Tutorials
How to Create a Vesting Contract on Solana
Learn how to lock tokens with a vesting contract, choose the right parameters and distribute tokens securely using Streamflow.
On this page
Before you start
- An SPL Token
- Tokens to lock
- Recipient wallet
- Connected wallet
What is a vesting contract?
A vesting contract locks tokens and releases them gradually according to a predefined schedule. Instead of receiving the entire allocation immediately, recipients unlock tokens over time.
âšī¸ Why use vesting?
Vesting is commonly used for founders, team members, advisors and investors to demonstrate long-term commitment and reduce immediate selling pressure.
Why use vesting?
| Allocation | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Founders | Long-term commitment |
| Team | Employee incentives |
| Advisors | Gradual compensation |
| Investors | Controlled token distribution |
đĄ Why investors like vesting
A vesting schedule demonstrates that large token holders cannot immediately sell their entire allocation.
Choosing the right vesting parameters
| Project | Suggested vesting |
|---|---|
| Memecoin | 12â24 months |
| Utility token | 24â48 months |
| DAO Treasury | Custom |
| Advisor allocation | 6â12 months |
âšī¸ Recommendation
These examples reflect common industry practices. Every project has different goals, so your vesting schedule should match your tokenomics.
Understanding each vesting parameter
Every vesting contract is defined by a few simple parameters. Understanding what each one does will help you create a schedule that matches your project's goals.
| Parameter | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Recipient | Wallet that will receive the tokens. |
| Start Date | When the vesting schedule begins. |
| Cliff | Period during which no tokens can be claimed. |
| End Date | When all locked tokens have been released. |
| Unlock Frequency | How often recipients can claim tokens. |
Recommended vesting schedules
| Allocation | Cliff | Duration | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founders | 12 months | 36 months | Monthly |
| Core Team | 6 months | 24 months | Monthly |
| Advisors | 3 months | 12 months | Monthly |
| Marketing | None | 6 months | Weekly |
| Community Rewards | None | 12 months | Weekly |
đĄ Good to know
These schedules are examples inspired by common practices across crypto projects. Adapt them to your own tokenomics.
Create the vesting contract
Token Creator guides you through each parameter before creating the Streamflow vesting contract.
Verify your vesting contract
After signing the transaction, your vesting contract is created on Streamflow. You can verify that the recipient, locked amount and unlock schedule are correct before sharing the link with your team or investors.
đĄ Transparency
Sharing your public vesting contract allows anyone to verify when tokens become available.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Wrong recipient | Tokens are locked for the wrong wallet. |
| Too short vesting | Investors may lose confidence. |
| No cliff | Large allocations become available immediately. |
| Wrong unlock frequency | Recipients may claim tokens more or less often than expected. |
â ī¸ Always double-check
Review every parameter before signing. Vesting contracts are designed to be predictable and should not require changes after deployment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel a vesting contract?
It depends on the vesting configuration. Review the contract settings carefully before creating it.
Can I change the vesting schedule later?
Most vesting parameters should be considered permanent once the contract has been deployed.
Can recipients claim tokens before the cliff?
No. During the cliff period, no vested tokens are available to claim.
Why do investors expect vesting?
Vesting demonstrates long-term commitment and reduces the risk of large token holders selling immediately after launch.
Why does Token Creator use Streamflow?
Streamflow is one of the most widely used vesting protocols on Solana and provides transparent on-chain vesting contracts.
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