Introduction
Genesis - Solana Token Launch Smart Contract
Last updated January 31, 2026
Genesis is a Metaplex smart contract for Token Generation Events (TGE) on Solana. Build presales, launch pools, and auctions with on-chain coordination for token creation, distribution, and fund collection.
Choose Your Path
- New to Genesis? Start with Getting Started to understand the flow
- Ready to build? Jump to Launch Pool or Presale
- Need SDK reference? See JavaScript SDK
What is Genesis?
Genesis provides on-chain infrastructure for launching tokens on Solana. It handles:
- Token creation with metadata (name, symbol, image)
- Fund collection from participants (SOL deposits)
- Distribution based on your chosen mechanism
- Time coordination for deposit and claim windows
Think of Genesis as a smart contract that sits between you (the launcher) and your participants, ensuring fair, transparent, and automated token distribution.
Launch Mechanisms
Genesis supports three mechanisms that can be combined:
| Mechanism | Price | Distribution | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch Pool | Discovered at close | Proportional to deposit | Fair launches, community tokens |
| Presale | Fixed upfront | First-come-first-served | Predictable raises, known valuation |
| Uniform Price Auction | Clearing price | Highest bidders win | Large raises, institutional interest |
Which Should I Use?
Launch Pool - You want organic price discovery and fair distribution. Everyone who deposits gets tokens proportional to their share. No one gets sniped.
Presale - You know your valuation and want predictable pricing. Set a fixed price and let participants buy until the cap is reached.
Auction - You want competitive bidding from larger participants. Best for established projects with institutional interest.
Core Concepts
Genesis Account
The central coordinator for your launch. When you initialize a Genesis Account, it:
- Creates your SPL token with metadata
- Mints the total supply to escrow
- Provides the foundation for adding distribution buckets
Buckets
Modular components that define how tokens and funds flow:
| Type | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Inflow | Collect SOL from users | Launch Pool, Presale |
| Outflow | Receive funds for team/treasury | Unlocked Bucket |
Time Conditions
Every bucket has time windows that control when actions are allowed:
- Deposit window - When users can deposit SOL
- Claim window - When users can claim tokens
Protocol Fees
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Deposit | 2% of deposit amount |
| Withdraw | 2% of withdrawal amount |
| Claim | Transaction fee only |
No upfront costs. You only pay fees on funds raised.
Program Information
| Network | Program ID |
|---|---|
| Mainnet | GENSkbxvLc7iBQvEAJv3Y5wVMHGD3RjfCNwWgU8Tqgkc |
| Devnet | GENSkbxvLc7iBQvEAJv3Y5wVMHGD3RjfCNwWgU8Tqgkc |
Security
After your launch completes, revoke token authorities to signal that no additional tokens can be minted:
- Mint authority - Revoke to prevent new token minting
- Freeze authority - Revoke to prevent token freezing
See Getting Started for details on authority management.
FAQ
What is Genesis?
Genesis is a Metaplex smart contract for Token Generation Events (TGE) on Solana. It provides on-chain infrastructure for presales, launch pools, and auctions with coordinated token creation and distribution.
What launch mechanisms does Genesis support?
Genesis supports three mechanisms: Launch Pool (proportional distribution with price discovery), Presale (fixed price), and Uniform Price Auction (bid-based with clearing price).
How much does it cost to use Genesis?
Genesis charges a 2% protocol fee on deposits. There are no upfront costs—you only pay Solana transaction fees plus the protocol fee on funds raised.
Can I revoke token authorities after launch?
Yes. Genesis provides revokeMintAuthorityV2 and revokeFreezeAuthorityV2 instructions to permanently revoke authorities.
What's the difference between Launch Pool and Presale?
Presale has a fixed price set upfront. Launch Pool discovers price organically—more deposits means higher implied price per token, with proportional distribution to all participants.
Can I combine multiple launch mechanisms?
Yes. Genesis uses a bucket system where you can add multiple inflow buckets and configure outflow buckets for treasury or vesting.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Genesis Account | Central coordinator that creates the token and manages all buckets |
| Bucket | Modular component that defines token/SOL flow |
| Inflow Bucket | Bucket that collects SOL from users |
| Outflow Bucket | Bucket that receives funds via end behaviors |
| Launch Pool | Deposit-based distribution where price is discovered at close |
| Presale | Fixed-price sale at a predetermined rate |
| Quote Token | The token users deposit (usually wSOL) |
| Base Token | The token being launched and distributed |
Next Steps
- Getting Started - Understand the Genesis flow
- JavaScript SDK - Installation and setup
- Launch Pool - Build a proportional distribution launch
- Presale - Build a fixed-price sale