TLDR:
Yakovenko recommends releasing over 20% of tokens immediately on day one of token generation events.
All investor tokens should unlock simultaneously one year after TGE rather than through gradual vesting.
Teams and investors receive no tokens at launch; distribution favors airdrops to users or fair auctions.
Staking mechanisms reward long-term holders similar to decade-long venture capital investment horizons.
Anatoly Yakovenko, co-founder of Solana, has outlined a new approach to token launches that challenges conventional fundraising practices in the cryptocurrency industry.
His proposal emphasizes immediate liquidity, delayed investor unlocks, and community-focused distribution methods.
The framework aims to align incentives between project teams, early backers, and long-term token holders.
Immediate Token Release and Staking Mechanisms
Yakovenko’s model calls for releasing over 20 percent of tokens on the first day of a token generation event. In a recent post, he stated that the optimal formula includes “day 1 tge 20%+ release of tokens” as a core component.
This approach contrasts sharply with typical launch strategies that gradually release tokens over extended periods.
The proposed framework includes staking mechanisms designed to reward long-term holders. Yakovenko emphasized that “staking rewards long term holders, much like funds with 10y+ timeframe get rewarded in early rounds.”
If this works, I am pretty sure that the optimal formula to capital formation for early stage startups is:
1) staking for long term holders
2) day 1 tge 20%+ release of tokens
3) better to have zero investors but if you have some unlock them all 100% on the same day 1 year after https://t.co/nQfP7af6hb
— toly (@toly) January 21, 2026
These staking features serve a similar purpose to traditional venture capital funds with decade-long investment horizons.
Token holders who commit to extended lock-up periods would receive additional incentives for their patience and conviction in the project.
Projects should prioritize zero investor involvement under this model, though Yakovenko acknowledges some startups may require external capital.
He recommends it is “better to have zero investors but if you have some unlock them all 100% on the same day 1 year after tge.”
When investors participate, they should face a complete unlock exactly one year after the token generation event rather than receiving gradual releases.
Fair Distribution Through Airdrops and Auctions
Yakovenko explicitly states that teams and investors should not unlock tokens on the initial launch day. He wrote, “Don’t release team or investors on tge. It should be either an airdrop to power users or a fair auction raise.”
This method ensures that tokens reach the hands of engaged community members rather than early-stage financial backers seeking quick profits.
The one-year cliff for investor unlocks may appear concerning to some market participants. However, Yakovenko argues that “markets are great at dealing with information that is well known ahead of time.”
Traders and investors can prepare for known unlock dates, reducing the potential for unexpected selling pressure that often accompanies surprise token releases.
The forced waiting period creates a natural secondary market where investors seeking liquidity can connect with buyers willing to commit additional capital.
Yakovenko explained that the “1 year wait will force the secondary market to match investors that want to cash out with those who want to double down, and the primary market will anchor the price.”
He concluded his thoughts by noting that product-market fit ultimately determines success beyond tokenomics design.
