Choosing Your Market Type
Your market type determines how Patron Cards are sold. This decision affects pricing, FOMO dynamics, and community perception.
Three market types available: SteppedMarket, FixedMarket, and MembersMarket.
Quick Comparison
Pricing
Increases per batch
Same for everyone
Variable or fixed
Bot Resistance
High
Medium
High
FOMO Factor
High
Medium
Very high
Complexity
Medium
Low
Medium
Best For
Most launches
Established projects
Exclusive clubs
Fairness
Early bird rewards
Equal access
Member-only
Most founders choose SteppedMarket. It balances FOMO, fairness, and bot resistance.
SteppedMarket: Batch-Based Pricing
How It Works
Cards sell in batches. Price increases after each batch sells out.
Example configuration:
Total supply: 100 cards
Batch size: 10 cards
Starting price: 0.5 ETH
Price increment: 0.05 ETH per batch
Resulting prices:
Batch 1 (cards 1-10): 0.50 ETH each
Batch 2 (cards 11-20): 0.55 ETH each
Batch 3 (cards 21-30): 0.60 ETH each
...
Batch 10 (cards 91-100): 0.95 ETH each
Total raised: 70 ETH (approximately $140k at $2k ETH)
Key Benefits
Early bird advantage without bot dominance: First supporters save money, but bots can't buy everything instantly because batch pricing removes urgency within each batch.
Creates sustained FOMO: As batches sell, latecomers see price increasing and feel urgency to buy now.
Rewards commitment level: Supporters who act fast get better prices. Higher prices later mean higher LP allocation and PatronPower weight.
Psychological pricing power: Watching batches sell out creates momentum. "Batch 7 is 80% sold!" drives action.
When to Choose SteppedMarket
Ideal for:
New projects building community
Projects wanting to reward early supporters
Launches needing sustained momentum
Most general-purpose launches
Not ideal for:
Projects with established, small communities
Launches where equal pricing is critical
Projects with very high or very low price sensitivity
FixedMarket: Equal Pricing
How It Works
All Patron Cards sell at the same price. First-come, first-served.
Example configuration:
Total supply: 100 cards
Price: 0.75 ETH each
No batches, no price changes
Result: 100 cards × 0.75 ETH = 75 ETH raised
Key Benefits
Simplicity: Easy to understand and explain. No complex pricing logic.
Fairness: Everyone pays the same price. No advantage for early buyers.
Predictability: Supporters know exactly what they'll pay. No surprises.
Equal access: No artificial scarcity within price tiers.
When to Choose FixedMarket
Ideal for:
Established projects with strong communities
Projects where equal pricing is important
Simple launches without complex marketing
Projects with very price-sensitive audiences
Not ideal for:
New projects needing momentum
Launches wanting to reward early supporters
Projects with high FOMO potential
MembersMarket: Exclusive Access
How It Works
Only existing NFT holders can participate. Requires vouching from current members.
Example configuration:
Total supply: 50 cards
Price: 1.0 ETH each
Requires: Ownership of specific NFT collection
Vouching: 3 existing members must vouch for new participants
Result: Exclusive community of committed supporters
Key Benefits
Bot resistance: Human verification required. Bots can't participate.
Community curation: Only genuine supporters get access. Quality over quantity.
Exclusivity: Creates premium feel and FOMO among non-members.
Web of trust: Vouching system builds strong community bonds.
When to Choose MembersMarket
Ideal for:
Exclusive club launches
Projects with existing NFT communities
High-value, low-supply launches
Projects wanting curated supporters
Not ideal for:
Public launches needing broad participation
Projects without existing communities
Launches wanting maximum reach
Projects with small existing communities
Decision Framework
Ask These Questions
What's your community size?
Large, established community → FixedMarket or SteppedMarket
Small, exclusive community → MembersMarket
New project, building community → SteppedMarket
How important is early supporter rewards?
Very important → SteppedMarket
Not important → FixedMarket
Exclusivity more important → MembersMarket
What's your FOMO strategy?
High FOMO, momentum building → SteppedMarket
Moderate FOMO → FixedMarket
Exclusivity-driven FOMO → MembersMarket
How complex can your launch be?
Simple, straightforward → FixedMarket
Moderate complexity → SteppedMarket
Complex, curated → MembersMarket
Common Mistakes
Choosing FixedMarket for new projects: New projects need momentum. SteppedMarket creates better FOMO.
Choosing MembersMarket without community: Don't use exclusive access if you don't have an existing community to vouch.
Overcomplicating SteppedMarket: Keep batch sizes reasonable. Too many small batches create confusion.
Underpricing in any market: Better to raise less with higher prices than to raise more with lower prices. Price signals value.
Configuration Tips
SteppedMarket Configuration
Batch sizes: 10-20% of total supply per batch. Too small creates confusion. Too large reduces FOMO.
Price increments: 10-20% increase per batch. Too small reduces urgency. Too large creates barriers.
Starting price: Set based on your minimum viable raise. Don't start too low.
Total supply: Match your funding target. More cards = lower individual prices.
FixedMarket Configuration
Price setting: Research similar projects. Don't underprice. Price signals value.
Supply: Match your funding target. Don't create artificial scarcity.
Timing: Consider market conditions. Launch when your community is most active.
MembersMarket Configuration
Vouching requirements: 3-5 vouches per new member. Too few reduces quality. Too many reduces participation.
NFT requirements: Choose collections that align with your project. Don't be too restrictive.
Price: Can be higher due to exclusivity. Don't overprice.
Monitoring and Adjustments
Track These Metrics
Sales velocity: How fast are cards selling?
Community engagement: Are people talking about your launch?
Price sensitivity: Are people complaining about prices?
Bot activity: Are you seeing suspicious buying patterns?
Common Adjustments
If sales are too slow:
Lower prices (if using FixedMarket)
Reduce batch sizes (if using SteppedMarket)
Increase marketing efforts
Lower your funding target
If sales are too fast:
Raise prices
Increase batch sizes
Extend sale period
Increase total supply
If you're getting botted:
Switch to MembersMarket
Add more verification requirements
Implement rate limiting
Success Examples
SteppedMarket Success
Project: DeFi Protocol Configuration: 1000 cards, 100 per batch, 0.1 ETH starting price, 0.05 ETH increments Result: Sold out in 3 days, raised 75 ETH Key factors: Strong community, reasonable pricing, good marketing
FixedMarket Success
Project: Established DAO Configuration: 500 cards, 0.5 ETH each Result: Sold out in 1 week, raised 250 ETH Key factors: Existing community, fair pricing, clear value proposition
MembersMarket Success
Project: Exclusive NFT Community Configuration: 100 cards, 1.0 ETH each, 3 vouches required Result: Sold out in 2 days, raised 100 ETH Key factors: Strong existing community, high exclusivity, premium positioning
Next Steps
Ready to choose your market type?
Design your tokenomics - Plan your token distribution
Deploy your project - Launch your token
Monitor your progress - Track your success
Remember: The market type you choose shapes your entire launch experience. Choose based on your community, goals, and strategy. The right choice can make the difference between success and failure.
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