If IIf there's been one word on the lips of everyone in finance this past cryptocurrency. If you've been kicking yourself for not getting in on the ground floor of blockbuster coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum, you might want to consider looking into investing in an Initial Coin Offering (ICO). Be warned, however: ICOs are highly risky even under the best of circumstances, and have a high potential for scams.f there's been one word on the lips of everyone in finance this past year, it's cryptocurrency. If you've been kicking yourself for not getting in on the.

Ground floor of blockbuster coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum, you might want to consider looking into investing in an Initial Coin Offering (ICO). Be warned, however: ICOs are highly risky ven under the best of circumstances, and have a high potential for scams. there's been one word on the lips of everyone in finance this past year.

Imagine this: You're a Silicon Valley startup with a great idea for a new cryptocurrency system. Perhaps you want to streamline the Parent/Babysitter payment system so that it can be digital and encrypted. What a great idea! Let's call it BabyCoin. The only problem is you need people to give you money so you can actually make the currency. Now, you could go to a bank or try getting venture capitalist investors, but what if you could raise money without having to give up any of your ownership of the company? Enter ICO.

Here's how it works. You create a document essentially detailing exactly how the system would work (usually called a white paper), make a pretty website and explain why its a great idea that could be very useful. Then, you ask for people to send you money (usually Bitcoin or Ether, but you can also take fiat) and in return.