How to Find and Buy New Crypto Before Listing in 2025
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Investing in promising projects before they hit major exchanges can get you high returns. Imagine investing in Bitcoin in its early days in 2010 or joining Ethereum’s token sale at $0.30 in 2014.
Some ways to find and buy new crypto are to research and participate in ICOs, initial DEX offerings (IDOs), launchpads, and airdrops. Hundreds of promising new cryptocurrencies are launched every month.
In this guide, we explore how to buy new crypto before listing so you can fully tap into cryptocurrencies’ potential by getting involved in early-stage crypto investments before they’re widely accessible to everyone.
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6 Ways to Find and Buy New Crypto Before Listing
Here, we will discuss the top strategies to buy crypto before it’s listed, from exclusive private sales, airdrops and launchpad offerings.
- Crypto ICOs: Pre-listing token sales offer early investors discounted prices before public availability, aiming to maximize potential returns when projects launch.
- Initial DEX Offerings (IDO) & Fair Launches: DEX crowd sales offer tokens publicly on decentralized exchanges before potential future price growth, giving early access.
- Airdrops: Complete tasks like holding crypto or joining events to earn free new tokens that may gain value later.
- Launchpads: Pre-launch token sales let you buy early as startups raise capital on dedicated platforms.
- Whitelists and Waitlists: Approved participants get access to a specific event. Binance requires BNB and NFT prerequisites to participate in the ecosystem’s NFT sales.
- Crypto Whale Tracking: By studying big trades and market moves, monitor whale activity to spot early-stage coins before exchange listings.
Now, let’s look at each of these methods in detail.
1. Participate in Crypto ICOs
Buying ICO cryptos is one of the best ways to get into a crypto project early. As the name suggests, ICOs allow these cryptocurrencies to be made available to early investors and supporters before being sold to the general public.
With crypto ICOs, the idea is to raise capital initially, giving investors the earliest chance to get in, far before listing time. This means you buy crypto at a discounted price. This is a way to start a crypto project, raise funds, and generate interest for the initial take-off before the masses can access it.
List of Top Active Crypto ICOs
A wide range of active crypto ICOs gives investors early access to a project. Here are a couple of the top ongoing ICOs:
- Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER): L2 scaling for Bitcoin that speeds up transactions and creates smart-contract potential.
- Maxi Doge (MAXI): Doge-themed meme coin offering weekly trading competitions and high staking rewards.
- SUBBD (SUBBD): The first AI-based creator and subscription platform.
1. Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) – Bitcoin Scaling With Speed And Smart Contracts
Bitcoin Hyper 
HYPER +16.83% creates brand new possibilities for Bitcoin by taking what has essentially become a platform for storing value and transforming it back into a payment method. Leveraging a unique layer-2, Bitcoin Hyper drastically speeds up Bitcoin transactions and makes them extremely cheap.
The core transaction functionality of the second layer is boosted by its ability to support smart contracts, something previously impossible on the base Bitcoin blockchain. This gives investors access to a new world of decentralized applications and DeFi possibilities.
Just weeks after the presale of HYPER had started, the project had already raised $29.54M, attracting firstcomers with huge passive income benefits, up to 39% at this stage. As the presale progresses, the price at $0.013435 will increase until the token is listed.
Pros
- Drastically improves BTC transaction speed at near-zero fees
- First Bitcoin L2 with smart-contract support and staking
- Presale shows strong early traction, having raised over $1 million
Cons
- No working product yet, and no development guarantees
- Positioned in the highly-competitive Bitcoin space with many rivals
- Needs wide adoption post-launch to succeed
| Launch Date | May 2025 |
| Chain | Ethereum, Solana |
| Starting Price | $0.0115 |
| Current Price | $0.013435 |
| Price Change | HYPER +16.83% |
2. Maxi Doge (MAXI) – Ultra-Ripped Doge Meme Coin for Degens
Maxi Doge 
MAXI +9.40% is a Doge-themed meme coin that has raised over $4.34M in presale. This project is drawing attention for its humorous branding, featuring an ultra-ripped Doge as its mascot. The project is designed to connect with meme coin enthusiasts and degen communities through a bold, loud personality.
The standout feature of Maxi Doge is its weekly trading competitions. Holders can compete for top spots on the live leaderboard, where rewards are distributed based on ROI. This structure adds a competitive, gamified edge that separates Maxi Doge from passive-only meme coins.
Beyond the contests, Maxi Doge is building towards integration with a futures trading platform. This could boost activity and create actual utility outside of speculation. It could also build a strong community around trading. Furthermore, you can stake MAXI tokens to earn an annual yield of up to 71%.
Pros
- Trading leaderboard incentivizes holders to stay engaged
- Potential to earn passive income with high staking rewards
- Plans to launch a futures trading platform
Cons
- Outside of the trading platform, it has little utility
- It is a new meme coin, so it is subject to volatility
- Faces competition from other meme coins
| Launch Date | July 2025 |
| Chain | Ethereum |
| Starting Price | $0.00025 |
| Current Price | $0.0002735 |
| Price Change | MAXI +9.40% |
3. SUBBD (SUBBD) – The First AI-Based Creator and Subscription Platform
SUBBD 
SUBBD +4.00% is an ambitious endeavor. It is implementing a new approach to the creator economy by merging AI content with tokenized incentives. To accomplish this, SUBBD cuts the intermediaries to give creators a direct line of revenue with their followers.
The $SUBBD presale has raised $1.4M and advances to its next stage. Tokens cost $0.0572 with 20% staking APY. Its AI assistant handles 24/7 fan engagement, boosting creator reach and global user interaction. This positions SUBBD for significant growth potential.
SUBBD has already accumulated 250 million fans. However, the promised core features aren’t live yet. This could make investors cautious. Regardless, early participation offers an opportunity but carries risk until the platform is fully functional with all features.
Pros
- First AI-integrated subscription platform
- 20% APY for stakers (tokens can be staked from day one)
- 250 million+ combined social reach
Cons
- Key features are planned but not live yet
- No public testing so far
- Faces competition from other subscription platforms
| Launch Date | April 2025 |
| Chain | Ethereum |
| Starting Price | $0.055 |
| Current Price | $0.0572 |
| Price Change | SUBBD +4.00% |
2. Initial DEX Offerings and Fair Launches
Another promising way to get into crypto as soon as possible is to participate in initial DEX offerings (IDOs). IDOs are a notable evolution from the 2017 initial coin offerings (ICOs) mania.
Unlike ICOs, IDOs represent a creative way of fundraising, occurring directly on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) like Uniswap. This method pools capital from retail users through liquidity pools that pair the new token with established assets like ETH or USDT.
This setup allows projects to access immediate liquidity upon token launch. To participate in IDOs, the user has to provide liquidity to the pool, and in return, they receive tokens.
As for fair launch, it’s a bit different from IDO. In a fair launch, everyone gets an equal opportunity to access a project for a fair and equitable distribution of tokens. Thus, an IDO might be a fair launch, but a fair launch isn’t necessarily an IDO.
Launchpads like ICO Analytics and Coinlaunch provide a curated list of some of the most popular token launches, including ICOs and IDOs. It is best to use established platforms like these to invest. Some, like Coinlaunch, even provide a list of scam projects to avoid.
3. Airdrop Hunting
Airdrop hunting is a great tactic for getting your hands on a crypto project before it gets listed. This controversial strategy allows users to create multiple wallets to exploit airdrop campaigns. With this method, you interact with the protocol that has yet to launch its token.
To qualify for free tokens, i.e., airdrops, you must complete some tasks or actions, such as providing liquidity or staking, which may involve using some of your crypto.
Airdrops are a key strategy crypto projects use to reward their early users and build a strong community. Typically, projects set aside a percentage of their supply for this purpose. However, these aren’t limited to crypto and can also take the form of NFTs.
- Uniswap’s UNI has been one of the most successful crypto airdrops, with the DEX airdropping 400 UNI tokens to each wallet that used its exchange.
- Starknet began an airdrop campaign on February 20, 2024, targeting nearly 1.3 million wallets. It was designed to reward early users and developers with 700 million tokens.
- Nexus is a Layer 1 blockchain platform offering airdrops to users who contribute computing power to its network. Participants earn NEX points, which can be converted into crypto tokens
- Arbitrum, the largest Layer 2 network on Ethereum, held a major airdrop in March 2023. The ARB token was distributed to users based on on-chain activity, such as bridging assets and interacting with smart contracts.
4. Participate in Launchpads
Launchpads are platforms where new crypto projects are introduced and funding is raised before being made available to the masses. To access these early-stage crypto token sales, you must either stake existing crypto or buy the token at low prices.
These launchpads provide all the important information about the project they are hosting for investors to access. Some of the popular crypto launchpads include:
- Binance Launchpad: This token launch platform is from the world’s largest crypto exchange, Binance, which offers an efficient and secure way for blockchain startups to raise funds. Users must stake their crypto, BNB, BUSD, or other supported tokens to earn new coins here. Browse our list of potential upcoming Binance listings.
- DAO Maker: The DAO Maker’s launchpad enables users to find new interesting projects currently raising funds, then connect their Web3 wallet, choose to participate, and then decide between “Guaranteed” or “Lottery” for allocation.
- Seedify: This launchpad for Web3 projects offers support to startups looking to raise funding and give investors early access to promising projects.
- Polkastarter: The platform connects early-stage projects with interested community members to help raise capital and grow the community. Participants get in early on tokens with high upside potential.
Other successful options to earn an allocation of a new crypto include KuCoin Spotlight, Bybit Launchpad, Gate.io Startup, BSCStation, Fjord Foundry, PAID Network, Ape Terminal, Solanium, Bullperks, and Enjinstarter.
5. Join Project Whitelists and Waitlists
Yet another interesting way to get into a top crypto project early on is by getting into a whitelist or waitlist. New projects sometimes offer these opportunities to early community members, guaranteeing them early token allocation before the coin is listed later.
With whitelists, projects ensure that those who meet their specific criteria, such as having an invitation, fulfilling minimum capital requirements, and helping promote the project, get to participate in the event. Those who are whitelisted are approved participants and get exclusive access.
To get whitelisted, you must first register for it, which usually means providing basic information like your name and email address. You also have to get verified, and once approved, you can send crypto from your whitelisted address to the smart contract address. When the sale is over, you’ll receive the tokens you purchased.
Remember, as you will be connecting your wallet to the address in order to get the allocation, you must first vet the project carefully, which is a crucial step for making any crypto investment.
6. Crypto Whale Tracking
Tracking crypto whale activity can help you find new coins before they hit major exchanges. Whales – big investors with large crypto holdings – often buy tokens early, signaling potential growth.
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Made $5.5M on $币安人生, $361.7K on $4, $219.5K on $GIGGLE王小二 @brc20niubi
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If multiple whales invest in a coin, it may suggest confidence in the project and a possible future listing. Buying before a listing can be profitable, as prices often jump when a coin gets more attention.
Crypto whale trackers like Whale Alert, Nansen, and ArbitrageScanner help monitor whale movements and spot promising coins. Combining these tools with research allows you to find good opportunities early, lower risks, and make smarter trading decisions in the fast-paced crypto market.
Here are some reasons to get new cryptocurrencies before they are listed.
✅ Lower Entry Price
One major benefit of getting in early is owning these new coins at a very low and attractive price. This low price is typically because the project is just starting out and seeking to build its community.
As the project flourishes and gains adoption, the price tends to rise. For instance, during the Ethereum presale, which is hailed as the best ICO of all time, one Ether was available for about $0.30. Today, that same ETH is worth $2,961.07.
✅ Potential for High Returns
As shown above, the potential for returns is extremely high when you invest in new crypto projects before listing, since you acquire tokens at lower prices. Early investment also allows you to benefit from price surges once the coin lists publicly.
With this knowledge and research, you can find good projects and participate in their presales or ICOs for high potential returns. For example, early Bitcoin investors saw huge returns as its value skyrocketed over time.
✅ Exclusivity and Limited Supply
Presales, airdrops, whitelistings, and other offerings are inaccessible to all. At such an early stage, only select investors get access to them. Additionally, projects typically have a limited supply of their tokens in these early-stage sales.
In contrast, during later stages, tokens are fully available in the market for buying and selling. Therefore, investors need to act fast to get the desirable allocation of the project’s total token supply.
While there are some serious benefits of investing early, this mode of investment is not without its issues, which can surface in the following ways:
❌ Lack of Liquidity
While you get exclusive access to new cryptocurrencies at a low price, the limited availability means a lack of liquidity. Liquidity is the ease with which you can convert your crypto into cash.
Usually, you can sell the token only after the token gets a listing on large platforms like CEXs. Notably, such listings may take a considerable amount of time before you can cash out your tokens and reap the profits.
❌ Higher Volatility
Buying low and selling high is how you become profitable. While buying crypto before it lists offers the opportunity to get in at a low price, there is no guarantee that the price will actually go up after listing. It depends on the project’s ability to capture the interest and narrative at the right time, which is especially important for high-volatility cryptos.
Also, remember that the volatility tends to be very high when a coin gets listed for the first time, especially on a prominent exchange. Token prices may drop suddenly after a huge surge, leaving holders with tokens worth a fraction of their value.
❌ Falling Victim to Scams
Tens of thousands of coins are available in the crypto market, and tons are launched every single day. Of course, not every coin is an opportunity; many of these projects are scams or rug pulls.
Easy crypto access attracts investors but also fuels record scams. Chainalysis reports global crypto scam revenue hit $9.9 billion in 2024, driven by “pig butchering” schemes. Generative AI now helps scammers create convincing fake identities and deepfakes, making fraud harder to spot. Projections show losses could surpass $12 billion in 2025.
How to Find New Crypto Coins Early
While we have established all the reasons and ways to get in early in a coin, how do you find crypto before it goes public? Here are some ways to find these coins:
1. DEX Data Aggregators
A great way to spot new coins is through DEX data aggregators, which provide data from multiple sources. This way, you get real-time information about new projects, their background, interest, and development. For instance, you can find trending coins on DEXTools and look at their stats to make an investment decision.
X (previously Twitter) is a great tool for getting all the chatter about the new narratives and coins trending in the market. Crypto Telegram groups provide an attractive way to find new coins, meet other people, become a part of a community, and find crypto to invest in.
For those who want to go deeper into a particular project, a project’s Discord server is perfect for learning more. Many of these platforms host AMAs or Q&A sessions where you can also talk directly to the project founders.
3. DeFi Portfolio Trackers
With the crypto ecosystem growing significantly, crypto portfolio trackers can help you keep track of everything happening. You don’t have to keep track of every exchange, blockchain, wallet, and dApps yourself; rather, these platforms will do that for you in real time. Some popular DeFi portfolio trackers include:
- CoinStats
- Zerion
- Delt
- CoinTracker
- DeBank
Investing in new crypto coins before exchange listings offers potential for significant gains, but requires careful strategy. Focus on projects with real-world utility, transparent teams, and achievable roadmaps. Use secure wallets for verified presales and protect tokens until exchange listings. While early access can increase profits, unproven projects carry risks like scams or sudden collapses.
Bitcoin Hyper is a new meme coin that has been showing great promise. In presale, the HYPER token has already raised more than $29.54M, showing huge early interest.
👉 Get to know more here: New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in Today – Top New Crypto Coins
FAQs
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References
- Cryptonews.com: Ethereum is the Most Profitable ICO – Research
- IC3.Gov: FEDERAL BUREAU of INVESTIGATION Internet Crime Report 2023
- Decrypt: Dymension Is the Latest Airdrop for Solana, Ethereum, and Cosmos Users
- Chainanalysis: Crypto Scam Revenue 2024: Pig Butchering Grows Nearly 40% YoY as Fraud Industry Leverages AI and Increases in Sophistication
- CNBC: Crypto scams likely hit a new record in 2024, driven by ‘pig butchering’ and AI, says Chainalysis
- DappRadar: Airdrops
- CoinLaunch: Homepage
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