Initial coin offerings (ICOs): Benefits, risks and success measures

Abstract

The initial coin offering is usually defined as a new, innovative way of raising funds used by organizations, companies, or entrepreneurs, attracting funds through a cryptographic exchange in exchange for the coins that can be sold, used for future products or services purchase or profit. This article provides an overview of the evolving ICO market and indicates the main advantages and risks of the ICO. It is pointed out that ICO offers many advantages, such as high liquidity, return on investment, availability, fast capital raising process, minimization of capital raising costs. Nonetheless, the noticeable benefits of ICOs are often available only when companies or investors agree to take considerable risks, caused by the information asymmetry, lack of investor protection, proper regulation and methodical guidance both for investors and entrepreneurs. Considering the novelty, volatility, emerging risks, growing popularity of the ICO market and the lack of research in the scientific literature, it is important to investigate the factors that influence the success of the ICO, which is usually defined as the amount of funds attracted, listing of the coins, return on investment, market capitalization or the duration of the ICO.