Launchpads are the key to decoding crypto investment

Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of crypto.news editorial.

When deciding which stocks or ventures to invest in, investors typically have a set of criteria to evaluate which options best suit their financial goals. One of the main factors to consider is risk appetite, which refers to investors’ willingness to take risks to achieve potential returns.

Those with lower risk appetite prefer more stable blue-chip stocks with stable but modest returns. On the other hand, investors with a higher risk tolerance may seek out more volatile stocks or emerging markets, attracted by the possibility of significant returns. They are often willing to endure market fluctuations, believing that the potential long-term rewards outweigh the risks.

But retail investors have remained conservative when it comes to crypto. Despite the industry’s promises of high returns, many retail investors are cautious about crypto. Their hesitation stems from crypto’s well-known volatility, the perception that scams and scams are common, and a general lack of technological understanding combined with the complex user experience.

With 2025 on the horizon and Bitcoin (BTC) trending upward, crypto is steadily gaining traction as a legitimate investment class. Although recent price increases are due to Donald Trump’s election victory and his crypto-friendly appointments, the sector has been gaining momentum for some time.

The industry has found a new product market suitable for stablecoins, DeFi is growing rapidly, and newly developed infrastructure is enabling a variety of new applications while also reducing transaction costs. As such, many retail and institutional investors are amazed by crypto’s investment potential and growing technological capabilities.

This begs the question: How can blockchain-based projects effectively transform conservative retail and institutional investors into active participants beyond their comfort zones?

Enter the crypto launchpads

Crypto launchpads provide investors with early access to tokens before they are listed on public exchanges. In practice, this offers investors attractive investment opportunities as they have the potential for higher investment returns.

Cryptocurrency uncertainty can be troubling for those who prefer to invest in safe stocks with steady growth. Launchpads address these concerns by helping make crypto accessible, challenging the perception that it is insecure, and emphasizing transparency to increase trust among hesitant new investors.

The concept wasn’t always perfect. First, ICOs became infamous during the 2017 bull run due to fraudulent token launches and outright fraud. But the next generation of crypto launch pads include stronger due diligence practices to promote security and informed investing. This allows investors to participate in early-stage projects with a sense of security that they may not get when exploring projects independently.

Investors benefit from this in two ways. They are actively involved in projects that provide some level of protection and earn bragging rights by saying they helped launch an innovation in a growing field. As crypto expands and matures, so do the launch pads that support many of the industry’s most promising projects, sometimes even giving community-driven spins to launch pads with an “auction house” feel.

Gems’ launchpad, for example, emphasizes community and networking as it aims to build a dedicated ecosystem for crypto investment and fundraising. At the heart of the Gems platform is a diverse network of “Leaders”, comprised of eager and savvy investor influencers who then rally their communities around projects on the launch pad based on their interests and expertise.

Compared to other launchpads, Gems recognizes the unpredictability of crypto investments and offers an optional protection program through a reliable insurance provider. To ensure that projects using the launch pad are the best product, Gems’ investment committee also conducts an extensive review process to identify teams with the most disruptive potential.

It’s understandable why investors might be wary of investing in unknown crypto projects. But launch pads are an irreplaceable asset for an industry in the midst of expansion, helping to demystify early-stage investing and expand access to everyone.