Launch your first token
Use the Candle launch page to create a token on Solana or Hood. The form has two steps: choose the launch terms and token identity, then add media and social links before confirming the transaction.
Before you begin
Section titled “Before you begin”You need a Candle account with the wallet for your chosen network linked:
- Solana: a linked Solana wallet.
- Hood: a linked EVM wallet with ETH for gas.
Open Solana launches and Hood launches do not require a Believer NFT. A Solana Exclusive launch requires an eligible Wallet IQ score and a Solana Believer NFT.
Step 1: choose the launch
Section titled “Step 1: choose the launch”1. Select a network
Section titled “1. Select a network”Choose Solana or Hood. Changing networks changes the available base pairs and graduation options.
2. Select a base pair
Section titled “2. Select a base pair”The base pair is the asset buyers spend on the bonding curve and the asset raised for graduation.
| Network | Available base pairs |
|---|---|
| Solana | SOL, USDC, CNDL |
| Hood | ETH, USDG |
The launch form updates the starting FDV, bonding FDV, raise, supply sold on the curve, and staker allocation for the selected pair.
3. Select a tier or DEX version
Section titled “3. Select a tier or DEX version”On Solana, choose a launch tier:
- Open: no Believer NFT gate. This is the default.
- Exclusive: only Believer NFT holders can buy on the curve. The creator must also qualify for and hold the NFT.
CNDL-quoted launches are Open-only.
On Hood, launches created through the web interface are Open. Choose where the token will trade after graduation:
- Uniswap v3
- Uniswap v4
This choice does not move the pre-graduation curve into Uniswap. It selects the venue that receives liquidity when the Candle curve graduates.
4. Choose the CNDL-staker allocation
Section titled “4. Choose the CNDL-staker allocation”Choose 0.5% to 10% of the token supply in 0.5% increments. The default is 0.5%.
The allocation is removed from the launch inventory and reserved for eligible CNDL stakers. It is not additional inflation.
5. Enter token identity
Section titled “5. Enter token identity”- Name: required, up to 32 UTF-8 bytes.
- Ticker: required, letters and numbers only, up to 10 characters.
- Description: optional.
The on-chain metadata limits are measured in bytes. Some emoji and non-ASCII characters use more than one byte.
Step 2: branding and socials
Section titled “Step 2: branding and socials”Upload a token image. A banner is optional. Candle accepts JPEG, PNG, WebP, and GIF images; the interface recommends 500×500 for the token image and 1500×500 for the banner.
You can also add:
- Website
- X/Twitter
- Telegram
These links become part of the token’s Candle metadata. Use complete, valid URLs. External market-data providers may also enrich metadata after launch, but the metadata supplied at launch remains the canonical creator submission.
Confirming the launch
Section titled “Confirming the launch”Review the token preview and curve terms before signing.
An optional atomic initial buy is available only for SOL-quoted Solana launches. USDC-, CNDL-, ETH-, and USDG-quoted launches must be created first and bought in a separate transaction.
After confirmation, Candle displays:
- The mint or token contract address
- An explorer link
- The Candle token page
Current launch matrix
Section titled “Current launch matrix”See Launch options for the complete raise and valuation matrix.