Translate'%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23ffffff'%20d='M%2087.636719%20131.8125%20L%2087.632812%20131.796875%20M%20344.1875%20153.058594%20L%20344.238281%20153.042969%20L%20344.144531%20153.042969%20L%20273.226562%20126.554688%20L%20273.1875%20126.507812%20L%20273.128906%20126.519531%20L%20224.152344%20108.226562%20L%20224.132812%20108.21875%20L%20224.113281%20108.175781%20L%20224.046875%20108.1875%20L%20187.472656%2094.527344%20L%20187.488281%2094.5%20L%20128.769531%20116.429688%20L%2087.625%20131.800781%20L%2030.746094%20153.042969%20L%20104.796875%20180.699219%20L%20107.859375%20181.84375%20L%20150.726562%20197.855469%20L%20187.488281%20211.585938%20L%20229.398438%20195.933594%20L%20267.121094%20181.84375%20L%20276.933594%20178.179688%20L%20344.167969%20153.066406%20L%20344.214844%20153.066406%20L%20344.1875%20153.058594%20'%20fill-opacity='1'%20fill-rule='nonzero'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23ffffff'%20d='M%20107.859375%20188.507812%20L%20107.859375%20219.835938%20L%20107.863281%20219.835938%20C%20107.863281%20219.859375%20107.859375%20219.882812%20107.859375%20219.910156%20C%20107.859375%20232.941406%20116.6875%20244.746094%20130.972656%20253.316406%20C%20145.398438%20261.976562%20165.390625%20267.34375%20187.488281%20267.34375%20C%20190.335938%20267.34375%20193.144531%20267.25%20195.914062%20267.078125%20L%20195.914062%20267.074219%20C%20217.316406%20265.738281%20236.1875%20259.347656%20249.117188%20249.945312%20C%20260.367188%20241.765625%20267.121094%20231.308594%20267.121094%20219.910156%20C%20267.121094%20219.882812%20267.117188%20219.859375%20267.117188%20219.835938%20L%20267.121094%20219.835938%20L%20267.121094%20188.507812%20L%20187.488281%20218.25%20L%20107.859375%20188.507812%20'%20fill-opacity='1'%20fill-rule='nonzero'/%3e%3cg%20clip-path='url(%236691404858)'%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23ffffff'%20d='M%2092.464844%20259.238281%20L%2092.421875%20258.8125%20L%2089.839844%20231.960938%20L%2089.726562%20230.78125%20L%2088.480469%20217.851562%20L%2089.527344%20217.851562%20L%2089.527344%20203.476562%20C%2090.964844%20202.183594%2091.875%20200.3125%2091.875%20198.222656%20C%2091.875%20197.152344%2091.636719%20196.140625%2091.210938%20195.234375%20C%2090.515625%20193.757812%2089.328125%20192.558594%2087.859375%20191.851562%20L%2087.859375%20174.375%20L%2081.617188%20172.046875%20L%2081.617188%20191.910156%20C%2079.3125%20193.078125%2077.726562%20195.460938%2077.726562%20198.222656%20C%2077.726562%20200.3125%2078.636719%20202.183594%2080.078125%20203.476562%20L%2080.078125%20217.851562%20L%2081.21875%20217.851562%20L%2080.464844%20225.59375%20L%2079.523438%20235.222656%20L%2077.203125%20258.945312%20L%2077.195312%20259.027344%20L%2075.9375%20271.894531%20L%2074.8125%20283.398438%20C%2074.785156%20283.648438%2074.78125%20283.929688%2074.8125%20284.183594%20C%2075.191406%20287.339844%2079.96875%20289.722656%2085.484375%20289.503906%20C%2091%20289.292969%2095.167969%20286.558594%2094.789062%20283.398438%20L%2092.464844%20259.238281%20'%20fill-opacity='1'%20fill-rule='nonzero'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
← Back to GlossaryCrypto BasicsLearn more in the Academy →
What is ICO (Initial Coin Offering)?
An ICO is a crypto fundraising method where a project sells tokens to early investors before launch. Most ICOs in 2017-18 were scams — be extremely careful.
Full Explanation
Initial Coin Offerings were the primary crypto fundraising mechanism in 2017-2018. Projects would sell tokens at a discount before the protocol launched, promising future utility. The 2017 ICO boom saw billions raised, but over 80% of ICOs failed or were outright scams. Modern alternatives include IDOs (Initial DEX Offerings), IEOs (Initial Exchange Offerings), and launchpads. In India, participating in token sales may have tax implications under the 30% VDA tax.
Related Terms
Last updated: 2026-03-21
