Jumpstart

Jumpstart is the token launch platform run by the OKX exchange. It started in 2019 as an Initial Exchange Offering (IEO) venue, where new blockchain projects sold tokens to exchange users before listing. It now runs two kinds of events: token sales and staking pools often called Jumpstart Mining. Both favour users who hold OKB, the exchange's own token.

How it works

Every Jumpstart project has an event page. It shows the project description, tokenomics, total allocation, event dates and the eligibility rules. Taking part usually follows these steps:

1. Open an OKX account and complete identity verification (KYC). Jumpstart is not offered in every country, so the event page lists which regions can join.
2. Hold or buy the required asset, usually OKB. Some mining pools also accept BTC, USDT or other assets.
3. During the event window, either commit OKB to a mining pool or subscribe to the sale.
4. Receive the new tokens in your OKX account, normally before or at the moment spot trading opens.

Jumpstart Mining works like a Launchpool. You lock OKB in a pool for a fixed number of days. The project's token reward is shared among participants in proportion to how much each one staked, usually with a cap per account. Your OKB is returned when the event ends, so what you give up is the chance to use or sell that OKB during the lock.

Jumpstart Sale is closer to a classic IEO. OKX takes snapshots of users' OKB balances to set each person's maximum allocation. You then pay for tokens at a fixed price, in OKB or a stablecoin. When a sale is oversubscribed, tokens are split pro rata and unused funds are refunded.

Why it matters

For users, Jumpstart is a way to get tokens before public trading starts, using a simple process inside an exchange account. No separate wallet or on-chain transactions are needed. Mining events cost nothing beyond the time your OKB is locked, which is why many OKB holders join most of them.

For projects, it is a launch and marketing channel. They get exposure to a large user base and a listing on OKX after the event. Past Jumpstart projects include My Neighbor Alice (ALICE), Matr1x (MAX) and QnA3.AI (GPT).

Limits and risks

• Token price risk. Many new tokens trade below their first-day price within weeks or months. Getting tokens early does not guarantee a profit.
• OKB exposure. To take part you need to hold OKB, and its price can fall more than the value of the rewards you earn.
• Small allocations. Popular events are heavily oversubscribed, so individual rewards are often small. Per-account caps also limit them.
• Regional restrictions. Users in some jurisdictions, including the United States, cannot take part. OKX entities in regulated markets may offer only some events or none.
• Unlocks and vesting. Read the tokenomics. Big team or investor unlocks after listing can push the price down.

What to check when comparing launch platforms

Also check how often the platform runs events and how past tokens have traded since listing. A platform with frequent events but weak post-listing results may cost you more in exchange-token exposure than it pays in rewards.

Related terms

• Jumpstart vs Launchpool: Launchpool is Binance's staking-based launch format. Jumpstart Mining works in a similar way, using OKB on OKX.
• IEO vs ICO: in an IEO an exchange runs the sale and screens the project. In an ICO the project sells tokens directly, often with less oversight.
• Jumpstart vs Earn: Earn and staking products pay yield on existing assets. Jumpstart pays out new project tokens tied to a specific launch.