Reviews of ICO (Initial Coin Offerings)

What is the Definition of ICO?

Initial Coin Offering (ICO) is a crowdfunding method used by new cryptocurrency companies to raise capitals. In ICO, some percentages of the newly issued cryptocurrencies are sold to people who are interested in supporting the project. They are sold to exchange for other established cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Fiat and Ether.

Backers purchase the new cryptocurrency with an intention to make a profit when it increases in value. It is similar to the principle of people making a profit when the share they bought at the stock market increases in value. ICO is different than purchasing shares at a stock market because you don't get a share of the ownership right when you invest in the new tokens.

Brief History on ICOs

In the beginning stage, ICO was conducted by companies such as Mastercoin, Ethereum and Karmacoin. Ethereum conducted one of the biggest ICO in 2014 by raising a total of $18 millions in the early stage of 2014. They break the record by raising 3,700 Bitcoins which is equivalent to $2.3 million dollars within the first 12 hours of the campaign. Kik conducted the first mainstream ICO in September 2017 but the project was interrupted by a phishing scam via the circulation of a false URL in the social media. Ripple sold $1 billion worth of XRP tokens to investors in exchange for bitcoins and fiats in 2013.

Today, ICO sales have become increasingly popular with around 50 token sales being conducted every month. Starting from 2017, ICO has been growing at a fast pace with at least $2 billion worth of token sales successfully conducted. This proves that it is not going to be a temporary method used by new cryptocurrency company to raise funds but it is here to stay for long term.

Nowadays, ICO token sale is so popular that at least a few ICO begins every day. It has been predicted that over $4 billion worth of token sales will be conducted this year. Genesis Vision, a Russian based company, conducted an ICO campaign that runs from the 15th October 2017 to the 15th November 2017. They manage to raise a total of $2.3 million in the token presale.

How Does ICOs Fundraising Work?

A cryptocurrency company that wants to raise capitals through ICO must provide a few details including project description, project purpose, amount need to be raised, percentage of tokens the company will keep, types of virtual currencies accepted, and the timeframe of the ICO campaign. Backers who are interested can email the seller and ask for more details of the project before performing a transaction. If they successfully raise the amount for the campaign, they will carry out the scheme to complete the project. If not, they will return the money back to the backers.

How Scammers Use ICO to Carry Out Fraud?

ICO can be conducted to help raise funds for various types of businesses and charity organization. It has also been used as a tool by scammers to conduct frauds. Scammers would use means to increase the ICO value temporarily and abandon the project afterwards to make a quick profit. Scams happen because of the lack of regulation by the government. Just like any investment, there is a risk when coming to invest in the initial coin offering.

No statistic on the company that runs the ICO is given so it is hard to make a prediction. Backers usually would only check out data such as who will receive the collected money, and the social media profile. To make a successful investment in ICO, one needs to be patient and willing to spend time to conduct research on the company.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ICO has helped many startups to raise the funds they need for their projects. With ICO, startups can easily raise a large amount of money within a short timeframe of just a few seconds or minutes. Entrepreneurs will continue to take advantage of ICO to raise capitals until it comes under government regulation.

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6 Incredible Benefits Of the Cryptocurrency

Over the past few years, people have been talking a lot about cryptocurrency. At first, this business sounded scary but people started developing trust in it. You may have heard of Ether and Bitcoin. They both are crypto currencies and use the Blockchain Technology for highest security possible. Nowadays, these currencies are available in several types. Let's know more about it.

How Can cryptocurrency help you?

As far as fraud is concerned, this type of currency can't be faked as it's in digital form and can't be reversed or counterfeited unlike the credit cards.

Immediate settlement

Buying real property involves third parties, such as lawyers and notary. So, delays can occur and extra costs may incur. On the other hand, Bitcoin contracts are designed and enforced in order to include or exclude third parties. The transactions are quick and settlements can be made instantly.

Lower fees

Typically, there is no transaction fee if you want to exchange Bitcoin or any other currency. For verifying a transaction, there are minors who get paid by the network. Although there is zero transaction fee, most buyers or sellers hire the services of a third-party, such as Coinbase for the creation and maintenance of their wallets. If you don't know, these services function just like Paypal that offers a web-based exchange system.

Identification of theft

Your merchant gets your full credit line when you provide them with your credit card. This is true even if the transaction amount is very small. Actually, what happens is that credit cards work based on a "pull" system where the online store pulls the required amount from the account associated with the card. On the other hand, the digital currencies feature a "push" mechanism where the account holder sends only the amount required without any additional information. So, there is no chance of theft.

Open access

According to statistics, there are around 2.2 billion people who use the Internet but not all of them have access to the conventional exchange. So, they can use the new form of payment method.

Decentralization

As far as decentralization is concerned, an international computer network called Blockchain technology manages the database of Bitcoin. In other words, Bitcoin is under the administration of the network, and there is no central authority. In other words, the network works on a peer-to-peer based approach.

Recognition

Since cryptocurrency is not based on the exchange rates, transaction charges or interest rates, you can use it internationally without suffering from any problems. So, you can save a lot of time and money. In other words, Bitcoin and other currencies like this are recognized all over the world. You can count on them.

So, if you have been looking for a way to invest your extra money, you can consider investing in Bitcoin. You can either become a miner or investor. However, make sure you know what you are doing. Safety is not an issue but other things are important to be kept in mind. Hopefully, you will find this article helpful.

Bitmora is the new game changing development of today. If you are into digital currencies, we suggest that you check out Bitmora cryptocurrency exchange.

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Ten Tips for Investing in Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is the newest trend in the money market that contains the elements of computer science and mathematical theory. Its primary function is to secure communication as it converts legible information into an unbreakable code. You can track your purchases and transfers with cryptocurrency. Following are the top ten tips for investors to invest in cryptocurrency.

1.It's Just Like Investing in Commodities:

Investing in cryptocurrency is just like investing in any other commodity. It has two faces - it can be used as an asset or as an investment, which you can sell and exchange.

2.Buy Bitcoin Directly:

Buy Bitcoins directly if you do not want to pay the fee for investing or if you are interested in possessing real Bitcoins. There are a lot of options all over the world including Bitcoin.de, BitFinex, and BitFlyer from where you can buy Bitcoins directly.

3.Only an Absolute Minority Uses Cryptocurrency:

Today, Bitcoin is the most common cryptocurrency in the world of investment. In the United States, only 24% of the adults know about it, and surprisingly only 2% Americans use it. It is good news for the financial investors as the low usage represents a fruitful investment for the future.

4.Usage is Growing:

The combined market cap of the cryptocurrencies is more than 60 billion American dollars. It includes all cryptocurrencies in existence including hundreds of smaller and unknown ones. The real-time usage of the cryptocurrencies has gone up, showing a rise in trend.

5.Usage is the Key Criteria:

As an investor, the usage must be the key for you. The demand and supply data of cryptocurrencies exhibits a decent investment opportunity right now. There exists a strong usage of the currencies for facilitating payments between financial institutions and thus, pushing transaction costs down meaningfully.

6.The Market Cycle:

Currently, the cryptocurrency market is in euphoria. It is the point where the investment may not appear as a golden opportunity to you but the values will go higher from here. Businesses, governments, and society across the globe will soon be considering cryptocurrencies.

7.It will Solve Problems for You:

Money is to solve problems, and so is the cryptocurrency. The bigger problem it solves, the higher potential value it gets. The sweet spot for possessing cryptocurrency is that it provides access to money and basic bank functions including paying and wiring.

8.Crypto to Money:

Today, cryptocurrencies can be exchanged to conventional paper money. Therefore, the lock-in risk that existed a while ago is gone now.

9.Create Your Portfolio:

Since cryptocurrencies are exchangeable, they have become another way to build your portfolio. You can now store cash in the form of crypto and exchange it for cash anytime you need the traditional money.

10.Read the Right Resources:

'Everyone and his uncle' becomes a guru during any hype. Be very skeptical while selecting reading sources and people who do cryptocurrency investment.
If you like investing in cryptocurrency or need advice, check out http://lookupbitcoin.com/

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How to Trade Cryptocurrencies - The Basics of Investing in Digital Currencies

Whether it's the idea of cryptocurrencies itself or diversification of their portfolio, people from all walks of life are investing in digital currencies like. If you're new to the concept and wondering what's going on, here are some basic concepts and considerations for investment in cryptocurrencies.

What cryptocurrencies are available and how do I buy them? 

With a market cap of about $278 billion, Bitcoin is the most established cryptocurrency. Ethereum is second with a market cap of over $74 billion. Besides these two currencies, there are a number of other options as well, including Ripple ($28B), Litecoin ($17B), and MIOTA ($13B). Being first to market, there are a lot of exchanges for Bitcoin trade all over the world. BitStamp and Coinbase are two well-known US-based exchanges. Bitcoin.de is an established European exchange. If you are interested in trading other digital currencies along with Bitcoin, then a crypto marketplace is where you will find all the digital currencies in one place. Here is a list of exchanges according to their 24-hour trade volume.

What options do I have to store my money?

 Another important consideration is storage of the coins. One option, of course, is to store it on the exchange where you buy them. However, you will have to be careful in selecting the exchange. The popularity of digital currencies has resulted in many new, unknown exchanges popping up everywhere. Take the time to do your due diligence so you can avoid the scammers. Another option you have with cryptocurrencies is that you can store them yourself. One of the safest options for storing your investment is hardware wallets. Companies like Ledger allow you store Bitcoins and several other digital currencies as well.

What's the market like and how can I learn more about it? 

The cryptocurrency market fluctuates a lot. The volatile nature of the market makes it more suited for a long-term play. There are many established news sites that report on digital currencies, including Coindesk, Business Insider, Coin Telegraph, and Cryptocoin News. Besides these sites, there are also many Twitter accounts that tweet about digital currencies, including @BitcoinRTs and @AltCoinCalendar. Digital currencies aim to disrupt the traditional currency and commodity market. While these currencies still have a long way to go, the success of Bitcoins and Ethereum have proven that there is genuine interest in the concept. Understanding the basics of cryptocurrency investment will help you start in the right way.

Salman Jaffry is an experienced content writer. He writes on various topics related to investment and finance. You can contact him him through his Skype ID: salman.jaffry or email: contactshj@gmail.com. Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Salman_Jaffry/2496004 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9851602

Here's Why the Cryptocurrency Dash Puts Bitcoin to Shame

Cryptocurrencies are all the rage right now.

Everywhere, you see headlines with impressive thousand percent gains for "coins" like bitcoin. But what gives them value? When have you ever used bitcoin?

The truth is that it's not practical right now, primarily due to the amount of time it takes to complete a transaction. But there are other coins out there that are emerging as viable candidates to succeed bitcoin as the No. 1 cryptocurrency.

There's a lot to understand about the intricacies of cryptocurrencies, but this article is more about finding an investment opportunity than explaining the science behind them.

A Bubble in Bitcoin?

One thing that's important to know is the concept of "mining." This is the very basis of cryptocurrencies. That's how new bitcoins are made.

In simple terms, the "miner," through special software, solves a complex math problem and is rewarded with new bitcoins as a result. Then, the transaction is stored in the blockchain, and those new bitcoins are officially in circulation.

As more bitcoins are in circulation, mining them becomes more complicated and time-consuming, and less profitable. So even though about 80% of possible bitcoins are in circulation right now, the last one won't be mined until 2140.

As most people know by now, bitcoin has seen a gigantic rally this year. In fact, it's up about 1,200% over the past year, causing a lot of people to think it's in a bubble.

The total value of bitcoins in circulation is now over $150 billion. If bitcoin was a company, it would be in the top 50 largest in the United States.

I personally believe that the only reason bitcoin is so much more valuable than any other cryptocurrency is because it was the one that first broke through to the mainstream. That's still important, though. It, at the very least, gives other coin developers something to improve on.

The good thing is that even if you think you've missed the boat with bitcoin, there are plenty of other cryptocurrencies out there. Of course, some are scams, but others have real potential.

One of the ones that I believe has real, practical use is called Dash.

Dash: Digital Cash

First, Dash is ahead of the game in terms of convenience. Right now, bitcoin transactions take about 10 minutes to an hour on average. Dash is setting out to be the primary cryptocurrency that can be transferred instantly (in less than one second) between parties, making it much more practical when it comes to buying things online or at a store.

One of the most appealing features of Dash is that 10% of the newly mined coins are given to the Dash DAO (decentralized autonomous organization). Simply put, the DAO is the treasury of Dash. At the current price of more than $600 per coin, that's $4 million per month that it can use.

It's important to know that no other coin has this kind of continuous funding. With this money, the Dash DAO can develop and market the currency.

Also, anyone can submit an idea for a project to enhance the value of Dash. Then, the project is voted on by thousands of Dash developers. An example would be partnering with stores to make Dash a viable means of transaction for their goods.

Of course, these developers make money from Dash, so anything that benefits and promotes the currency will be enticing.

This creates a circular effect, where the currency appreciates in price because it's better funded and marketed, then the DAO makes more money, and it's able to market Dash even more.

A Breakthrough for Dash

So far, Dash can be used at over 300 physical stores and over 100 websites to purchase goods or services. But the breakthrough for it could come from the marijuana industry.

Right now, banks are not allowed to have anything to do with marijuana transactions; everything has to be done in cash. Vendors can't even put money from their sales in a bank.

Not only does this bring the risk of being robbed, but these companies have to pay for cash storage and transportation. That adds up quickly.

Being able to use Dash would be huge for these vendors. It would also mean great things for the price of Dash.

The good news is that it has already started making progress. In April, Dash partnered with a digital payment system called Alt Thirty Six, which has partnerships with some of the leading dispensary business management software companies in the country.

These software companies track transactions for hundreds of dispensaries and delivery services. That means that Dash users already have hundreds of ways to use the currency.

Since Dash officially became a payment method on Alt Thirty Six on October 11, its price has gone up 118%. That's only in a month and a half.

Just the Beginning

With a market cap of only $4.8 billion compared to bitcoin's $156 billion, I believe Dash still has plenty of room to climb going forward.

The marijuana industry is just the start for Dash, but it's a great one. In 2016, legal sales were about $7 billion. Another estimated $46 billion was sold on the black market.

And as more stores open and marijuana becomes legal in more states, that legal number is expected to be $23 billion by 2021 and $50 billion by 2026.

Again, this is just the beginning for Dash. Its unique immediate transaction feature makes it a viable alternative to cash, giving it an edge over other cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.

Ian Dyer is one of the top internal analysts for Banyan Hill Publishing. He graduated from Duquesne University with a degree in finance. He has passed the Level 1 and 2 CFA exams to become a Level 2 CFA, and will soon complete the final Level 3 exam. Becoming a Level 3 CFA demonstrates an analyst's thorough command of economics, accounting, portfolio management, stock and bond valuation, and more. For the last few years, Ian has utilized these skills to analyze valuable investment recommendations for Banyan Hill's 300,000 readers. Read more here.

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Bitcoin - Yes or No? Should You Invest in Bitcoin?

Wondering if you should invest in Bitcoin? If you've been around any kid of financial news lately, you've no doubt heard about the meteoric rise in the world's most well-known cryptocurrency.

And if you're like a lot of people right about now, you're probably wondering, "Bitcoin - yes or no?"

Should you invest? Is it a good option? And what the heck is Bitcoin anyway?

Well here's a few things you should know about Bitcoin before you invest. Also note that this article is for information purposes only and should not be taken as any kind of financial advice.

What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is known as a cryptocurrency or a digital currency. It's basically online money. Like any currency you can exchange it for other currencies (like say, buy bitcoins with US dollars or vice versa) and it fluctuates in relation to other currencies as well.

Unlike other currencies however it is decentralized, meaning there isn't any one central bank, country or government in charge of it. And that means it's not as susceptible to government or central bank mismanagement.

Pros of Bitcoin

#1 Easy To Send Money

Because it's decentralized, this also means that you can send a friend Bitcoin (money) on the other side of the world in seconds without having to go through a bank intermediary (and pay the banking fees).

This fact alone makes Bitcoin very popular. Instead of waiting for a wire transfer which can take days, you can send your payment in seconds or minutes.

#2 Limited Supply

There are only 21 million Bitcoins that will ever be mined. This limits the amount of Bitcoin that can ever be produced. This is like saying a government cannot print money because there is a limited supply of bills - and they won't print anymore.

When there is a set supply your purchasing power is preserved and the currency is immune to runaway inflation.

This limited supply has also helped to contribute to the rise in the price of Bitcoin. People don't want a currency that can be printed - or inflated - into infinity at the whim of a greedy government.

#3 Private

Most people think that Bitcoin is completely anonymous. But actually it's not anonymous - it's more private. All Bitcoin transactions ever made can be seen on the Blockchain - the public Bitcoin ledger.

But your name and identifying details behind the transaction are not seen. Each transaction is linked to an address - a string of text and characters. So while people might see your address - there is no way to link that address to you.

A lot of people who don't like their banks spying on them (or telling them how much of their own money that they can or can't move), really like this privacy feature.

#4 Cheaper to Transact

Many businesses have to take Visa or MasterCard these days to stay competitive. However these cards take some rather substantial fees out of each sales transaction.

But a merchant who accepts Bitcoin doesn't pay these hefty fees - so it puts more money in their pockets.

So those are some of the main pros of Bitcoins. What about the cons?

Cons of Bitcoin

#1 Risky - Price Fluctuations

Bitcoin is famous for rising slowly over months - and then falling 20 - 50% over a couple of days.

Because it's being traded 24 hours a day 7 days a week, the price is always fluctuating. And all it takes it some bad news - like the news of the Mt Gox hack a few years ago - to send the price tumbling down.

So basically it's not stable - and there are a lot of unknowns out there that can affect the price. The rule here is this: don't put any money into Bitcoin that you can't afford to lose.

#2 Slowing Transaction Speeds

Bitcoin is starting to run into problems with slower transaction speeds and higher transaction fees. Other cryptocurrencies have come along that are faster and cheaper.

The Bitcoin miners are working on the problem. However until these issues are resolved, you can expect the price to be extremely volatile.

#3 Bitcoin Transactions Not Reversible

Unlike a credit card charge, Bitcoin transactions are not reversible. So if you send Bitcoin to the wrong address - you can't get it back.

Also, there are a lot of tales from people who have lost their Bitcoin wallet address (through hacking, phones being stolen, virus-infected computers, etc.) and they've completely lost their coins. There's no way to get them back.

For this reason, you really need to know what you're doing and take the time to research how to buy and store your coins properly if you want to invest in Bitcoins - or any other cryptocurrency.

So those are some of the things to consider before investing in Bitcoin. Basically while Bitcoin has a lot of great things going for it - and while it has the potential to change financial transactions as we know it - there is still a lot of risk. There are a lot of unknowns out there still.

If you do decide to buy, take your time and research your options. Don't buy from just any seller. Some of them are trustworthy and run a great business. But there are others that will overcharge you and may not even deliver your coins.

Be safe and do your research first. Find a trusted seller with a stellar reputation - there are quite a few of them out there. And remember the golden rule here - never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Want to learn more? Visit http://www.BuyBitcoin101.com for more tips on how to buy safely, where to buy and how to store your coins.

For a quick list of where to buy Bitcoins with your credit card visit http://www.buybitcoin101.com/buy-bitcoins-with-credit-card/

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How To Start A Business Online - Triple Your Worth And Become Your Own Boss

There is a proven sequence of steps to follow if you want to see success when starting an online-based business. I have seen hundreds of thousands of people Start and lift their online-based business off of the ground by doing these things:

1. Provide value first.

2. Write informative copy that sells.

3. Design and customize an easy-to-use website.

4. Use popular search engines to drive qualified traffic to your site.

5. Establish yourself as an expert to the masses.

Step 1: Provide Value first and then market your brand

In my opinion, I believe entrepreneurs make the common mistake of promoting the product first before providing value to the consumers. Before you even pitch anything to anyone it is important to have your consumer's personal interests in mind first. I would recommend that you write and promote informative content that will educate your market on how to find practical solutions to their problems before pitching what you have to offer.

Step 2: Write informative content that sells

It is not enough to create informative content. As an entrepreneur, it is your job to make it fun and interesting. You can make your content more interesting by creating a fun and truthful headline. Talk about the problems that your market is experiencing and how to solve them in easy steps.

Step 3: Design a fun and easy-to-use website

You will have to build a website that will engage your audience in a positive way. What I recommend is that you use two simple colors for you website. You do not want to make your website to loud or too confusing because people have an average attention span of about 8 seconds, according to the New York Times. Furthermore, make sure that your website is professional and free of grammatical errors.

Step 4: Use search engines to drive qualified traffic

I would recommend that you start on a small budget before dumping incredible amounts of money on your marketing campaign. The safest marketing strategy to use in my opinion is pay-per-click advertising. Pay-per-click advertising allows you to test the waters and see what types of keywords that your market is responding too. Paying for traffic, in my opinion, drives more qualified leads than free traffic.

Step 5: Establish yourself as an expert

In all, if you launch a successful marketing campaign, you will have qualified leads coming to you for advice. It is important to establish yourself as a leader. As a leader, you are responsible for the well being of your market and their needs. You must always do your best to make sure that they remain as happy as possible with your products.

For more information on erasing your debt, creating a stable source of monthly income for yourself, and building your own online-based business, go to Create Your Own Online-Based Business

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