The abbreviation ICO is often associated with the "golden" days of the crypto industry. During the peak of this direction, which fell in 2017-2018, the likelihood of not only recovering invested funds but also obtaining multiple returns was much higher than it is now. Platforms like CoinList became financial "springboards" for promising projects, and investors hunted for any new token, hoping for quick "x's".

In 2025, some projects continue to use this format of token sale to attract capital, and many expect a "revival" of this format against the backdrop of changing regulatory climate in the USA. The Incrypted editorial team figured out how ICOs are structured, what risks they carry, and how newcomers can participate in such sales.

What is an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) and how is it conducted?

ICO (Initial Coin Offering) is a method of raising capital for cryptocurrency projects. It involves the launch of a token by the team and its subsequent sale to early investors to obtain funding for product development.