title: The Cure Author: Arthur Hayes Translator: Ismay, BlockBeats

In this article, Arthur Hayes analyzes the rise and fall of ICOs in the cryptocurrency industry with a sharp perspective, offering insights into why ICOs could return to their peak.

The Spot.dog team plans to integrate with Web2 influencers, NFT marketplaces, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) to attract a new generation of crypto users. I am optimistic about this project because it aligns with the broader goal of onboarding more users into the Web3 ecosystem.

Technology:

The last ICO boom was mainly driven by Ethereum and concluded with the launch of decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols in 2020. During this period, ICOs were largely limited to the Ethereum ecosystem. However, with the rise of multi-chain and cross-chain technologies, ICOs can now be conducted on multiple blockchains simultaneously.

For example, a team can launch an ICO on Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Avalanche, Solana, and Near simultaneously. This approach allows teams to tap into the liquidity and user base of each chain, potentially raising more funds and attracting a wider range of investors. Additionally, cross-chain technology enables investors to participate in ICOs on different blockchains without incurring high gas fees or needing to bridge assets manually.

Another technological advancement that could benefit ICOs is the introduction of modular blockchains. These blockchains, such as Celestia and Sui, separate the execution and data availability layers, allowing for greater scalability and lower costs. As a result, ICOs on modular blockchains could become more accessible and efficient.

Finally, the development of zk-Rollups and optimistic Rollups is also expected to contribute to the growth of ICOs. These Layer 2 scaling solutions offer lower fees and faster transaction times, making on-chain capital formation more appealing to both teams and investors.

Conclusion

The cryptocurrency industry is cyclical. After experiencing the mania of ICOs, the authoritarian control of venture capital and centralized exchanges, and the absurdity of meme coins, we are finally returning to the essence of ICOs. This time, however, the timing, liquidity, and technology are all ripe for a grand return of ICOs. I believe that in 2024, we will witness a new wave of ICOs that will redefine the landscape of the cryptocurrency industry once again.output:

Original Title: The Cure Author: Arthur Hayes Translator: Ismay, BlockBeats

Editor's Note:

In this article, Arthur Hayes analyzes the rise and fall of ICOs in the cryptocurrency industry with a sharp perspective, offering insights into why ICOs could return to their peak. He points out that the over-reliance on centralized exchanges and venture capital-backed high-valuation projects has become a shackle for the industry's development, comparing the capital formation mechanisms of meme coins and ICOs, and advocating for a return to the decentralized and high-risk, high-reward essence of crypto projects. Through his interpretation of technological potential and viral dissemination, Arthur Hayes once again demonstrates his foresight regarding the future development of the industry.

Here is the original content:

Tension and stress can sometimes infect men and women, leading to irrational behavior. Unfortunately, many companies in the Maelstrom portfolio have contracted a "CEXually Transmitted Disease" propagated by centralized exchanges. The affected founders believe they must fully comply with the directives of certain well-known centralized exchanges, or else the road to massive returns will be blocked. These centralized exchanges demand: pump this metric, hire this person, allocate me this portion of tokens, launch your token on this date… etc., never mind, just wait for us to notify you to launch. These "patients" obsessed with the desires of trading platforms have almost completely forgotten the original intention of users and cryptocurrencies. Come to my clinic, I can cure you. The prescription is ICO. Let me explain…

I have a three-point theory on why cryptocurrency has become one of the fastest-growing networks in human history:

Governments Captured

Large corporations, big tech, big pharma, the military-industrial complex, and other "big XX" have used their wealth and power to control most major governments and economies. Since the end of World War II, although living standards and life expectancy have risen rapidly and consistently, this improvement has slowed for the 90% of the population who hold very few financial assets and have almost no political voice. Decentralization is the antidote to the concentration of wealth and power.

Miraculous Technology

The Bitcoin blockchain and the many subsequent blockchains are epoch-making miraculous technologies. From a humble beginning, Bitcoin has at least proven itself to be one of the most resilient monetary systems. For anyone who can break the Bitcoin network, that nearly $2 trillion in Bitcoin could be double-spent, like a massive bug bounty.

Greed

The growth in the fiat and energy value of blockchain-driven cryptocurrencies and their tokens has made users wealthy. The wealth of the cryptocurrency community was evident in the November elections in the U.S. The U.S. (and most other countries) is a political system where "money buys power." The "bandits" of cryptocurrency are among the industries that donate the most to political candidates, helping pro-crypto