Creating your own cryptocurrency token on TradePesa takes less than 5 minutes. Here is the exact process, field by field, based on the current platform.

Before you start: Practice Mode vs Live Mode
TradePesa has two markets. In Practice Mode your token goes to the practice marketplace (free, uses virtual K$Coins). In Live Mode your token goes to the real marketplace where users trade with M-Pesa-backed K$Coins. Check which mode you are in from your dashboard before creating your token.

Step 1: Open the Create Token form
From your trading dashboard, click the Create Token button. A form appears with all the fields below.

Step 2: Token Name and Symbol
Enter a Token Name (e.g. "Nairobi Token") and a Token Symbol — a 3 to 10 character uppercase code like NAI, DUKA, or CHAI. The symbol is permanent and must be unique on the platform. Only letters, numbers, and the characters $, #, @, !, &, * are allowed.

Step 3: Description (max 200 characters)
Write a short description explaining what your token is and why someone should trade it. You have a maximum of 200 characters — keep it clear and specific. The character counter in the form shows your remaining space.

Step 4: Starting Price (K$C)
Set the price at which your token first appears on the marketplace. The minimum is 0.00000001 K$C and the maximum is 1 K$C. The default is 0.00001000 K$C. Choose a price that makes sense for your token — lower prices make it easier for traders to buy large quantities.

Step 5: Max Supply
Set the total number of tokens that will ever exist. The minimum is 1,000 and the maximum is 1,000,000,000. The default is 1,000,000. Note: 10% of Max Supply enters circulation immediately when your token launches. The rest remains as reserved supply.

Step 6: Upload a Logo (Optional)
Upload an image to represent your token. Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF. Maximum file size: 2MB. A clear, square logo at least 200x200 pixels works best. If you skip this, the first letter of your symbol is displayed instead.

Step 7: Token Options (Optional)
Two checkboxes appear below the image field:
• Creator Controlled — when enabled, only you can open or pause buying and selling on your token. Useful if you want to manage trading activity.
• Enable Chat — adds a live chat section to your token's public page where holders can discuss the token.

Step 8: Token Lifespan (Practice Mode only)
If you are in Practice Mode, choose how long your token stays active: 15, 30, or 45 days. After this period the token is automatically removed, all trades are closed, and K$Coin balances are refunded. The default is 30 days. This setting does not appear in Live Mode — live tokens stay active indefinitely.

Step 9: Choose a Page Theme (Optional)
Pick a visual theme for your token's public price page. There are 8 themes: Midnight, Cyber Neon, Professional, Sunset, Forest, Royal, Bitcoin, and Minimalist. If you skip this, a theme is chosen automatically. You can see the colour scheme of each theme in the preview swatches on the form.

Step 10: Click "Create Token"
Press the Create Token button. Your token is created immediately and appears on the marketplace within seconds. In Practice Mode it is visible to practice traders. In Live Mode it is visible to all users and gets a public page at trade-pesa.com/token/YOURSYMBOL.

After creation: Add a YouTube video
Once your token is live you can submit a YouTube video link from your token's settings. The TradePesa team reviews and approves videos before they appear on your public token page. A good video explaining your token builds trust and attracts more buyers.

That is the complete process. If anything goes wrong during creation (such as a symbol already being taken or a validation error), the form will show you an exact error message explaining what to fix.