What Is An IDO In Crypto? A Beginners Guide


Once the tokens are allotted and the liquidity pool opens, investors can trade the tokens bought. When the crypto industry went mainstream around 2017, projects emulated this technique by selling a part of their total crypto token supply to the public in Initial Coin  Offering (ICO). ICOs then became an instant hit in the crypto space, with investors jumping at the opportunity and raising an estimated $4.9 billion by the end of 2017. However, the rise in scam projects and Ponzi schemes led to a terrible downfall in the popularity of ICOs. As a replacement in 2018, a new fundraising method called the Initial Exchange Offering (IEO) surfaced. Investors are guaranteed a set price for new what is ido coins or tokens that are accessible to anyone.

What Is an Initial DEX Offering (IDO)?

Velhalla, Starlaunch, PulsePad, GameFi, etc., are popular IDOs. These returned above 200x, with a few just below that figure. Having innovative features and utility gives IDO an edge over others. Investors must see that the new platform is not regurgitating old features https://www.xcritical.com/ in a new skin. Perpetual futures are like futures (derivative contracts or agreements to buy or sell a commodity at a spec…

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You can use exclusive launch apps or launchpads within decentralized exchanges to launch the token. Then, investors must come to the platform to purchase your tokens. The key to IDO is the use of liquid pools on decentralized exchanges to distribute project tokens.

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Inspired by an initial public offering (IPO), initial coin offerings (ICOs) are crowdfunding methods that help crypto projects raise capital. During an ICO, a crypto project offers individuals the chance to invest fiat or crypto in return for a proportion of a new native coin or token. The event is hosted by the crypto project’s blockchain platform and, therefore, relies on no intermediary third party.

Blockchain and Fundraising Before IEOs

Each of these steps, when thoughtfully executed, can pave the way for a successful IDO journey for both project developers and investors. The second is providing liquidity, locking liquidity pairs like ETH-POLS on the Uniswap DEX and BNB-POLS on PancakeSwap. Locking liquidity earns rewards in POLS tokens, such as the 40,000 POLS that Polkastarter is offering on PancakeSwap in May.

what is ido

IV. What Sets IDO, IEO, and ICO Apart?

Once completed, the DEX will list the token for public purchase. IDOs are innovative, therefore, there is not much clearance when it comes to regulatory frameworks. However, their decentralized and transparent nature could provide them with an easier regulatory path than ICOs.

what is ido

The Rise of Initial Exchange Offerings

  • DEXs might not have a central authority, but they have community members who vet projects.
  • Unlike traditional fundraising models such as Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), IDOs provide immediate token liquidity and ensure a fair and transparent distribution of tokens.
  • The main difference is that instead of taking place on a random website, sales of new tokens take place on a trusted site.
  • But we won’t see mass adoption until user experience and security have been enhanced.
  • The tokens are usually created after the sale through the project’s website.
  • A decentralized exchange is like a regular exchange, but no one is in charge.
  • A simple way to search through them is through CoinGecko’s list of Top Launchpad Coins by Market Capitalization.

IDOs bring several advantages you won’t get if you buy the tokens after launch, even with the best DeFi apps. Hence, monitoring upcoming IDOs is essential to maximizing the market. ICO’s are the crypto-fied version of an Initial Public Offering (IPO) or when a private company offers public stock to raise funds. You live in two stories, but rent is expensive, so you offer a third story, or “part” of your ownership, to make ends meet.

What are examples of IDO in crypto?

This section has trading charts, boxes, order books, depth charts, and active orders. These tools provide extensive analysis to find promising cryptos. Third parties must perform audits on projects to ensure transparency. Besides the codebase, protocols, infrastructure, and smart contracts are also included in the audits. Unlike stocks and other traditional assets, classifying crypto is challenging.

Initial Dex Offerings: Understanding IDOs in Crypto

The launchpad also ensures that the IDO is conducted in a fair and transparent manner. The Raven Protocol is a decentralized neural network project that is focused on transforming the AI industry. Its coin, RAVEN, was first launched in June 2019 by the Binance DEX. Although the price of RAVEN is now down from its initial price, the IDO is considered a success by many as it was one of the first IDOs ever to take place. An IDO is an Initial DEX Offering, where a “DEX” is a Decentralized Exchange. A decentralized exchange is like a regular exchange, but no one is in charge.

what is ido

The platforms’ vetting procedures, at best, allow new projects that they believe are a good fit for the platform. That doesn’t mean they make for a good investment or a better one than an ICO. Before investing in a new token, you should make sure to do your own research. Compared to IEOs and ICOs, which involve an initial waiting period, IDOs provide immediate access to liquidity and trading. Added to that, IDOs help streamline users by delivering a secure wallet and trading platform support that’s built into one interface.

Make sure to read the details before participating in an IDO. It’s often easier and cheaper for a small, less-known project to launch their token through a DEX than a large, centralized exchange. BNB-CAKE LP tokens are then locked for the new tokens, and the project receives the BNB while the CAKE is burned. The number of tokens you get will depend on how many participants there are in the sale, and any excess funds staked will be returned to you. There may even be measures in place to make it fairer for small investors to get a share of the IDO, such as the [Basic Sale] and [Unlimited Sale] features on the PancakeSwap IFO below. Rather than lock their tokens directly, investors must first stake in a Decentralized Finance (DeFi) LP to earn LP tokens.

In the bustling crypto space, IDOs are favored for their affordability and ease. Coin360 aids investors in making informed choices with real-time tracking and insights for over 4,500 cryptocurrencies. Hedge With Crypto aims to publish information that is factual, accurate, and up-to-date.

In contrast, only projects selected by a DEX’s decentralized community are authorized to perform an initial DEX offering. Although IDOs are viewed as more complicated, thanks to the instant creation of a liquidity pool, investors can begin trading cryptos instantly. For these reasons, the IDO model has become favored by both projects and investors. SushiSwap, a decentralized exchange built on Ethereum, launched through an IDO and quickly gained popularity as an alternative to Uniswap. It allowed users to migrate over $1.14 billion worth of assets from Uniswap to SushiSwap.

Stay up to date with our latest exchange reviews, promotions, how-to guides and educational articles on Bitcoin, cryptocurrency & more. If you’re familiar with stocks, you’ll know that an IPO is an Initial Public Offering. That’s when professional investors, independent speculators, and supporters can buy shares in a company. IDOs have carved a niche for themselves in the complex tapestry of crypto fundraising.

A proportion of all native coins or tokens are then set aside for the IDO launch and the project is marketed by both parties. Individuals can opt to invest during the fundraising period by purchasing an ‘IOU’. This involves committing funds, either in the form of fiat or crypto. At the end of the fundraising period, IOUs are then used to distribute native coins or tokens via a Token Generation Event (TGE). After the TGE, the DEX’s liquidity pool then allows for instant token trading. A lot of crypto projects that have an ICO can be successful.

During this phase, investors can purchase the project’s tokens at a discounted rate. Before launching an IDO, the project team should develop a comprehensive business strategy. This strategy should outline the project’s goals, target audience, fund allocation, marketing plan, and post-IDO plans. Having a well-defined strategy, the team can effectively communicate their vision to potential investors.

It can be easy to get carried away and invest more than you should. But don’t forget, sales are still risky, and even with sound research, you could still be the victim of a scam, fraud, or rug pull. At the TGE, the tokens are transferred to the user, and the LP opens for trading. Simply because using DeFi platforms is a learning curve, which may be a barrier to the average crypto trader. Another improvement would be to boost awareness and education of DeFi as this industry grows.

IDOs may be decentralized, but they are bound by AML and KYC requirements. These are efficient in preventing money laundering from the country of operations. Creators escape this by inserting sections for KYC requirements.

Zachary Paul
Zachary Paul is an independent investigative journalist living in New York City.
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