms. It can be an ICO, but it can also be an IDO or an IEO. An IDO, or Initial DEX Offering, is a token presale conducted through a decentralized exchange. An IEO, or Initial Exchange Offering, is a token presale conducted through a centralized exchange. All three are ways for projects to raise funds, but the platform and process change depending on which one they choose.
When we talk about types of presales, we can include private rounds, seed rounds, strategic rounds, and public presales. Private, seed, and strategic rounds are usually for early investors, venture capital firms, or strategic partners. Public presales are open to a wider audience and are the most common for retail investors.
Public presales often happen as ICOs, IDOs, or IEOs. In all cases, the goal is the same: raise funds for the project before listing the token. The difference lies in the platform and level of accessibility.
Early entry means you are getting in before the crowd and before the price usually goes up at listing. You are buying the token at a discounted price compared to the public listing price, which can give you a higher potential return on investment.
For example, on CoinTerminal, recent sales like AgentXYZ peaked at 2.96x ATH ROI, and Grand Gangsta City reached 2.65x ATH ROI shortly after launch. ATH ROI measures the return based on the highest price a token has ever reached since launch, showing the maximum gain early investors could have made if they sold at the peak. These returns show what’s possible when you combine early access with solid project selection.
Presales also give you exclusive access to projects before they are available to the public. You are not just helping the project raise funds; you are getting privileged access to curated opportunities that can have high return potential, especially if you use a vetted launchpad.
Incentives and bonuses can make presales even more attractive. Depending on the platform, you can get perks like token discounts, airdrops, or extra allocation. At CoinTerminal, for example, any contribution of 250 USDT or more automatically enters you into our monthly 5,000 USDT lottery, even if you request a refund.
Being early also allows you to see the project’s community from the start. Strong community engagement can make a big difference in how far a project can go in Web3, and early participants often have more influence in shaping it.
Yes, in most cases you can. In an IDO, your tokens are listed on a decentralized exchange like Uniswap through a smart contract as soon as the token generation event happens. In an IEO, they are listed directly on the centralized exchange hosting the sale.
At CoinTerminal, you also have the option to request a refund within a set time window after the token generation event, giving you an additional layer of security.
Even with solid research and reputable platforms, risks are part of the game.
After a presale, tokens are listed on a CEX or DEX and traded against pairs like ETH, BNB, or stablecoins. These pairs are funded through liquidity pools. If not enough liquidity is provided, you may face two problems: low depth and high slippage.
Checking the tokenomics of a project can help you understand how liquidity will be managed.
While the crypto space has improved its security since the ICO boom of 2017, scams still exist. In 2024, the Fintoch project on BNB Chain raised around 31 million USD in presales. Shortly after launch, the team drained the liquidity pool and disappeared. Using a reputable launchpad with strong vetting, like CoinTerminal, can help reduce this risk.
Many presale tokens open below their presale price due to early selling pressure. Even strong projects can launch at a lower price in a bear market because overall sentiment is weak.
The cycles of Bitcoin and Ethereum heavily influence the entire market, so timing your entry is just as important as the project you choose.
Token presales can be a game-changer for investors. Early access to promising Web3 projects can deliver higher returns than many traditional investment tools. But this advantage only works if you choose your projects carefully, use secure platforms, and stick to a clear action plan.
At CoinTerminal, participating is simple. Complete KYC, join high-quality IDOs, and invest without staking or token-gating. All sales are refundable, and contributions of 250 USDT or more automatically enter you into our 5,000 USDT monthly lottery; even if you request a refund.
Check our active projects now. Your next big opportunity could already be live.
This article is for educational purposes only. It is a general guide for founders and users navigating the Web3 space. It does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making any investment decisions.If you want to learn more about raising funds or which IDOs to look into, our team is here to help. Feel free to reach out to us on Telegram at any time.
