Creators

The transfer lock

Quick answer

With the transfer lock on, tokens can be minted but not transferred or sold. The creator unlocks transfers when they choose — typically after the mint completes or the reveal happens.

Most launchpads let tokens trade the second they are minted, which invites bots to mint and flip before a community forms. Elevate's contracts launch locked by default.

Who this is for

Creators deciding how to launch, and collectors who see “transfers locked” on a collection.

How it works

  • The contract has a transfersLocked flag, on by default at deployment.
  • While locked, mints succeed but transfers and marketplace sales revert.
  • The owner unlocks with a single transaction. Unlocking is one-way: the contract does not re-lock.
  • The current lock state is read from the contract and shown on the collection page.

Why creators use it

  • Prevents day-one flipping and bot-driven price discovery before the mint completes.
  • Lets the reveal happen before any secondary sale, so nobody trades blind.
  • Gives the community time to form around holders rather than traders.

For collectors

If a collection page says transfers are locked, you can mint but not yet sell or move the token. The creator's official channels will announce the unlock; the page updates automatically when the contract state changes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I move a locked token to my own other wallet?
No. While locked, all transfers revert, including between your own wallets.
Can the creator lock transfers again later?
No. Unlocking is one-way.

Written and maintained by the Elevate team. Last updated . Corrections: reach the team on the official Discord.

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