Maximize Poor Tokenomics: Practical Techniques for Token Creators
Poor tokenomics don't have to mean a failed project. This guide outlines specific, actionable techniques to adjust and improve token structures that are underperforming. From supply mechanics to reward redistribution, learn how to salvage value and build sustainable revenue.
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The Problem
Traditional solutions are complex, time-consuming, and often require technical expertise.
The Solution
Spawned provides an AI-powered platform that makes building fast, simple, and accessible to everyone.
The Verdict on Poor Tokenomics
Can you fix a token with bad economics? The short answer is yes, with the right adjustments.
While poor initial tokenomics create challenges, they are not fatal. The most effective path forward involves making targeted adjustments to supply and utility, then using a launchpad designed to support long-term revenue. Platforms like Spawned.com provide the tools—such as built-in holder rewards and perpetual fees—to transform a struggling token structure into a sustainable project.
For creators, this means focusing on three areas: reducing immediate sell pressure, creating ongoing incentives for holders, and securing a revenue stream for future development. The 0.30% holder reward on Spawned directly addresses the 'what's in it for me' question that holders of poorly designed tokens ask.
Where Poor Tokenomics Usually Fail
Most tokenomics fail in predictable ways. A massive initial supply with no vesting leads to immediate dumps. Zero utility means the token has no purpose beyond speculation. No ongoing rewards cause holders to exit at the first sign of profit. Finally, no funding mechanism leaves creators with no resources to improve the project.
For example, a gaming token launched with 1 billion coins and 20% released at launch will almost certainly collapse under its own sell pressure. Compare this to a structure with a lower initial mint, a 0.30% reward to holders on every trade, and a plan to graduate to a 1% fee model. The latter gives the token a fighting chance.
Step-by-Step: Techniques to Maximize a Poor Structure
Turning a poor token design around requires a systematic approach.
Follow these concrete steps to adjust your token's economics. These actions are designed to be implemented either before a new launch or as part of a v2 token migration for an existing project.
- Audit & Identify: List every flaw. Is it supply? Vesting? Utility? Be specific. For a gaming token, this might mean realizing your in-game burn mechanic is too weak.
- Re-calibrate Supply: If possible, reduce the total supply or increase the locked portion. Consider a lower initial circulating supply.
- Introduce Vesting: Implement linear or cliff vesting for team and advisor allocations. This builds trust.
- Add Holder Rewards: Program a reward, like the 0.30% of every trade distributed to holders on Spawned. This creates a passive income reason to hold.
- Plan for Perpetual Fees: Use the Token-2022 program to enable a 1% fee on all transfers after graduation. This funds ongoing development. Learn about Token-2022.
- Bundle with Utility: Use an integrated AI website builder (saving $29-99/month) to create a project hub, adding immediate utility beyond the token itself.
Launching a Fixed Token: Spawned vs. A Basic Launchpad
The right launchpad can be the difference between a repeat failure and a successful turnaround.
Where you launch your adjusted token is critical. A basic launchpad simply mints the token. A platform like Spawned builds the corrective mechanisms directly into the launch process.
| Feature | Basic Launchpad / pump.fun | Spawned.com |
|---|---|---|
| Creator Revenue | 0% on trades after launch. | 0.30% on every trade, forever. |
| Holder Rewards | Typically none. | 0.30% distributed to holders on every trade. |
| Post-Graduation Fees | Not applicable or customizable with difficulty. | 1% fee enforced via Token-2022 program. |
| Initial Cost | Varies. | 0.1 SOL (~$20) launch fee. |
| Additional Utility | None. | AI website builder included (saves $29-99/mo). |
The comparison is clear: one platform offers a transaction-only service, while the other provides a full economic framework designed to support and correct tokenomics.
The Math of Correction: A Gaming Token Example
Concrete numbers show how targeted changes create a different outcome.
Let's take a hypothetical gaming token, 'PLAY', with poor initial tokenomics: 1B supply, 20% initial unlock, no fees. It launches and drops 90% in a week.
The Correction on Spawned:
- New Supply: 500M total, with only 5% (25M) initially circulating.
- Holder Rewards: Every trade distributes 0.30% to PLAY holders. If daily volume reaches $100k, that's $300 daily to holders.
- Creator Revenue: The creator earns 0.30% ($300 daily in this example) to fund game development.
- Future Security: After graduating from the launchpad, a 1% transfer fee via Token-2022 ensures perpetual funding.
- Added Value: The free AI website builder creates a hub for the game, lore, and community.
This structure directly attacks the original problems: reduced sell pressure, a reason to hold, and a funded future.
Ready to Build Better Tokenomics?
Turn your tokenomics plan into a sustainable project.
If you're planning a new token or need to correct an existing one, Spawned provides the economic tools and utility to make it sustainable. The integrated holder rewards and creator revenue model are built to support projects for the long term.
Start by designing your token with corrected supply and vesting. Then, use Spawned to launch with built-in economic incentives from day one. The process is straightforward, and the 0.1 SOL launch fee includes the AI website builder, saving you ongoing costs.
Launch Your Token on Spawned and build with an economic advantage.
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it often requires a migration to a new token contract (a 'v2'). This involves convincing your community to swap their old tokens for new ones with the improved economics. It's more complex than starting correctly, which is why using a launchpad with good default settings from the start is advised.
Reducing immediate sell pressure is critical. This is achieved by lowering the initial circulating supply and implementing strong, transparent vesting schedules for team and advisor tokens. Without this fix, even the best utility ideas will be crushed by constant selling.
On every buy or sell trade of a token launched on Spawned, 0.30% of the trade value is taken and distributed proportionally to all current token holders. This happens automatically. It creates a direct, passive income incentive for people to hold the token, which helps stabilize the price.
When your token graduates from the Spawned launchpad, you can use the Solana Token-2022 program to enforce a 1% fee on every token transfer. This fee goes directly to a wallet you control, providing a continuous revenue stream to fund marketing, development, and other project costs indefinitely.
While not a direct tokenomic parameter, it adds significant utility and value. It provides a central hub for your project, builds legitimacy, and engages your community—all factors that support token demand. Since it's included, it saves you $29-99 per month compared to external services, freeing up capital.
Gaming tokens often suffer from poor tokenomics designed for hype, not gameplay. The techniques here—like lower initial supply for in-game earn rates, holder rewards for loyal players, and perpetual fees to fund ongoing development—are essential for longevity. [See our gaming token guide](/use-cases/token/how-to-create-gaming-token-on-solana) for more.
pump.fun takes 0% after launch, meaning creators earn nothing from ongoing trading. Spawned's 0.30% fee provides a continuous, sustainable income stream. This revenue is vital for creators to actively work on and promote their project, which directly increases the token's chances of long-term success.
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