Companies crashed and lost millions within a year. One of the most infamous examples of this is Pets.Com which lost $300 million in just 268 days! However, while 1 in 2 companies got shut down, the companies that did survive, hung on and changed the way we live today. One of the best examples of that is Amazon. Before the bubble burst, Amazon stocks were at $100/share. After the burst, it went down to $7/share but eventually, it went up to $600/share.
ICO Basics, To Invest or Not? Cutting Through The Bullshit
ICO Basics, To Invest or Not? Cutting Through The Bullshit. There are many terms associated with the cryptocurrency world that has become, more or less, very mainstream over the last 4-5 years. Everyone has an idea about what a “blockchain” is and people definitely know what a “bitcoin” is.
Lately, however, one term has been gaining more and more mainstream attention. That term is “ICO” or Initial Coin Offerings and has raised OVER 800.3 Billion for blockchain based start ups. It has been called everything from “revolutionary” to “a Ponzi scheme. Before we get into the meat of this, we need to understand everything that surrounds this astounding phenomenon.
The origins of ICO
In the real world, companies can always secure funds by approaching angel investors and venture capitalists but by doing that, they would have to give away a share of their equity to them. What companies wanted, was to get a lot of funds without giving away equity and ownership. The only way that they could do that was by going public.
In an IPO a private company basically decides to put up its private shares up for sale to the general public. Anyone anywhere can buy the shares of the company. Initially, these shares are dirt cheap and if the company hits it big then there is a chance of your shares ballooning up to exorbitant prices. We have all heard stories of the masseuse who became a multi-millionaire after her 500 “useless” stocks in Google matured over time.
So, people started wondering what would happen if we used the same concept and put it on a blockchain based environment. This is what gave birth to the concept of ICOs. ICOs are pretty similar to IPOs but with 3 major differences.
Firstly, the ICO was decentralized with no central authority, secondly, the ICOs lacked the tedious red tape that most IPOs were bogged down by and finally, they were unregulated while IPOs have always under been heavy regulation. Now there was a problem that blockchain based companies were facing when it came to ICOs. In an IPO, the investors got shares in return of their investment. What would a blockchain based company give away in exchange of capital? They had to invent the blockchain equivalent of a share and that was when they came up with the idea of “Tokens”.
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Any changes made to the public database need to be verified by more than 51% of the computers on the network. If they are not confirmed, the change cannot be made. This technology used by Initial Coin Offering makes it extremely hard to hack the database because the hacker would have to take control of 51% of the computers at the same time. A variety of companies and institutions owns these computers.
Moreover, the fact that a single institution does not control all of the nodes is called decentralization. That means that blockchain is just a more secure database that isn’t owned by a unique entity, and everyone can make changes as long as 51% of owners agree that the change is valid.
The database changes in question refer to various transactions being made. In the case of Bitcoin, these transactions are people selling or buying bitcoins, and the database keeps track of how much bitcoin each person has. However, blockchain can keep track of much more than just transactional data. Virtually it could be absolutely anything, as long as there’s something that represents the value of an object or service.
For example, the transactional value could represent a car or an electrical bill. Of course, there is no way to place these values onto a blockchain physically. Instead, something that represents the value of those things is needed. One of such value representative tools could be a token.
Tokens and Smart Contracts
Tokens are created to represent the value of something. These tokens cannot be applied directly to the blockchain, as blockchains can typically only process transactions of their own cryptocurrency — like Ether on the Ethereum blockchain and Bitcoin on the Bitcoin blockchain.
Token transactions must be processed by using an application. The applications that tokens use are called smart contracts. In 1994, Nick Szabo (a cryptographer), had a vision. He wanted to create contracts using computer code. This contract would be activated automatically when certain conditions are met. Furthermore, there would be no way to cheat these conditions, because all of them would be stated in computer code.
Because a trusted third-party is no longer needed while making contracts, these contracts (or transactions) can automatically execute themselves on a trusted network. Computers completely control this network. The essential characteristics of a smart-contract:
ICOs are already taking advantage of smart-contracts and the blockchain technology to crowdfund projects. A smart contract and a token for that smart contract is needed when creating an ICO. The next step is stating the smart contract conditions. For example: IF 0.1 ETH is sent to the smart contract, THEN the smart contract will send 1 Token to the address that sends the 0.1 ETH.
This ensures that everyone who participates in Initial Coin Offering will always get the correct amount of tokens. No human interaction, or manual distribution. The smart-contracts are usually publicly available as well, so all participants can review the terms of the smart-contract.
What Are Tokens?
A token is basically a “coin within a coin,” or a “colored coin” as first described by Meni Rosenfeld in his ground-breaking paper that detailed the concept for the first time. A token is a coin built by incorporating customized information into the blockchain of the coin acting as the platform. A token separates itself from the other coins of the system by adding slight tweaks to them, giving them a signature that separates them from other coins and tokens.
Some token systems require special software for them to be distinguishable in a blockchain. For example, exchanges involving the Counterparty token XCP, a token-generating platform which “rides” on top of the bitcoin blockchain, will only show up as “unidentifiable” in a regular bitcoin blockchain explorer, in the form of a minute amount of bitcoin. However, in a Counterparty blockchain explorer they will show up as the appropriate amount of XCP.
Token-generating platforms such as Ethereum, WAVES and Bitshares allow the average user to have a chance at creating their own cryptocurrency for their own needs, or the needs of others. They can have special attributes not available to other tokens on the same platform, and their capability for the solution of everyday problems is now heavily being explored.
Resources:
https://blockgeeks.com/guides/ico-basics/
https://www.bitdegree.org/crypto/tutorials/initial-coin-offering
https://coinclarity.com/ico/
ICO basics
You can already check how the platform will look by visiting the official website. The app will use sensor fusion, data analysis, and machine learning to ensure fair rewards for every user, and that’s why it’s on our ICO list.
The Best ICO to Invest in by the End of 2022
If purchasing Bitcoin makes you feel like you have to invest too much, you can check out the latest Initial Coin Offerings or ICOs. Finding the best ICO to invest in can also be challenging, but by considering who’s behind the project, the costs, how long the ICO will last, and the project’s Minimum Viable Product (MVP), you can find great investments at low costs.
Investing in the Initial Coin Offering is a great way of entering the crypto market. By purchasing ICO tokens at low prices and stocking them up until the project finishes the ICO phase, you get a chance to make an investment with potential huge returns.
By purchasing an ICO, you can support some of the newest tech projects and the best ICOs in 2022. Not to mention, investors often score excellent rewards for participating early. Finding an early ICO through thorough research multiplies your chances of seeing a return on your investment as soon as the project goes live.
Guidelines
Perspective
Icons in Windows Vista are either three-dimensional and shown in perspective as solid objects, or two-dimensional objects shown straight-on. Use flat icons for files and for objects that are actually flat, like documents or pieces of paper.
In the smaller sizes, the same icon may change from perspective to straight-on. At the size of 16×16 pixels and smaller, render icons straight-on (front-facing). For larger icons, use perspective.
Light source
Shadows
- Flat icons are generally used for file icons and flat real-world objects, such as a document or a piece of paper.
- Flat icon lighting comes from the upper-left at 130 degrees.
- Smaller icons (for example, 16×16 and 32×32) are simplified for readability. However, if they contain a reflection within the icon (often simplified), they may have a tight drop shadow. The drop shadow ranges in opacity from 30-50 percent.
- Layer effects can be used for flat icons, but should be compared with other flat icons. The shadows for objects will vary somewhat, according to what looks best and is most consistent within the size set and with the other icons in Windows Vista. On some occasions, it may even be necessary to modify the shadows. This will especially be true when objects are laid over others.
- A subtle range of colors may be used to achieve desired outcome. Shadows help objects sit in space. Color impacts the perceived weight of the shadow, and may distort the image if it is too heavy.
| Characteristic | Range |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Blend mode | Multiply |
| Opacity | 22-50 percent, depending on color of the item |
| Angle | 120-130 (use global light) |
| Distance | 3 for 256×256, ranging down to 1 for 32×32 |
| Spread | 0 |
| Size | 7 for 256×256, ranging down to 2 for 32×32 |
These examples help demonstrate variations created based on the shape and position of the object itself. The shadow sometimes needs to be feathered or shortened to keep it from being cropped by the icon box size.
Color and saturation
Although there is no specific color palette for standard icons, remember that they need to work well together in many contexts and themes. Prefer the standard set of colors; don’t re-color standard icons, such as warning icons, because this disrupts users’ ability to interpret meaning. For more guidelines, see Color.
Icon files require 8-bit and 4-bit palette versions as well, to support the default setting in a remote desktop. These files can be created through a batch process, but they should be reviewed, as some will require retouching for better readability.
Bit levels: ICO design for 32-bit (alpha included) + 8-bit + 4-bit (dithered down automatically pixel poke only most critical). Only a 32-bit copy of the 256×256 pixel image should be included, and only the 256×256 pixel image should be compressed to keep the file size down. Several icon tools offer compression for Windows Vista.
Size requirements
- Pay special attention to high visibility icons, such as main application icons, file icons that can appear in Windows Explorer, and icons appearing in the Start Menu or on the desktop.
- Application icons and Control Panel items: The full set includes 16×16, 32×32, 48×48, and 256×256 (code scales between 32 and 256). The .ico file format is required. For Classic Mode, the full set is 16×16, 24×24, 32×32, 48×48 and 64×64.
- List item icon options: Use live thumbnails or file icons of the file type (for example, .doc); full set.
- Toolbar icons: 16×16, 24×24, 32×32. Note that toolbar icons are always flat, not 3D, even at the 32×32 size.
- Dialog and wizard icons: 32×32 and 48×48.
- Overlays: Core shell code (for example, a shortcut) 10×10 (for 16×16), 16×16 (for 32×32), 24×24 (for 48×48), 128×128 (for 256×256). Note that some of these are slightly smaller but are close to this size, depending on shape and optical balance.
- Quick Launch area: Icons will scale down from 48×48 in Alt+Tab dynamic overlays, but for a more crisp version, add a 40×40 to .ico file.
- Balloon icons: 32×32 and 40×40.
- Additional sizes: These are useful to have on hand as resources to make other files (for example, annotations, toolbar strips, overlays, high dpi, and special cases): 128×128, 96×96, 64×64, 40×40, 24×24, 22×22, 14×14, 10×10, and 8×8. You can use .ico, .png, .bmp, or other file formats, depending on code in that area.
ICO Basics: Cutting Through the Bullshit
The term ICO has been gaining more and more mainstream attention and to date, they have raised over 800.3 billion for blockchain based start-ups. ICOs have been called everything from a Ponzi scheme to revolutionary and to be honest, they are both.
In the past, companies or start-ups looked to angel investors and venture capitalists to help get their business off the ground, but that would mean they would have to give away a share of their equity to them. But of course, companies want to get a lot of funds without giving away equity and ownership, and the only way to do that was to go public.
That meant holding an IPO or Initial Public Offering. In an IPO, a private company decides to put shares up for sale to the general public. Anyone can buy the shares, which are initially dirt cheap. If the company hits it big, there is a chance the shares will balloon in price resulting in a big profit for the buyer.
The same concept has been transferred to blockchain based environments. ICOs are really similar to IPOs, except there are three major differences. First, the ICO is decentralized with no central authority. Second, the ICO lacks the red tape that bog down most IPOs. And lastly, ICOs are mostly unregulated while IPOs are under heavy regulation.
Think of an ICO as a mixture of an IPO and a crowd-sale. When you are interested in a particular project in the blockchain, the way to gain access is by sending the developing team some amount of money, which is usually paid in Bitcoin or Ethereum and in return they get the equivalent amount of tokens in return.
Ever since the launch of Ethereum, tokens have gained prominence. Ethereum provides a platform where you can use blockchain technology not just for making currency, but to make decentralized applications (DAPPS) as well. If you want to use DAPPS then you need tokens.
Making a token is actually very simple. The easiest way to create one is to go to Token Factory and fill in the required information. The first thing you need to do is determine the total supply. Keep in mind that you don’t want to have a massive amount of tokens available or that will kill their value.
You then create a name for your token and determine the value of it, before deciding on a symbol. Of course, you can code your own token if you have the desire to do so, it’s fairly simple for a coder to do that as well.
Basically, an ICO is the rockstar of the investment world because it is untamed, wild, and completely different from the mainstream world. There is something seductive about the concept. Anyone with an idea can get the financial backing they need in an unregulated manner. Investments are no longer reserved for the uber-rich elite, anyone can make their dreams reality.
The first step in executing an ICO is to have the developers announce their intention of making the project to generate hype and interest. Then, developers create a whitepaper which highlights their project and the specific features that makes it enticing for the potential investors. Whitepapers are written in an academic manner and the specific purpose is to entice the investors by showing its potential and features. They are at least 2,500 words long and purely informational.
The whitepaper is then run by prominent members of the blockchain community to get their backing. This is where credibility is gained and required for the project to carry forward. Next, the tokens are created and a cap decided upon. When deciding on the cap, developers will have to decide when they will want to hold their ICO. They will also need to decide on the cap for the amount of money they will be taking in.
Once these decisions are made, developers choose a platform where they can advertise their ICO. There are a number of websites which provide a platform for developers to give exposure to their projects. These websites are like the Kickstarter or Indiegogo of the crypto world. Once the ICO is advertised, it can actually take place. Investors are free to send in coins to the public address of the developers and in exchange they get tokens.
Unfortunately, because of the unregulated nature of the ICOs and the amount of money that can be made, it attracts lots of scammers. If you are investing in an ICO, you will want some assurances that all the funds you give will be used in the right way. There are a number of things to look at before investing:
- Project developers should be able to clearly define the purpose of their project using simple and short sentences. If they talk too much or beat around the bush, that means their agenda is not clear or they are hiding something. Walk away if you encounter this.
- Make sure the developers are not anonymous. The project should have 100% transparency. That means names, business plans, locations, and everything in between in out in the open. You should be able to contact them regarding any and all information and not hit a dead end.
- There should be legal framework between developers and contributors including terms and conditions for the ICO.
- Most importantly, you need to ensure the ICO funds are being stored in an escrow wallet. This is basically a multi-sig wallet with needs multiple keys to be opened. One of those keys must be held by a neutral third party.
Resources:
https://icoinical.com/best-ico-to-invest/
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/uxguide/vis-icons
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ico-basics-cutting-through-bullshit-geoff-hughes
ICO basics
8) Token distribution — when and how
Greed can be defined by a high token distribution to the team members, let’s say, more than 50% of the tokens is suspicious. A good project will link its token distribution to the roadmap. Because each phase or milestone of the project requires a certain amount of funding. Watch for the token distribution stage. Some projects just release their tokens hours after the ICO has ended. Some projects need to develop a beta version before sending out the tokens. If you lookat the percentage gain of Etherium (one year between ICO and token distribution, around 500% gain), Augur (1+ years, 1500%) and Decent (8 month, 350%), sometimes this break creates a very positive hype around the project.
Impact ICO Basics: 10 things to look before investing in impact ICOs
Many in Silicon Valley aspire to build products and companies that have the potential to create positive change on a large scale. Often, however, these companies can be difficult to find because they have smaller recruiting budgets, and their mission statements can get lost in the noise of startups claiming to be “changing the world”. The emergence of ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings) have given mission-driven, for-profit, impact startups building tech to solve social & environmental problems a legitimate funding mechanism. So what is an ICO? ICOs are pretty similar to IPOs (Initial Public Offerings), but with 3 major differences. Firstly, ICOs are decentralized with no central authority, secondly, ICOs lack the tedious red tape that most IPOs are bogged down by and finally, they are unregulated while IPOs have always under been heavy regulation. The distinct differences between ICOs and IPOs contribute to emphasizing the fact that ICOs carry significant risk. Given the risk involved with engaging in ICOs, what are some things to consider prior to investing in an ICO?
1) Evaluating the Whitepaper
Most typical investors actually don’t read through the whitepaper, even though it contains all the necessary information about the upcoming project and the ICO. Don’t hesitate to read it, or at least the majority of it. Note the strong and negative aspects and add in some of your own research. In the end, the whitepaper is the silver platter to potential investors. After reading it you should be able to answer a simple question — what kind of value does this project bring to our world? You’ll also learn what you’re investing in.
2) Founders, partners and developers with relevant experience in cryptocurrency /blockchain technology and associated markets
This may be the most important part as a good team is the backbone of a successful ICO. Start by examining their website, and looking at the team. Google them; find out more about them. Check their LinkedIn profile or Twitter accounts. Are they well-documented with a large network of relevant connections? Avoid like the plague any ICO that offers little to no information on the team. It’s a sure sign that they are unqualified.
3) Documented success with past projects
Successful past projects are good indicators of potential future success, but since this is such a new field it’s not necessary for those projects to be cryptocurrency-related as it is such a new field. Many of the core team members of successful ICOs have a range of backgrounds including engineers, programmers, and marketers. Again, their social profiles and online presence should give you an indication that they have a solid professional reputation with some verifiable “wins.”
4) Stage of the project and VC investments
Evaluate the stage of the project. Does it only have a whitepaper? A beta version? Is there a launched product with limited functionality? Prefer projects which have “some lines” of working code, however, many ICOs have proven they can become success stories without any code written. VCs (venture capital) tend to invest and support projects from early stages. Look for this information usually on the main page of the project’s website. It’s likely to be considerable if a well-known crypto VC is involved, like Blockchain Capital or Fenbushi (belongs to Vitalik Buterin — founder of Ethereum).
5) What do they need the token for? Is the blockchain necessary?
ICOs mean the creation of a new dedicated token for the project. One of the most important questions each project needs to answer is what is the token for? Why isn’t Bitcoin or Ethereum enough to serve as the project’s token? Yes, many projects just make up a scammy story. Hey, an ICO can’t be an ICO without a dedicated token. The same question needs to be asked regarding the use of the blockchain technology behind the project.
6) Escrow, and Refunds
Another mandatory aspect worth looking into, when considering an ICO investment, is identifying the escrow services handler for the crowdfunding. Genuine development teams normally will enlist individuals with a solid reputation within the cryptocurrency community to act as faithful holders of the raised funds. With their reputation on the line, these individuals are less likely to run away with the collected funds. Also, in case of non-achievement of funding for the project, there should be a condition in place to refund the contributed money back to the respective investors. This acts as a fail safe in a case where a project ends up under funded.
7) Credible developer or not?
Credibility of developers is determined by whether the team is public or anonymous. When a development team is public, there are known faces in the organization, and a specific individual that could be held accountable in a scenario concerning possible squandering or robbing of funds. Of course, there are ICOs that are held by anonymous developers, with some of them having a credible background, and some who are new to the scene. As a prudent ICO investor, you should not invest in ICOs of anonymous developers with zero recognition within the community. Lastly, there are no guarantees that your investment will turn out as per your expectations. Do your best to evaluate risks of any contribution you make, and don’t go for more than you can afford to lose.
ICO Basics: Cutting Through the Bullshit
The term ICO has been gaining more and more mainstream attention and to date, they have raised over 800.3 billion for blockchain based start-ups. ICOs have been called everything from a Ponzi scheme to revolutionary and to be honest, they are both.
In the past, companies or start-ups looked to angel investors and venture capitalists to help get their business off the ground, but that would mean they would have to give away a share of their equity to them. But of course, companies want to get a lot of funds without giving away equity and ownership, and the only way to do that was to go public.
That meant holding an IPO or Initial Public Offering. In an IPO, a private company decides to put shares up for sale to the general public. Anyone can buy the shares, which are initially dirt cheap. If the company hits it big, there is a chance the shares will balloon in price resulting in a big profit for the buyer.
The same concept has been transferred to blockchain based environments. ICOs are really similar to IPOs, except there are three major differences. First, the ICO is decentralized with no central authority. Second, the ICO lacks the red tape that bog down most IPOs. And lastly, ICOs are mostly unregulated while IPOs are under heavy regulation.
Think of an ICO as a mixture of an IPO and a crowd-sale. When you are interested in a particular project in the blockchain, the way to gain access is by sending the developing team some amount of money, which is usually paid in Bitcoin or Ethereum and in return they get the equivalent amount of tokens in return.
Ever since the launch of Ethereum, tokens have gained prominence. Ethereum provides a platform where you can use blockchain technology not just for making currency, but to make decentralized applications (DAPPS) as well. If you want to use DAPPS then you need tokens.
Making a token is actually very simple. The easiest way to create one is to go to Token Factory and fill in the required information. The first thing you need to do is determine the total supply. Keep in mind that you don’t want to have a massive amount of tokens available or that will kill their value.
You then create a name for your token and determine the value of it, before deciding on a symbol. Of course, you can code your own token if you have the desire to do so, it’s fairly simple for a coder to do that as well.
Basically, an ICO is the rockstar of the investment world because it is untamed, wild, and completely different from the mainstream world. There is something seductive about the concept. Anyone with an idea can get the financial backing they need in an unregulated manner. Investments are no longer reserved for the uber-rich elite, anyone can make their dreams reality.
The first step in executing an ICO is to have the developers announce their intention of making the project to generate hype and interest. Then, developers create a whitepaper which highlights their project and the specific features that makes it enticing for the potential investors. Whitepapers are written in an academic manner and the specific purpose is to entice the investors by showing its potential and features. They are at least 2,500 words long and purely informational.
The whitepaper is then run by prominent members of the blockchain community to get their backing. This is where credibility is gained and required for the project to carry forward. Next, the tokens are created and a cap decided upon. When deciding on the cap, developers will have to decide when they will want to hold their ICO. They will also need to decide on the cap for the amount of money they will be taking in.
Once these decisions are made, developers choose a platform where they can advertise their ICO. There are a number of websites which provide a platform for developers to give exposure to their projects. These websites are like the Kickstarter or Indiegogo of the crypto world. Once the ICO is advertised, it can actually take place. Investors are free to send in coins to the public address of the developers and in exchange they get tokens.
Unfortunately, because of the unregulated nature of the ICOs and the amount of money that can be made, it attracts lots of scammers. If you are investing in an ICO, you will want some assurances that all the funds you give will be used in the right way. There are a number of things to look at before investing:
- Project developers should be able to clearly define the purpose of their project using simple and short sentences. If they talk too much or beat around the bush, that means their agenda is not clear or they are hiding something. Walk away if you encounter this.
- Make sure the developers are not anonymous. The project should have 100% transparency. That means names, business plans, locations, and everything in between in out in the open. You should be able to contact them regarding any and all information and not hit a dead end.
- There should be legal framework between developers and contributors including terms and conditions for the ICO.
- Most importantly, you need to ensure the ICO funds are being stored in an escrow wallet. This is basically a multi-sig wallet with needs multiple keys to be opened. One of those keys must be held by a neutral third party.
Resources:
https://medium.com/@beyondcapmkts/impact-ico-basics-10-things-to-look-before-investing-in-impact-icos-1ea6db302817
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ico-basics-cutting-through-bullshit-geoff-hughes
https://th.mitrade.com/others/basic/What-is-ICO