A Short History: What Disappeared After 2018

During the 2017–2018 ICO boom, thousands of crypto projects raised funds directly from the public. Most sales occurred without registration or oversight. After regulators intervened, exchanges stopped hosting those sales. As a result, U.S. retail investors lost access to early-stage token launches. Fundraising continued overseas, but participation was limited to private rounds and accredited buyers. Coinbase now aims to restore retail access within a regulated framework rather than revive the chaos of the ICO era.

How Coinbase’s Token-Sales Platform Works

Each sale on the Coinbase token-sales platform runs for a one-week request window. Users commit USDC, and when the window closes an algorithmic allocation system distributes tokens from smaller requests upward. The method favors broader participation instead of size or speed. Coinbase plans about one sale every month under its Coinbase token sales program. Each asset launched through the program will later appear on the Coinbase listings roadmap.

Guardrails to Limit Speculation

To discourage fast flips, Coinbase applies anti-flip rules that reduce allocation priority for traders who sell their tokens within 30 days. Project teams also face a six-month issuer lockup on secondary or over-the-counter sales unless Coinbase explicitly approves them. Issuers must publish tokenomics, team details, and supply data. Coinbase reviews every sale before listing to ensure transparency and compliance. These steps are designed to prevent the hype cycles that defined earlier token launches.

The Monad Token Sale

The debut sale features Monad, a high-performance layer-1 network backed by Paradigm and Coinbase Ventures. According to project documentation, up to 7.5 billion MON (about 7.5 percent of the initial supply) will be sold at $0.025 per token. Distribution will align with the project’s mainnet launch. Some reports initially misnamed “Monad” as the new platform. In fact, Coinbase Token Sales is the platform, and Monad is simply the first project offered.

Why Coinbase Is Moving Upstream

By running new sales directly, Coinbase is expanding upstream into primary token offerings. Until now, the company focused mainly on listings and secondary trading. This shift builds on its Echo acquisition, which added public-sale infrastructure later folded into the platform. The strategy could diversify revenue and deepen issuer relationships. However, it also places Coinbase inside a regulatory gray area that still draws close scrutiny.

Access—But Still Restricted

Coinbase describes the rollout as the broadest U.S. retail crypto access to token launches in years. Even so, participation remains limited to “select jurisdictions.” Eligibility will vary by region, and each sale includes its own compliance disclosures. In practice, Coinbase is not reviving the ICO model. Rather, it is testing a regulated channel for public participation under controlled conditions.

>>> Read more: PancakeSwap CakePad Launch Lifts CAKE Price Despite X Hack

What to Watch Next

The coming months will show whether Coinbase can maintain compliance while scaling its Coinbase token sales cadence. Observers will watch how the allocation algorithm handles demand and how liquidity behaves after listings. It will also matter whether anti-flip rules encourage long-term holders. If the Monad token sale proceeds smoothly, Coinbase’s model could become a blueprint for future exchange-run primary markets in the United States and strengthen the case for continued Coinbase token sales on a monthly rhythm.

The post From Listings to Launches: Coinbase Moves Upstream With a Regulated Token-Sales Platform appeared first on CrispyBull.

Compounding the skepticism is Trump’s dramatic reversal on cryptocurrency. Once a vocal critic, Trump has become a proponent of digital assets during his current presidential run. This shift prompts further speculation: is $TRUMP Coin a sincere effort to support charitable causes and embrace technological innovation, or merely a strategic ploy to garner votes and extract money from his loyal supporter base?

The Promise and Reality of Philanthropy

TrumpCrypto.io’s commitment to donate 10% of profits to Disabled American Veterans is a central tenet of its marketing strategy. Additionally, a 0.25% transaction fee is directed towards the Trump National Committee Joint Fundraising Committee. While these measures are commendable, the allocation of only a small fraction of total profits to philanthropy has raised eyebrows within the crypto community and beyond.

Trump’s Evolving Crypto Stance

Trump’s newfound support for cryptocurrencies marks a significant departure from his earlier views. In 2019, he famously tweeted that he was “not a fan of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies” and criticized their volatility and lack of regulation. However, as the 2024 presidential race heats up, Trump has embraced digital currencies, including accepting crypto donations for his campaign and pledging to create a favorable regulatory environment for blockchain technology and digital assets.

This reversal appears to be part of a broader strategy to attract the crypto community, a growing and influential voter demographic. According to a survey by Paradigm, 48% of respondents support Trump in 2024, a notable increase from the 39% who voted for him in 2020. This demographic shift highlights the potential electoral advantages of his pro-crypto stance.

Strategic or Sincere?

Critics argue that Trump’s crypto embrace is more opportunistic than genuine. His campaign has faced financial challenges, and accepting crypto donations provides a new revenue stream. Mónica Taher, a former tech director for the government of El Salvador, suggested to Cointelegraph that Trump’s shift is a tactical move to bolster his campaign finances amidst legal and financial pressures.

Furthermore, Trump’s position contrasts sharply with that of the Biden administration, which has taken a more cautious and regulatory approach to cryptocurrencies. This distinction allows Trump to present himself as a champion of financial freedom and innovation, appealing to disaffected crypto enthusiasts.

>>> Read more: Is Trump Really the Pro-Crypto Candidate He Claims to Be?

Conclusion

The launch of $TRUMP Coin and Trump’s pro-crypto stance underscore a complex interplay of politics, finance, and technology. While the coin’s philanthropic claims offer a veneer of social responsibility, the modest financial commitment raises questions about its true impact. As Trump navigates the 2024 campaign, his crypto strategy will continue to attract scrutiny and debate.

For now, $TRUMP Coin remains a polarizing initiative, viewed by some as a genuine effort to integrate philanthropy with digital innovation and by others as a calculated bid to exploit his support base. The true measure of its success will depend on how effectively it balances these competing narratives.

The post Trump’s $TRUMP Coin: Genuine Philanthropy or Just Another Financial Gimmick? appeared first on CrispyBull.

Cryptocurrencies have taken the financial world by storm, but navigating through the intricacies of this digital realm can be overwhelming. Today, we’ll shed light on a crucial aspect – Token Lockup. Whether you’re a crypto novice or have some knowledge, this guide will break down the concept into digestible bits, making you a more informed participant in the crypto space.

What is a Token Lockup?

Token Lockup is like a time-bound safety net for your cryptocurrency investments. In simpler terms, when you get tokens through methods like airdrops, initial coin offerings (ICOs), or sales, the Lockup period prevents you from selling or transferring them immediately. It’s akin to a waiting room for your tokens, and here’s why it matters.

Why Does Token Lockup Exist?

Imagine a scenario where everyone rushes to sell their newly acquired tokens right after a project launches. The sudden flood of tokens in the market can lead to a drop in prices. To avoid this, Token Lockup serves as a preventive measure. It encourages a long-term commitment from investors, prevents market flooding, and gives developers time to focus on the project’s growth without constant worries about token value.

Different Lockup Structures: Tailoring to Goals

Token Lockup comes in various forms, each serving a unique purpose:

Choosing the right structure depends on the project’s goals, ensuring a balance between investor interest and long-term stability.

How It Works: Smart Contracts and Token Lockup

Behind Token Lockup’s scenes are smart contracts – self-executing agreements written in code. These contracts, stored on the blockchain, enforce the lockup conditions. When an investor participates in an ICO, the smart contract holds the tokens until the lockup period expires or milestones are met. It’s a secure, transparent, and automated process.

Benefits for Investors: Long-Term Gains and Reduced Risks

For investors, Token Lockup isn’t just a hurdle; it’s a strategic move:

Risks of Skipping Token Lockup: A Cautionary Tale

Steering away from the implementation of Token Lockup can expose projects and investors to a series of potential pitfalls, creating a cautionary tale worth heeding:

The absence of Token Lockup exposes projects to heightened vulnerabilities. One significant risk is the surge in price volatility. Without the protective barrier of Token Lockup, the market becomes susceptible to sudden and drastic price drops, driven by unregulated and massive sell-offs of tokens.

The repercussions extend beyond mere market fluctuations. Foregoing a Token Lockup can cultivate a culture of short-term thinking among investors. With no restrictions in place, investors may prioritize immediate gains over the long-term sustainability of the project. This shift in focus can have profound effects on the overall viability and success of the venture.

A subtler yet equally impactful consequence is the erosion of investor confidence. The mere absence of a lockup mechanism sends ripples of doubt through the investor community. This waning trust acts as a stumbling block for project growth, deterring potential backers who seek assurances and security in their investment endeavors.

Perhaps the gravest risk in this narrative is the potential for fraud. Skipping the implementation of Token Lockup opens a Pandora’s box of fraudulent possibilities. The lack of this protective measure creates an environment ripe for unscrupulous practices, posing a genuine threat to both investors and the integrity of the projects themselves.

In a nutshell, Token Lockup is the guardian of stability and long-term success in the crypto world. Its role is crucial in shaping a secure and robust environment for both projects and investors. As you delve into the realm of cryptocurrencies, understanding Token Lockup will empower you to make informed decisions and navigate the crypto landscape with confidence.

Unlock the potential, embrace stability – Token Lockup is your key to a secure crypto journey!

The post Unlocking the Mystery: Understanding Token Lockup in Simple Terms appeared first on CrispyBull.

Q3 2018 was not as successful as Q2 and Q1 of 2018 for ICOs. Regardless of the high risks inherent in ICO investing, many fraudulent projects and an overall bearish trend in the market, investments continued.

The total amount raised by ICOs was $1,819,585,090 USD. This is significantly less compared to the previous quarter when funded ICOs reached 8,359,976,282 – almost 7 times more. However, despite the bearish predictions lately, there were nearly 600 projects launched in Q3. But, sadly, 57% could not collect more than $100,000 USD. And only the modest number of 4% of all ICOs managed to get listed on cryptocurrency exchanges.

Why was there a fall in investments?

Perhaps the reason for the smaller funding is the business proposal that backs up these projects. According to ICO Rating’s report, 76,15% of the offerings had nothing behind them but an idea. This is not such a shock, compared to Q2, because the difference is with only 18% more idealistic kind of offerings. However, this summer we saw a huge lack of transparency, too. 82.17% of the ICOs used closed-source code instead of an open-source one. And their statistics say open-source projects are more successful in general, 69.42% of the ICOs which did not expose their developing process on GitHub could not attract investors.

Where the ICOs were launched?

Geographically speaking, it is interesting to note that almost half of the recent ICOs were launched in Europe – 43%. The funds stayed in Europe though, because 48% were raised there, too. The second place goes to Asia, with almost 20% of ICO gained funds, the third one is for various countries worldwide, and North America comes fourth with about 12% of ICO crowdfunds.

What were the ICOs for?

The offerings in Q3 stood primarily for financial services which gained more than $120 million followed by blockchain infrastructure and wallets, also quite successful. Per ICO Rating, the surprise for this quarter is the listing of Drugs and Healthcare industries in the ICO ranking which has not been so popular by now. Moreover, service tokens certainly ruled the market whereas the utility ones have backed up substantially.

The Ethereum platform kept the monopole again in Q3. 83.75% of all token sales were made on the Ethereum platform and the other percentage is divided between smaller systems such as NEO, Stellar and Waves.

86.13% of the projects aimed to create a Dapp or a decentralized application. Unfortunately, even with the strong hype around all kinds of applications in recent years, 67% of all Dapps ICOs were not successful.

Which are the successful ICOs?

So, after the long negative list with ICO which did not manage to break through, let us see the good examples. Unsurprisingly, EOS holds the number one in raised funds. EOS is a platform, operation-system like and a cryptocurrency with more than $3 billion market capitalization already. Among others are TaTaTu, the decentralized entertainment platform, Bankera, Telegram, the crypto exchange Huobi, and Environ. The latter is a Swiss-based energy startup we recommended as a promising green ICO project some time ago.

CrispyBull will continue to monitor the ICO market and to deliver live information. After all fraudulent activities, let’s hope that the market will finally re-organize and consolidate.

The post ICO Funding Fell With 48% in Q3, New Research Reveals appeared first on CrispyBull.

Now, the third economic power in Europe, adds up that whoever wants to apply and launch a digital asset project, would have to pay taxes by the profits. As Reuters reports, that is not a surprise for the blockchain industries there – if they expect better safety, they would have to contribute, too.

Fabrice Heuvrard, who works with the French government on the new regulations, claimed, cited by Reuters, that that would not be an issue for the local businesses.

The (cryptocurrency) community is ready to pay taxes as long as they are not confiscatory.

However, the French crypto market is relatively vibrant at the moment. Compared to the US one, or even the British one, there are fewer blockchain projects on the Mediterranean. But according to the ICOWatchList, France holds 2% of the total ICO market. By now it has raised more than $78 million USD in total. That is the reason for the French government’s attempts to stimulate the crypto business. The new regulations would apply only to ICO projects submitted by French-based companies.

The exact sum of the taxes is not yet decided, though. The usual amount is 20% but according to the ministry official, it is discussed to be calculated proportionally to the revenue, Reuters continues.

Perhaps not so attractive part of the legislative plan is the slight shake of anonymity. French authorities would carefully check who support the ICO launch, do they have a backup plan if the crowdfunding fails and will have to mandatorily do a KYC procedure. For many, that would not be such a business magnet since cryptos rely on secrecy by default. But perhaps that is not so bad because it will not attract wild business adventurers. As Paul Allard, an ICO initiator in France puts it:

Cowboy capitalists will not come to Paris and, you know what, it’s better that way.

The regulations are expected to go effective next year.

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Two days after the murder, Gab’s website was shut and companies like Stripe, PayPal and Godaddy suspended their support. The social media presents itself like a ‘free speech’ platform. Its CEO, Andrew Torba is famous for his Trump support, extremist’s ideology, racism, anti-refugees’ statements and fondness of people like Bashar Asad. Currently, on the Gab’s homepage a statement is posted, claiming that the startup works with DOJ and FBI on the case, adding that:

We are the most censored, smeared, and no-platformed startup in history, which means we are a threat to the media and to the Silicon Valley Oligarchy.

Gab isn’t going anywhere.

Since Gab did not receive any support from Apple and Google Play Store, it now plans to implement the blockchain technology for an indestructible network. Its founder, Andrew Torba is not a stranger to the crypto world. After he was kicked out from major tech companies on the Silicon Valley, he decided to fund his project through an ICO project and donations. In September, he filed a paperwork to the Security and Exchange Commission planning a crowdfund of $10 million. By now he collected $5.6 million, according to Forbes.

However, following the Bitcoin‘s birthday the Gab case is probably Satoshi Nakamoto’s worst nightmare. It clearly shows how decentralization and lack of authority can open the Pandora box. Gab had around 800,000 users by the time it was shut. And is not alone, other social media FreeZoxee also gains popularity. It is genuinely shocking what happens in these networks: traditional-life affection, where women should quit work and only raise children, misogyny, sexism, racism, extreme fascist ideas of killing minorities’ members or doxing journalists.

Unfortunately, regarding Gab, the blockchain would only support the pro-Nazi, alt-right philosophy.

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We solve the problem of aligning crypto assets with the high moral and cultural values of Islam by creating a global cryptocurrency platform for both Muslims and the world at large,

The platform states. The conception is strongly adjusted with the Islamic moral, the homepage utters, and will not permit any illegal use as well as any usury, gambling, immoral services, production of tobacco or alcoholic beverages, and financial pyramids.

Muslims around the world are almost 2 billion and the number is increasing. All these people, the FICE’s website claims, cannot take an advantage of the new technologies which prevents the market of advancing. Therefore, the crypto exchange comes to serve Muslim (and not only) investors who wish to make a profit out of cryptos. It also aims to become a supportive platform for various halal projects.

FICE was recently listed in the TOP 10 ICO Projects That Became the Most Useful Ideas of 2018, a ranking by TheCoinShark. It was marked as #1 in the list, considering its high prospects in the near future. The estimated volume of the Islamic financial assets is the mind-blowing $3.8 trillion USD, expected in 2022.

ADAB ICO tokens are currently on a pre-sale until 28th of December. The Islamic digital assets currently go on the price of $0.1 but are predicted to reach $11 USD by 2022. Investors can use them to pay commissions on FICE and hopefully, to trade them on the crypto market later.

FICE also plans a massive marketing campaign to attract potential investors. According to their financial forecast, at least 1% of the Muslim population can become FICE’s client within four years and they expect that loads of non-Muslims will follow, too.

The post First Islamic Crypto Exchange Opens Next Yeat, ICOs Already on Sale appeared first on CrispyBull.

• Every Coin
• Orientum Coin ORT Coin
• OneCoin and OFC Coin
• Tripxchain Coin or TXC Coin
• TUC Coin
• ICO by G2S Expert
• ICO by Singhcom Enterprise
• ICO by Adventure hostel Bangkok
• ICO by Kidstocurrency

All these digital assets have not applied for the SEC’s approval and therefore, do not meet the required criteria. The press release says investors should be extremely cautious if they decide to deposit funds on any of these. There is a high investment risk because the named ICOs are not licensed by the SEC and there is not sufficient information on their legal status. Additionally, the nine tokens have not passed the qualification screening and the smart contract review, the ICO’s commission usually conducts.

According to the Bangkok Post, there are six companies which applied for a license and are now under reviewal. These are Bitcoin Co (bx.in.th), Bitkub Online Co Ltd (bitkub.com), Cash2Coins Co Ltd (cash2coins.com), Satang Corporation Co Ltd (tdax.com), Coin Asset Co Ltd (coinasset.co.th) and Southeast Asia Digital Exchange Co Ltd (seadex.io).

The Thai SEC also states it contacted the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), which does not supervise the activity of OneCoin and all OneCoin-related companies. OneCoin became internationally popular when at the beginning of the year it became clear it is a vast Ponzi scheme. At the time, China revealed a pyramid scam for $2.3 billion and an international investigation was launched. Ruja Ignatova, the Bulgarian founder of OneCoin is still under investigation in Germany; Italy, Hong Kong, India, Latvia, Finland, and many other countries also began an inspection of the case and released official warnings.

Anyhow, investment in ICOs continues to be a risky business. As CrispyBull reported, a huge part of the ICO’s projects are fraudulent. It is always a good idea to check their legal status and SEC’s license before funding.

The post Thai SEC Warns About 5 Unapproved Coins and 4 ICOs appeared first on CrispyBull.

The Commission would regulate a certain part of the newly launched ICO’s, though. As Koo explained, new standards would not cover Offerings for goods and airline services, because:

The more we regulate, the more this new economic behavior wanes.

Unlike other Asian countries, like China and South Korea, Taiwan wishes to adopt a crypto-friendly business atmosphere. On the session, the common opinion was that the development of the blockchain and the latest innovations should not be missed in the country.

Another crypto proponent in Taiwan is Jason Hsu, a congressman of the Kuomintang Party (KMT). His view on the technological future of the state is pretty clear, as quoted by the Asian news portal The New Lens:

Just because China and South Korea are banning, doesn’t mean that Taiwan should follow suit – there is a huge opportunity for growth in the future. We should emulate Japan, where they treat cryptocurrency as a highly regulated, highly monitored industry like securities.

China has recently banned all crypto-related activity, which forced many blockchain companies to move out abroad, as CrispyBull reported. In South Korea, the bar is also still relevant, but will probably reverse soon.

However, according to the congressman Hsu, the statement of Koo is a good way of greenlighting the new Financial Technology Innovation Experimentation Act in the current parliament. It was proposed in May this year but is still not officially approved by the government.

Taiwanese crypto market is quite dynamic. Neighboring country’s bans only contribute to even more ICO’s and crypto investments on the local exchanges. Considering the huge risk of scams in the ICO field, regulations are strongly needed. For the last year, 81% of the ICO projects were frauds, the legislator William Tseng said on the meeting. Only for the month of April, 80 white papers were faked, he uttered citing a study by the Satis group. Hence, the research only shows that a legal framework is essential not only for Taiwan but for every country worldwide.

The post Taiwan Plans ICO Regulations by June 2019 appeared first on CrispyBull.

TaTaTu was launched six months ago by the Italian-Canadian film producer and entrepreneur Andrea Iervolino, who is currently the company’s CEO. The platform is a decentralized, blockchain-supported network that streams TV and film content. It also airs music, sports, games and post images, and celebrity-related content. The Netflix-like platform issued its own tokens, TaTaTu tokens or TTU, with which viewers and uploaders are paid.

Earlier this year, TaTaTu launched a massive private sale of its tokens and raised more than $575 million through an Initial Coin Offering crowdfunding. It was such a huge funding campaign, that still holds the third place in the ICO history after the EOS and the Telegram tokens. The tokens are now sold for $0.13 with a significant market capitalization of almost $13 million. It seems, the company’s strategy to attract ultra famous film stars attract millions of fans and investors.

Johnny Depp will work through his production company Infinitum Nihil, collaborating with the producer Andrea Iervolino and the AMBI media group. The star will play in a new adaptation of Waiting for the Barbarians, a novel by the South-African writer J.M. Coetzee. The novelist won a Nobel award in 2003 for literature and the novel was listed by Penguin as one of the Great Books of the 20th Century. The book is a powerful critic of the imperialism, a Coetzee’s light motif as being from the colonized South Africa. The story is about a small town of indigenous people, called barbarians, who live next to the Empire, and reaches the limit of the horror and the dark rebuke.

Regarding the project, quoted by the Hollywood Reporter, Johnny Depp said inspiringly:

In this era of democratized entertainment, I admire the imaginative ethos of Andrea and look forward to collaborating together in a liberating, progressive manner that will befit the principals of our respective entities.

As for the producer, Andrea Iervolino, he sounds quite eager to work with the star, stating that:

Johnny has the ability to conceptualize material in a way that few can and is unburdened of conventional industry formulas that dictate the projects that get made, traditionally. As we make strides to embrace disruptiveness, Johnny will be a key collaborator with us and we are tremendously excited to back his visions and instincts on stories to bring to life.

The film shoot will start later this October in Morocco.

This is the second TaTaTu’s project with a Hollywood stars participation. The first one is the Lamborghini Biopic, which will star Antonio Banderas and Alec Baldwin and will be directed by the Oscar-nominated Michael Radford.

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