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Blockchain-Based ICOs: Pure Hype or the Dawn of a New Era of Startup Financing?

Author

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  • Lennart Ante

    (Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, University of Hamburg, Von-Melle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
    Blockchain Research Lab gGmbH, 20354 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Philipp Sandner

    (Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Adickesallee 32-34, 60322 Frankfurt am Main, Germany)

  • Ingo Fiedler

    (Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, University of Hamburg, Von-Melle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
    Blockchain Research Lab gGmbH, 20354 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

This study explores the determinants of initial coin offering (ICO) success, where success is defined as the amount of capital a project could raise. ICOs are a tool for startups in the blockchain ecosystem to raise early capital with relative ease. The market for ICOs has grown at a rapid pace since its start in 2013. We analyze a unique dataset of 278 projects that finished their ICOs by August 2017 to assess determinants of funding success that we derive from the crowdfunding and venture capital literature. Our results show that ICOs exhibit similarities to classical crowdfunding and venture capital markets. Specifically, we identify resemblances in determinants of funding success regarding human capital characteristics, business model quality, project elaboration, and social media activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Lennart Ante & Philipp Sandner & Ingo Fiedler, 2018. "Blockchain-Based ICOs: Pure Hype or the Dawn of a New Era of Startup Financing?," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:11:y:2018:i:4:p:80-:d:184453
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