How to Launch Your Own ERC-20 Token and List It on Uniswap

 I've been in the blockchain space long enough to see trends come and go, but the one thing that’s stayed consistent is the community’s excitement around launching their own cryptocurrency tokens. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably toyed with the idea of launching your own ERC-20 token and getting it listed on Uniswap. And honestly, it’s not as complicated as it might seem—if you understand the mechanics and avoid the common pitfalls.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the entire process from an experience-first perspective. Not just the technical side of things, but the “why” and “how” behind each step. This is the kind of guide I wish I had when I started out.

Understanding the ERC-20 Standard

Before you dive in and start writing smart contracts, you need to understand what an ERC-20 token really is. On the Ethereum blockchain, tokens follow certain standards to ensure compatibility with wallets, exchanges, and dApps. ERC-20 is the most widely adopted standard, used by everything from stablecoins to governance tokens.

Think of it as a set of rules: total supply, balances, transfers, and allowances are the basics. These make your token predictable, which is critical when you want it to be accepted and used by others. If you skip on properly implementing any of these methods, your token won’t interact correctly with platforms like Uniswap.

Setting Up the Right Development Environment

Now let’s get our hands dirty. When I first started coding smart contracts, I underestimated how important a clean setup is. You’ll need a code editor like Visual Studio Code, Node.js installed on your machine, and a basic understanding of JavaScript or TypeScript.

I use Hardhat for most of my Ethereum development work now—it’s fast, reliable, and has excellent documentation. You can also use Remix if you prefer a browser-based experience, but for production tokens, Hardhat offers better control and scripting flexibility.

Here’s how I usually set up my environment:

1. Initialize a new Hardhat project:

   nginx
   npx hardhat

2. Install dependencies:

   css
   npm install --save-dev hardhat @nomiclabs/hardhat-ethers ethers

3. Add OpenZeppelin’s ERC-20 contract:

   nginx
   npm install @openzeppelin/contracts

Using OpenZeppelin is a no-brainer. Their contracts are audited, widely trusted, and highly customizable. You don’t want to reinvent the wheel when it comes to something as sensitive as token code.

Writing the Token Contract

This is the heart of your project. I recommend starting with a basic ERC-20 template and adding your own custom touches.

Here’s a simplified version of what I use in most token launches:

solidity

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
pragma solidity ^0.8.0;

import "@openzeppelin/contracts/token/ERC20/ERC20.sol";

contract MyToken is ERC20 {
    constructor(uint256 initialSupply) ERC20("MyToken", "MTK") {
        _mint(msg.sender, initialSupply * (10 ** decimals()));
    }
}

What’s happening here is straightforward: we’re importing the ERC-20 standard, naming our token "MyToken" with the ticker symbol "MTK", and minting the total supply to the wallet that deploys the contract.

If you plan to have fixed tokenomics—say, a hard cap of 1 million tokens—this contract does the job. But if you're thinking of minting more tokens later or implementing burn mechanisms or governance, those require additional logic.

Deploying the Contract to Ethereum or Testnet

This is the part where most people hesitate. Deploying a smart contract sounds intimidating, but it’s quite doable.

I usually test deployments on the Goerli or Sepolia testnets first. It lets you test without spending real ETH. Once you’re comfortable, you can deploy to Ethereum Mainnet.

First, configure your Hardhat network settings. For example:

js

// hardhat.config.js
require("@nomiclabs/hardhat-ethers");

module.exports = {
  networks: {
    sepolia: {
      url: "https://sepolia.infura.io/v3/YOUR_INFURA_KEY",
      accounts: [`0x${YOUR_PRIVATE_KEY}`]
    }
  },
  solidity: "0.8.0",
};

Then deploy:

javascript

// scripts/deploy.js
async function main() {
  const [deployer] = await ethers.getSigners();
  const Token = await ethers.getContractFactory("MyToken");
  const token = await Token.deploy(1000000); // 1 million tokens
  console.log("Token deployed to:", token.address);
}

Run the deploy script:

arduino

npx hardhat run scripts/deploy.js --network sepolia

Make sure you save your contract address. You’ll need it when listing on Uniswap and verifying the contract on Etherscan.

Verifying the Contract

Even though this step is optional technically, it’s a must if you want people to trust your token. A verified contract means users can read the code on Etherscan and confirm there’s nothing shady happening.

To verify, go to Etherscan (or Sepolia Etherscan), enter your contract address, and use their verification tool. You’ll need to copy-paste your contract source code, select the compiler version, and match all constructor arguments exactly.

If you're using Hardhat, you can also automate this:

css

npm install --save-dev @nomicfoundation/hardhat-verify

And add this plugin to your config:

js

require("@nomicfoundation/hardhat-verify");

Then verify:

css

npx hardhat verify --network sepolia <CONTRACT_ADDRESS> 1000000

This is where most beginners get stuck—ensure you're passing the exact constructor parameters.

Preparing to List on Uniswap

With your token deployed, the next natural step is giving it liquidity. Uniswap doesn’t require any listing process or permission. That’s part of its power—anyone can add any ERC-20 token.

But don’t rush.

Understand Liquidity Pools

Uniswap is built on Automated Market Makers (AMMs), which rely on liquidity pools instead of traditional order books. To list your token, you need to create a pool with a pair—usually your token and ETH.

Let’s say you want to provide 1 ETH and 1,000 of your tokens. That ratio becomes your initial price: 1 token = 0.001 ETH.

You’ll also earn a portion of trading fees (0.3%) based on how much liquidity you provide.

Steps to Add Your Token to Uniswap

Go to the Uniswap interface: https://app.uniswap.org

1. Connect your wallet (MetaMask is fine).

2. Click “Pools” > “+ New Position.”

3. Select your token by pasting the contract address.

4. Set your price range and the amount of tokens/ETH to supply.

5. Approve the token in your wallet.

6. Confirm and supply the liquidity.

Your token is now live on Uniswap. Anyone can buy, sell, or add to the pool.

A Word on Tokenomics and Trust

I’ve seen many tokens fail not because of poor code, but due to vague or unrealistic tokenomics. Just because you can mint a billion tokens doesn’t mean you should. The market favors transparency and scarcity—make your tokenomics clear and publish them on a public site or whitepaper.

Be upfront about whether there’s a mint function, who owns the supply, and what the token is for. If your goal is to build a real project, treat your token like a product.

Optional Extras: Add Logo and Metadata

Once you’ve launched and listed, consider uploading your token’s logo and details to platforms like Trust Wallet and Etherscan. This gives your project a more legitimate appearance and prevents scams from impersonating your token.

There’s a process for submitting metadata to Uniswap and Trust Wallet—it involves pull requests on GitHub, but it’s worth the effort if you’re building long-term.

Security Tips from Experience

Let me share a few lessons I learned the hard way:

• Use a separate wallet for deployment. Don’t deploy from your daily-use MetaMask account.

• Don’t hard-code sensitive data. Never put private keys in your codebase.

• Audit your contract even if it’s simple. You can use free tools like MythX or paid auditors depending on your budget.

• Watch out for honeypot behavior. Avoid including code that blocks users from selling your token—it will get flagged quickly.

Security is everything in DeFi. If people sense even a hint of shady behavior, your token will lose all credibility.

My First Launch

The first time I launched a token, I didn’t expect anyone to care. I wrote a meme coin as a weekend project, pushed it to mainnet with 0.5 ETH in liquidity, and went to sleep. By the next morning, people were trading it.

Why? Because I documented everything clearly, gave it a fun name, and didn’t take shortcuts.

The code was verified. Liquidity was locked. There was no tax or funky anti-bot logic. And that transparency paid off.

Since then, I’ve helped others launch tokens with various goals—governance, stablecoins, play-to-earn—and every time, the lesson is the same: do it right, or don’t do it at all.

Conclusion

Launching your own ERC-20 token and listing it on Uniswap is an empowering experience. It’s no longer something reserved for coders in hoodies or Silicon Valley insiders. With the right approach, a bit of caution, and a clear vision, anyone can build and release a token into the world.

Just remember—what you’re launching isn’t just code. It’s a representation of your idea, your brand, and your commitment to transparency. Treat it like that, and people will respect it.

If this guide helped you take your first step, feel free to bookmark it or share it with others diving into the ERC-20 waters. And if you run into questions during your token launch journey, I’ve probably made that mistake already—so don’t hesitate to reach out.