Introduction to Our Launch Mechanisms

There are 2 different ways that you can launch an agent on Virtuals Protocol, which are the Standard Launch and Genesis Launch

1. Standard Launch - anyone can create their own agents

Our platform is designed to make agent creation accessible to everyone. The process is streamlined for both technical and non-technical users, allowing them to easily create, deploy, and manage autonomous agents within our ecosystem with minimal friction.

Virtuals Protocol is framework-agnostic and welcomes all quality AI projects. It is completely fine if you choose not to use or do not wish to use GAME framework.

When user creates a new agent, the agents will have two phases: Prototypes Agent and Sentient Agents.

Usually, we encourage new agent tokens to be launched. However, if you have an existing token and would like to launch with Virtuals, the agent can be launched by pairing 42K $VIRTUAL with an equivalent amount of the agent token. The agent will be launched as a Sentient Agent (bypassing the Prototype Agents phase).

2. Genesis Launch - new and fair launch mechanism

Genesis Launches are designed as a fair and permissionless token distribution mechanics tailored for AI agents within the Virtuals Protocol.

This system provides:

AI Agent teams with the broadest possible holder base from Day 1 — increasing visibility, alignment, and market velocity.
Ecosystem participants (“Virgens”) with early access to top-tier agent projects through point-based eligibility and fair allocation.

Genesis Launches move early exposure away from opaque launches toward public, measurable participation.

So, what are the differences of Genesis and Standard Launches?

Feature

Standard Launch

Genesis Launch

TLDR of launch mechanism

Launch Prototype agents, and once they have accumulated 42K $VIRTUAL in the bonding curve, they graduate to Sentient Agents. A DEX liquidity pool will be created.

Schedule a launch date. Once launched, Virgens have 24 hours to pledge Points and commit $VIRTUAL.

If 42,425 $VIRTUAL is committed, the launch is successful. Otherwise, no agent is launched, and Points and $VIRTUAL are returned to Virgens.

For more details, refer to the genesis refund policy.

Early Access

Unstructured, speculative

Structured through point pledging

Token Distribution

Often dominated by insiders

Capped, proportional, transparent

Holder Alignment

Low signal-to-noise ratio

High-signal via real ecosystem contributors

Launch Mindshare

Diluted across noise

Concentrated around curated opportunities

Fairness

Low

High

Community Activation

Weak, post-hoc

Pre-launch coordination via points & pledges

What are the pros and cons of Genesis and Standard Launches for builders?

Feature

Standard Launch

Genesis Launch

Pros

You can launch a Prototype agent immediately, and do not depend on people's pledge
You may pre-buy tokens when you create an agent, and you can re-distribute tokens to the community or control supply

Your agent/project gains immediate visibility from people to pledge points.
No agent will be launched if it is not fully subscribed (i.e., you can experiment)
Your agent immediately becomes Sentient upon successful launch (i.e., do not need to accumulate to $42K VIRTUALS) in the bonding curve

Cons

Agent only turns into Sentient once it accumulates $42K VIRTUALS
Your project has minimal/no visibility to people

Requires sufficient support/pledge from people to launch (i.e., agent launch is fully subscribed)

For more details on the Genesis, please refer to this section.

For users who would like to bridge their agent tokens from Base to Solana, here is a guide.

Builders who would like to lock their tokens pre-bonding can do so by sending their tokens to this vault (standard lock of 6 months post-bonding):

0xdAd686299FB562f89e55DA05F1D96FaBEb2A2E32.

Agents in the bonding phase do not support third party token lockers such as UNCX, Sablier, etc. Please use our designated lock address below if your agent has yet to graduate