Launching a Chain

The Blockchain Gold Rush

Everyone wants to launch their own blockchain. The allure of being a "founder" of a new financial ecosystem is intoxicating.

Why Launch a Chain?

Legitimate Reasons

• Technical innovation: New consensus mechanisms
• Specific use cases: Tailored for particular industries
• Geographic needs: Regional requirements
• Community building: Serving niche audiences

Questionable Reasons

• Quick money: Token sales and pre-mines
• Ego: Being a "blockchain founder"
• Control: Centralized authority under decentralization guise
• Speculation: Creating new gambling vehicles

The Chain Launch Playbook

Step 1: The Whitepaper

• Copy Bitcoin's whitepaper structure
• Add buzzwords: "Web3", "metaverse", "AI-powered"
• Promise impossible scalability
• Use complex mathematics to sound legitimate

Step 2: The Team

• Find anonymous "experts"
• Create fake LinkedIn profiles
• Claim partnerships with major companies
• Hire "advisors" for credibility

Step 3: The Token Sale

• Set an arbitrary hard cap
• Create artificial scarcity
• Promise 100x returns
• Use marketing hype over substance

Step 4: The Launch

• Deploy on AWS (decentralized!)
• Create a fancy block explorer
• Pay exchanges for listings
• Organize "community" events

The Reality Check

Most new chains are:

• Technologically unnecessary: Could be built on existing chains
• Economically unsustainable: No real value proposition
• Centrally controlled: Despite claims of decentralization
• Speculative vehicles: Pure gambling mechanisms

Successful Chain Criteria

A new chain is only justified if it:

1. Solves a real technical problem
2. Has genuine community support
3. Offers unique value propositions
4. Maintains true decentralization

The Chain Graveyard

Hundreds of chains have failed. Learn from their mistakes before launching your own.