Launching a token on TON is not complicated — but doing it well requires preparation that most teams underestimate. This guide covers what Tonstarter looks for when evaluating applicants, what the process actually looks like from application to TGE, and the most common mistakes teams make that cost them time or rejections.
If you're a project considering an IDO on TON, read this before you file anything.
Why TON for Your Token Launch
The Open Network has grown from a Telegram-adjacent curiosity into one of the most active Layer 1 blockchains by transaction volume. In the past 18 months, daily active addresses have grown by roughly 4x, developer activity has tripled, and DeFi TVL has crossed $600M. Telegram's 900 million monthly active users represent a built-in distribution channel that no other chain can replicate.
For a token launch, distribution matters as much as technology. On Ethereum or Solana, you're competing with hundreds of other launches for attention in crowded ecosystems. On TON, you have access to Telegram Wallet integration, TON Space, and a community that is still early enough to pay attention to new projects — but large enough to generate real capital.
The tradeoff is that TON's developer tooling is younger, FunC (TON's native smart contract language) has a steeper learning curve than Solidity, and liquidity on DEXes like STON.fi and DeDust is shallower than Uniswap. These are real considerations that factor into how we evaluate projects.
What Tonstarter Looks for in an Application
We receive more applications than we can launch. The first pass filters for completeness and basic coherence — teams that can't write a clear whitepaper probably can't execute a launch. But most rejections happen in the deeper review phase, and they cluster around four areas:
1. Team Credentials
Anonymous teams are not disqualifying on their own, but they require more scrutiny. We verify that the people listed have the backgrounds they claim. LinkedIn profiles get cross-referenced. GitHub commit histories get reviewed. Advisors listed are contacted to confirm involvement. A team that has built something before — even something small — is meaningfully different from a team that hasn't.
We've rejected several applications where the "CTO" had no verifiable technical background and the "CEO" had one previous project that ended in a rug pull. Those rejections protect our participants, and they're non-negotiable.
2. Tokenomics That Hold Up Under Pressure
We run a stress test on every tokenomics model we see. Common failure modes:
- Team and advisor allocations above 25% with short or no vesting — these create predictable sell pressure that destroys retail participants
- Token utilities that only work if the price goes up — circular economics that collapse when growth stalls
- Emission schedules that aren't sustainable — projects that will be 80% unlocked within 12 months with no demand mechanism to absorb it
- IDO price that gives VCs a 10x-20x advantage over public buyers — structures designed to extract from retail rather than align with them
We're not anti-profit for investors. But the terms need to be defensible. If your tokenomics would embarrass you on a Twitter thread, they won't pass our review.
3. Smart Contract Readiness
We do not launch projects whose core contracts haven't been audited. If your contracts aren't written yet, that's fine — but you're not ready to apply. If they're written but unaudited, you need to engage a recognized audit firm (CertiK, Quantstamp, Trail of Bits, or one of several TON-specific security firms) before we can proceed.
We review audit reports ourselves. A clean report from a well-regarded firm significantly accelerates our timeline. A report that flagged critical or high-severity issues that were "acknowledged" but not resolved is a red flag we take seriously.
4. Clear Market Rationale
What problem does the project solve? Who already tried to solve it, and why didn't it work? What gives this team a specific advantage in solving it on TON? These questions should have specific answers, not generic "blockchain disrupts X industry" framing.
We're not looking for perfection. We're looking for honest analysis. Teams that acknowledge competitive pressure and explain their differentiation are far more credible than teams that claim no competition exists.
The Application Process, Step by Step
Step 1: Initial Application
Submit through the contact form on our website or via the direct application form. You'll need: a whitepaper or detailed project overview, team bios with verifiable backgrounds, tokenomics documentation, a roadmap with milestones, and any existing traction (users, code, partners). We review submissions within 5 business days and either advance you to the next stage or provide a rejection reason.
Step 2: Preliminary Call
If your application passes the initial review, we schedule a 45-minute call with the founding team. We're evaluating communication, depth of knowledge, and whether the team understands their own product. We've declined projects after this call where the "founder" clearly hadn't read their own whitepaper.
Step 3: Full Due Diligence
This is the longest phase — 2 to 4 weeks depending on complexity. We review technical architecture, legal structure, smart contract audits, team background, tokenomics, and market analysis. We may ask for additional documentation. This is not a passive process — expect to answer detailed questions and provide additional materials.
Step 4: Terms and Launch Agreement
Accepted projects receive a term sheet outlining our fee structure, launch timeline, participant allocation split, and incubation terms. Once the Launch Agreement is signed, we begin pre-launch preparation: community announcement, KYC setup, smart contract deployment, and liquidity bootstrapping configuration.
Step 5: IDO and TGE
The IDO runs for a fixed window — typically 48 to 72 hours. Participants with staked TOS tokens get guaranteed allocation based on their tier. After the IDO closes, TGE occurs within 7 days, with LP seeded and locked on STON.fi and DeDust simultaneously.
Common Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
Applying before the product exists. We're not a funding mechanism for pre-idea projects. You need a working prototype or at minimum a technically credible specification. "We will build it after raising" is not a plan.
Incorrect token supply math. We've seen applications where the stated total supply, circulating supply at TGE, and vesting schedule produce different numbers when calculated. It suggests either carelessness or intentional obscuring. Neither is acceptable.
Listing advisors who don't know they're advisors. This has happened more than once. We contact advisors directly. If they express surprise at being listed, the application is terminated immediately.
Underestimating compliance requirements. KYC/AML is not optional. Teams that build their product without considering what compliance verification means for their user experience often face delays at the worst possible time — right before launch.
What Happens After the Launch
Every project that launches on Tonstarter enters a 90-day incubation track. This includes bi-weekly check-ins with our team, introductions to market makers and liquidity providers, technical support for post-TGE contract work, and community management guidance. The incubation is not ceremonial — we have vested interest in the projects we launch performing well long-term.
If you're ready to apply, or if you're still preparing and want to understand what we'd need to see, reach out to [email protected]. We'd rather answer questions early than see an application that could have been stronger with a few more weeks of preparation.
