Imagine a project with 340k DAU and a carefully planned marketing strategy: release certain new features straight after launch.

Their public valuation of $75M, with a 10% airdrop allocation unlocked 100% at TGE, can be completely absorbed by their users. This is especially true given their listing on OKX and the use of a great market maker.

You, on the other hand, simply copied their $75M public valuation with 100% unlocked 10% airdrop allocation.

• You don’t have 340k DAU.
• You don’t have their marketing strategy.
• You aren’t getting listed on their CEXs.
• You don’t have their market maker.

Thus, your token price will look like this.

Copy-pasting tokenomics without understanding the context—like user base, marketing strategy, CEX quality, and market dynamics—can wreck your project.

📊 At Simplicity Group, we design custom tokenomics tailored to your project’s unique needs. From market analysis to value retention, we ensure every element aligns for long-term success.

💡 Don’t leave your project’s future to chance, msg @Alex_Simplicity

Here are the top IDOs/ICOs/IEOs (Jan 18 – 24):

🔸Searchpad leads with 2.41x ROI, raising $415K
🔸Ondo AI follows at 2.31x, MIDDLE at 2.28x with $1.43M raised, and BNB Agents hits 2.22x
🔸ChainAware.ai clocks in at 1.62x
🔸35 total IDOs this week with an average 1.15x ROI

Why should you know this?

It helps you spot emerging projects before they take off, see where investor capital is flowing, and identify which ventures are attracting the largest potential user bases.

We looked into Aerodrome's governance to explore how it works and its levels of decentralisation.

Top finding: top 20 wallets hold 62% of veAERO governance tokens.

But is this that bad? Check out the full thread: https://x.com/SimplicityWeb3/status/1883880709732892729

🤝 We're excited to be working with Playside (PLAY3) 🤝

PLAY3 is a no-code AI infrastructure empowering brands to create AI Agents in open worlds like Roblox. It monetizes untapped compute power from 380M+ users, offering brands dynamic tools to engage and grow.

Why we're bullish
PLAY3 bridges AI innovation and open-world ecosystems, with clients like Samsung and Canon and partnerships with Aptos, NEAR, and Time Magazine. Its no-code platform and AI Agent Marketplace set a new standard for brand-driven AI experiences in Web3.

Check out PLAY3 on X

📌Join our X space on TON now: https://x.com/i/spaces/1dRKZdYEMyzJB

📢 Yesterday, the Simplicity Group team presented a report on the TON ecosystem at the TON Society event in Dubai.

We aim to deliver real value and insights to the community by analyzing key data, growth drivers, and opportunities in the TON network.

A huge thank you to @russkieyevrey and everyone who participated in the discussion!

Top raises of the week: AI-powered Web3, decentralized identity & institutional crypto tools

This week's top blockchain raises highlight three major trends:

⚡ AI-powered Web3 infrastructure
🛡 Decentralized identity & credentials
🏦 Institutional crypto finance solutions

Top 5 raises this week
1️⃣ Bluwhale AI – $75M
🔗 Sector: AI x Web3 Infrastructure

Bluwhale is building Web3’s intelligence layer (L3), turning data and mobile devices into AI-powered assets for on-chain intelligence.

2️⃣ D3 – $25M (Led by Paradigm)
🔗 Sector: Decentralized Domains & Web3 Identity

D3 is developing the first interoperable network for real domain names, bridging Web3 with billions of traditional internet users.

3️⃣ Humanity Protocol – $20M (Led by Pantera Capital)
🔗 Sector: Decentralized Identity & AI Agents

Humanity Protocol focuses on on-chain biometric identity verification, similar to Worldcoin, but aims for a more decentralized, privacy-first approach.

4️⃣ Sign – $16M (Led by YZi Labs, e.g., Binance Labs)
🔗 Sector: On-Chain Token Distribution & Credential Verification

Sign provides on-chain infrastructure for token distribution, credential verification, and compliance.

5️⃣ Cryptio – $15M (Led by Alven)
🔗 Sector: Institutional Crypto Accounting & Compliance

Cryptio offers an audit-ready back-office for regulated enterprises, ensuring crypto compliance and financial reporting.

Web3 trends from this week’s raises:

🔵 AI x Web3 is leading investment flows – projects like Bluwhale AI and Sign show strong interest in on-chain AI agents, intelligent automation, and AI-powered economies.

🟢 Decentralized identity & credentials are a major focus. D3 & Humanity Protocol prove that verifiable, privacy-first identity is a critical piece of the Web3 puzzle.

🟣 Investments in Cryptio highlight the growing need for enterprise-grade financial tools as regulations tighten.

High FDV Low Float: You've Been Lied To

Crypto projects often launch with sky-high FDVs and minimal circulating supply. But does this strategy actually lead to long-term success?

Our latest research analyzes 16 token launches and reveals:

📉 No strong correlation between high FDV, low float, and price performance
📊 Short-term gains often fade within weeks
💡 Market dynamics matter more than just token supply strategy

Read the full report now: https://www.simplicitygroup.xyz/blog/high-fdv-low-float

Some insights into upcoming months.

Source

🤝 We're excited to be working with Peer2Play!

Peer2Play is a decentralized gaming hub where gamers, developers, and influencers connect, compete, and earn across multiple blockchains. Powered by Skale Network, SEI, Base & more, it ensures a seamless gaming experience.

Why we’re bullish
Peer2Play brings real ownership, on-chain tournaments, and new earning opportunities for players and creators. With decentralized infrastructure and cross-chain compatibility, it creates a more open and rewarding gaming ecosystem.

Missed these? Here’s what’s launching this week💼

The hottest IDOs & ICOs are gearing up for launch, and if you’re not paying attention, you might miss out on major opportunities.

📉 VC funding took a hit this week, down 61% to $92M across 18 deals. But key players are still securing capital:

Cipher Mining – $50M (SoftBank)
Taproot Wizards – $30M (Standard Crypto)
VitalVEDA – $20M (Rollman Management)
Reservoir – $14M (Union Square Ventures)
Olas – $13.8M (1kx)

What makes a token valuable?

At Simplicity, we break token value into five key types:

1️⃣ Monetary:
Represents financial benefits or economic activity.
2️⃣ Political:
Grants decision-making power and sovereignty.
3️⃣ Social:
Builds reputation, influence, and community standing.
4️⃣ Informational:
Holds, transfers, or restricts access to data.
5️⃣ Speculative:
Reflects its potential future value.

The more ways a token can be used, the more value it holds.

📉 Yes, the market is down. But where is the money actually flowing?

BTC exchange reserves are at all-time lows, USDT inflows are soaring, and liquidity is moving in unexpected ways.

The data tells a different story - let’s follow the money.

➡️ Check out our comprehensive new research piece:
https://www.simplicitygroup.xyz/blog/flow-of-value-in-crypto

"Do your own research!" But how?

When evaluating a long-term investment, always start with the fundamentals. A project can pivot if its idea is weak, but a bad team is a guaranteed failure.

To assess a team, check their LinkedIn and Twitter and look for three key things:

1️⃣ Have they built in Web3 before? Web2 knowledge doesn’t always translate.

2️⃣ Do they have expertise in the sector they’re building in?

A retail exec launching a blockchain supply chain project likely lacks the technical knowledge to succeed.

3️⃣ Are they actually qualified for their position?

A lifelong accountant suddenly acting as CTO signals major risks—bad code, poor dev management, and eventual failure.

DYOR is a skill. Learn it, and you’ll avoid 99% of bad investments.

🤝 We're excited to be working with Sui Hub!

Sui Hub is the official home for Sui builders, powered by Ghaf Capital and Sui Foundation. It provides Web3 teams with the infrastructure and support they need to scale, fostering a thriving ecosystem of innovative blockchain applications.

Through this partnership, we’re providing tokenomics expertise to Sui Hub projects while connecting early-stage teams to a strong and growing ecosystem.