The rise of fraud has clouded the promise of ICOs, but increased regulatory alignment may forge a new course for the future of digital fundraising.

Blockchain technology is rooted in the publication of the white paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008

The rise of fraud has clouded the promise of initial coin offerings (ICOs), but increased regulatory alignment may forge a new course for the future of digital fundraising.

As the saying goes, “the good times must come to an end.” Sadly, in the world of crypto, this saying rings especially true for Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). Despite their potential for revolutionizing startup funding and spurring technological innovation, ICOs have become a hotbed for fraudulent activities, threatening the very fabric of this promising market.

The story begins in 2008 with the publication of the white paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” by Satoshi Nakamoto, and its first actual implementation in 2009 with the launch of Bitcoin. This development opened new possibilities for innovation and investments, paving the way for the advent of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). This process involves selling digital tokens or “coins” in return for cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and many others.

ICOs represent an emerging and effective crowdfunding method, particularly favored by startups as an alternative to Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). However, in recent years, this market has proven risky due to the increase in fraudulent activities that threaten its safety.

This rise of ICOs scams is confirmed by the advisory firm Statis Group, which revealed in 2017 that more than 80 percent of ICOs were found to be fraudulent. To be precise, out of the total amount raised during ICOs that year, which comes to 11,6 billion dollars, the 11 percent that is equal to 1,34 billions of dollar went to scams project, some of the most famous where “Pincoin ($660 million), Arisebank ($600 million), and Savedroid ($50 million), which together equal $1.31 billion.”

Parallel to this concerning trend, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has released a statement to alert investors intending to participate in ICOs. Published on 13 November 2017, ESMA’s announcement declares that the ICOs mechanism involves speculative investments, hence posing several potential risks for investors.

Some of the key issues highlighted by ESMA include the need for greater cooperation among national authorities to effectively monitor and regulate ICOs. Moreover, ESMA emphasizes the importance of investors conducting thorough research before making any investment decisions and being fully aware of the risks involved in these ventures.

These findings are further supported by empirical studies, which suggest that cyber-attack has a strong and negative impact on the number of and the amount raised in ICOs.

The mismanagement of this issue could have huge consequences. Firstly, investors might decide to withdraw from the market, resulting in a decrease in funding for startup activities and creating an obstacle to the advancement of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).

As the technology evolves and the use cases expand, so does the interest in initial coin offerings (ICOs). Despite their recent introduction and the limited number of laws related to cryptocurrencies today, there is a strong and persistent demand for participation in this market.

However, governmental bodies are also taking crucial steps to support crypto adoption. In 2021, El Salvador became the first country in the world to declare the adoption of Bitcoin cryptocurrency as legal tender in its economy, an initiative later followed in 2022 by the Central African Republic.

Recently, another event brought the cryptocurrency market into the spotlight. Trump signed an order to originate a strategic reserve of U.S. Bitcoins, with the aim of holding them as a store of value, without selling them. This move marks a significant step for the development of cryptocurrencies in the U.S. financial system, as several analysts believe that this reserve could encourage institutional investment and Bitcoin adoption on a global scale.

This development is part of a broader trend in the U.S. to regulate cryptocurrencies more heavily. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been particularly active in this domain, with Chairman Gary Gensler expressing his support for a comprehensive regulatory framework.

In the same vein, Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has been taking steps to regulate cryptocurrencies and create a more favorable environment for institutional investment in the asset class.

These actions by authorities and the technical capabilities of blockchain technology could lower vulnerabilities and increase security against the threat of fraud.

With less fraud and greater reliability, retail investors will be more likely to participate in crowdfunding, while startups could secure the necessary funding to develop new innovative services and increase the adoption of blockchain at scale.

These developments present a best-case scenario where stricter regulations and investor protection tools are used to overcome the risk of scams and create a safer and more stable environment for the future of ICOs.