Exploring the future of digital economy
Internet Capital Markets (ICM): A Quick Overview of a New Sector on Solana
Introduction
In the past two weeks, a novel sector has emerged on the Solana blockchain — Internet Capital Markets (ICM) — enabling anyone to launch their own token within minutes. This innovation represents a significant shift in how ideas, projects, and even memes can be transformed into tradable digital assets through an ultra-simplified process.
At its core, ICM is a new paradigm for fundraising and trading tokens, built around smart contracts and social media dynamics. It leverages the Believe launchpad and its Twitter bot, Launchcoin, to democratize access to capital markets.
What Is ICM?
Internet Capital Markets (ICM) is a decentralized platform that allows users to tokenize ideas, brands, or concepts directly from social media platforms — primarily Twitter. By simply tweeting in the format “$NAME + @launchcoin”, a new token is automatically generated on the Solana blockchain.
This mechanism eliminates traditional barriers to entry in venture funding, enabling creators to raise funds instantly based on community belief and engagement rather than institutional backing.
Key Features:
- Ultra-simple token creation: Tokens are launched via a simple tweet mentioning
@launchcoin. - Open participation: Any user can invest in promising projects.
- Value determined by popularity and belief: Token valuation is driven purely by market sentiment.
- Instant financing: Creators receive funding immediately after launch.
- Versatile use cases: Supports investment in ideas, brands, products, and any concept with perceived value.
Evolution: From Clout to Believe
The origins of ICM trace back to Clout, an earlier project developed by Ben Pasternak, which aimed to tokenize social influence. Users could mint tokens representing celebrities or influencers and trade them like financial assets.
However, Clout faced limitations due to speculative behavior and overreliance on personal reputation. In response, the team rebranded Clout as Believe in April 2025, shifting focus from personality-based tokens to idea- and product-driven ones. The slogan changed from “Believe in Someone” to “Believe in Something.”
An MVP version was released on April 27, 2025, marking a pivot toward practical applications and real-world utility.
Core Platform: Believe App
Believe App (https://x.com/believeapp) serves as the primary interface for ICM on Solana. Functioning as a token factory, it enables rapid deployment of tokens through its Launchcoin Twitter bot , which automates the minting process upon receiving a properly formatted tweet.
Adoption Metrics (as of mid-May 2025):
- Over 9,000 tokens launched
- Several hundred actively traded
- More than 182,000 traders
- Total trading volume exceeding $1 billion
A detailed dashboard tracking platform performance is available on Dune Analytics: Dune Dashboard
Believe App is designed natively for Twitter, with no explicit limits on the number of tokens that can be created per day, further enhancing virality through social sharing.
Risks and Limitations
Despite its rapid growth and accessibility, the platform presents several risks:
- Lack of infrastructure control: Believe handles all backend processes, potentially retaining rights to mint or freeze assets.
- Staggered payout model: Founders receive funds in tranches to prevent rug pulls, but this also disrupts traditional quick-dump strategies.
- Limited availability: The app is not listed on the Russian App Store, limiting regional access.
LAUNCHCOIN – The Native Token of Believe App
LAUNCHCOIN is the native utility token of the Believe platform, used to power token launches on Twitter. Originally named PASTERNAK — a meme coin tied to Ben Pasternak — it briefly reached a $80 million market cap before crashing 97%. On April 29, 2025, it was rebranded to LAUNCHCOIN.
As of mid-May 2025, LAUNCHCOIN accounts for nearly half of the total market cap of all tokens launched on the Believe platform.
Resources:
- Twitter : https://x.com/launchcoin
- DexScreener : https://dexscreener.com/solana/Ey59PH7Z4BFU4HjyKnyMdWt5GGN76KazTAwQihoUXRnk
Notable Projects Launched on Believe App
Below is a list of high-profile projects that have successfully launched on the ICM platform:
Conclusion
The emergence of Internet Capital Markets (ICM) on Solana marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of decentralized finance (DeFi) and crowdfunding. By leveraging social media and simplifying token creation, ICM enables unprecedented access to capital for creators and innovators worldwide.
While the platform fosters creativity and rapid experimentation, it also introduces risks related to governance, security, and speculative volatility. As the ecosystem matures, regulatory scrutiny and platform improvements will play a crucial role in shaping its long-term viability.
