Due to the justified mistrust of many crypto investors towards ICOs, many of them, in order not to lose the opportunity to buy tokens of crypto startup projects at the lowest price, are looking for alternative events dedicated to fundraising. One of these more reliable alternatives is considered to be IDO. Below, we will answer questions like: “What is an IDO?”, “How does it differ from ICO?”, and “How to make the right choice in favor of one or another Web3 project?”
What Is an IDO in Crypto?
IDO or Initial DEX Offering is an approach of crypto projects to selling their tokens, according to which this process is carried out on a decentralized exchange (DEX). Unlike more traditional methods, IDO does not take place on the project’s website (as in the case of ICOs) and without the participation of a centralized intermediary such as a crypto exchange or investment fund (as in the case of IEOs).
Here are some more features of IDO:
- Decentralized launch, according to which IDO coins are listed on DEXes like Uniswap, PancakeSwap, SushiSwap, etc.;
- Liquidity of tokens, provided immediately after the IDO (the token automatically enters the liquidity pool and becomes available for trading);
- Openness to everyone, without the need for centralized moderation;
- Low entry threshold – crypto investors only need to have crypto wallets and a small amount of cryptocurrency (usually the one that is native to a particular DEX).
In general, the IDO token sale format is as close as possible to the fundamental principles of Web3, which means that investors get the opportunity to build their crypto IDO strategy on direct interaction with the token and the project.
Upcoming IDO Crypto Projects for 2025
Now, we propose considering our IDO coin list so that each crypto investor cannot miss out.
Top 15 Upcoming IDO Projects
| Project Name | IDO crypto launch date | What is this project about? |
|---|---|---|
| Uomi | 21 Jul 2025 | AI-powered L1 blockchain for digital asset management and new economic models in DeFi, governance, and digital art |
| Grand Gangsta City | 21 Jul 2025 | A Web3 game based on Sei Network that immerses players in a virtual city and encourages them to complete missions for their gang |
| Amped Finance | 21 Jul 2025 | DeFAI omnichannel protocol for perpetual swap trading and providing liquidity for different crypto assets and blockchains |
| TAIX AI | 21 Jul 2025 | An AI distribution app for content discoverability and engagement in the entertainment sector |
| SparkDEX | 21 Jul 2025 | An AI-powered dApp based on the Flare Network and offering a comprehensive DeFi hub |
| ULALO | 22 Jul 2025 | A Web3 health data ownership platform for comprehensive control over personal medical data |
| ChimpX AI | 22 Jul 2025 | An AI-driven Defi platform enabling full control over 100% users' DeFi activities |
| Delphinus Lab | 22 Jul 2025 | zkWASM solution enabling building zero-knowledge apps and deploying them in WASM-supported environments |
| AgentXYZ | 24 Jul 2025 | An AI-powered trading platform and TA agent |
| Project Merlin | 25 Jul 2025 | A modular, multichain Web3 ecosystem aimed at supporting the full lifecycle of blockchain startups |
| CHIPS | 05 Aug 2025 | A blockchain providing a full-stack infrastructure for decentralized, private, trustless, and transparent apps |
| Colexion | 06 Aug 2025 | A Polygon Network-based platform for establishing the relationship between artists and fans |
| MetaClash | 06 Aug 2025 | Unreal Engine-based blockchain game with digital avatars |
| GIGCO | 07 Aug 2025 | A platform for connecting artists, venues, and fans |
| Beaver Finance | 08 Aug 2025 | A single-asset intelligent yield-enhancing platform |
If crypto IDO participation seems too complicated, and you would like to buy upcoming tokens at an even more favorable price, don’t miss the presale of Nexchain, the project combining decentralization and AI!
IDO vs IEO vs ICO: What’s the Difference?
Generally speaking, a detailed analysis of the differences between IDO, IEO, and ICO is presented in this article. However, in short, the differences between them are as follows:
- While ICO tokens are launched on the project's website, and IEO on a centralized crypto exchange, IDO maintains the principle of decentralization and launches tokens through a DEX;
- In an ICO, listing on an exchange can be delayed, in an IEO, it occurs after its completion (which can take time), while in an IDO, liquidity is acquired immediately after its completion;
- Liquidity in an ICO can be low, and in an IEO, it depends on the exchange, while in an IDO, it is instant and provided by the DEX pool;
- ICO participants are more susceptible to scams than others, as for IEO and IDO, in these cases, the platforms themselves conduct an independent audit.
If we add to all this the fact that all transactions are performed via smart contracts, and users do not need to go through complex KYC procedures, it becomes clear that participation in the IDO can be an extremely promising measure for diversifying your crypto portfolio.
How to Participate Early in IDOs
Early joining IDO crypto upcoming projects gives you a chance to buy tokens at a minimum price, but first, you have to get on the whitelist. Here's how to do it – just check our IDO crypto guide below:
- Find a promising project. To do this, you will need to regularly monitor IDO crypto platforms, such as DAO Maker, Polkastarter, Seedify, GameFi, TrustPad, etc. After you select at least a dozen interesting projects, you will need to subscribe to their official social networks and start following announcements – as a rule, IDOs are announced 2-4 weeks before the start. Also, you can use IDO crypto calendars and set up instant notifications about upcoming crypto IDOs.
- Read the terms of participation. Each IDO launchpad has its own rules, including acceptable cryptocurrencies, requirements for participants (although in most cases, KYC is not required, some launchpads still implement it), and the need to have at least a few tokens from the launchpad itself in your wallet.
- Get access to the whitelist or allocation. Now, you will need to get into the whitelist – this may require completing tasks on social networks (usually these are reposts of publications, subscriptions, etc.), staking a certain number of platform tokens, and also participating in community activities on Discord and Telegram.
- Prepare a wallet and funds. Create a non-custodial wallet such as MetaMask or Trust Wallet and put the desired cryptocurrency in it. You also need to make sure that you have enough funds for the gas fee.
- Participate in the IDO on the launch day. As soon as the first day of the IDO arrives, you will need to open the IDO page on the launchpad, activate the wallet, determine the amount to buy tokens (usually this is no more than 10-15% of your total capital for IDO crypto investing), and certify the transaction in the wallet.
- Receive tokens and monitor the new IDO listings. After the IDO is over, you will receive tokens in your wallet either immediately or according to the TGE schedule. After that, the tokens will appear on DEX, and there a rapid growth or dump of their prices will start.
By the way, you can already join a promising Web3 project at an early stage. This is Nexchain, which combines the potential of AI and blockchain.
How IDO Token Prices Are Determined
The IDO crypto price is made up of a combination of factors:
- Initial price (based on the total capitalization and the desired distribution share – usually 10-20%);
- Liquidity pool (the starting price depends on the ratio of tokens in the pool);
- The balance of supply and demand (if investors demonstrate high interest in the project, this stimulates an increase in the price of its tokens);
- Lockup periods and vesting schedules (the longer the lockup period for the team/investors' tokens, the stronger the foundation for growth).
The IDO token price can also be determined by some external factors such as partnerships, completed listings, and the general state of the crypto market.
Conclusion
Crypto IDOs are now considered a transparent and effective way to invest in crypto projects that are at their origins. Due to their commitment to complete decentralization, they embody the ideals of Web3 and open up prospects not only for obtaining super profits but also for entering promising crypto projects at early stages. However, any IDO requires DYOR – otherwise, you will expose your investments to high risks.
FAQs
Are IDOs better than investing in crypto after it’s listed?
Early participation in a token IDO gives you a chance to buy these tokens below the market price, but requires thorough independent analysis and competent risk assessment. At the same time, if you buy tokens after the listing, this will reduce the risks of their volatility, but, along with this, the chances of getting super profits will be lower.
Do I need a lot of money to participate in an IDO?
Not necessarily – the fact is that the vast majority of IDOs have a fairly low entry threshold and are accessible to investors with 200-500 USD in their crypto wallets.
Can anyone launch an IDO project?
Yes, but for a new crypto IDO to be successful, you, as its organizer, will need to pass a team audit, ensure smart contract transparency and liquidity, and initiate an independent security audit. Without this, the project risks being blocked by the DEX platform.
Can I sell IDO tokens immediately after buying?
Yes, but you can miss your crypto IDO opportunities – firstly, some IDO tokens may be blocked for some time; secondly, they may have low liquidity in the first hours. Both of these factors ultimately do not make their sale possible/rational.
