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A Theory of ICOs: Diversification, Agency, and Information Asymmetry

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  • Jiri Chod

    (Carroll School of Management, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467)

  • Evgeny Lyandres

    (Coller School of Management, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 6997801 Israel)

Abstract

This paper develops a theory of financing of entrepreneurial ventures via crypto tokens, which is not limited to platform-based ventures. We compare token financing with traditional equity financing, focusing on agency problems and information asymmetry frictions associated with the two financing methods, as well as on risk sharing between entrepreneurs and investors. Token financing introduces an agency problem not present under equity financing (underproduction), while mitigating an agency problem often associated with equity financing (entrepreneurial effort underprovision). Our theory abstracts from all institutional and potentially transient differences between tokens and equity and is based on a single intrinsic characteristic of tokens: they represent claims to a venture’s output. We show that tokens are likely to dominate equity for ventures developing goods or services that involve low marginal production costs, those for which entrepreneurial effort is crucial, and/or those with relatively low payoff volatility. In addition, tokens can have an advantage over equity in signaling venture quality to outside investors.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiri Chod & Evgeny Lyandres, 2021. "A Theory of ICOs: Diversification, Agency, and Information Asymmetry," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(10), pages 5969-5989, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:67:y:2021:i:10:p:5969-5989
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2020.3754
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Ipert, Chloé & Mauer, René, 2023. "Infrastructural or organizational decentralization? Developing a typology of blockchain ventures," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    4. Yannis Bakos & Hanna Halaburda, 2022. "Overcoming the Coordination Problem in New Marketplaces via Cryptographic Tokens," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 33(4), pages 1368-1385, December.
    5. Kotiloglu, Serhan & Ometto, M. Paola, 2024. "An exploratory look at the role of ownership in initial coin offerings (ICO): Different audiences and ICO success," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 21(C).
    6. Ruifeng Xu & E Guan, 2023. "Can blockchain innovation promote total factor productivity? Evidence from Chinese-listed firms," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(6), pages 653-670, February.
    7. Bhambhwani, Siddharth M. & Huang, Allen H., 2024. "Auditing decentralized finance," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(2).
    8. Garud Iyengar & Fahad Saleh & Jay Sethuraman & Wenjun Wang, 2023. "Economics of Permissioned Blockchain Adoption," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(6), pages 3415-3436, June.
    9. Liu, Xiang & Yang, Zhaojun, 2023. "Security token offerings versus loan guarantees for risk-averse entrepreneurs under asymmetric information," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    10. Shay Tsaban & Tal Shavit, 2024. "The Agency Problem of the Modern Era – The Conflict Between Shareholders’ and Managers’ Motives to Invest in Happiness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 1-18, October.
    11. Chod, Jiri & Lyandres, Evgeny, 2023. "Product market competition with crypto tokens and smart contracts," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 149(1), pages 73-91.
    12. Evgeny Lyandres & Berardino Palazzo & Daniel Rabetti, 2022. "Initial Coin Offering (ICO) Success and Post-ICO Performance," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(12), pages 8658-8679, December.
    13. Yonggen Luo & Miaomiao Fang & Antai Li & Shiqiang Chen, 2024. "Opportunity or opportunism? Blockchain technology adoption and corporate default risk," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    14. Jiri Chod & Nikolaos Trichakis & S. Alex Yang, 2022. "Platform Tokenization: Financing, Governance, and Moral Hazard," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(9), pages 6411-6433, September.

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