The majority of ICOs are solving real-world problems with the use of blockchain technology. But not all of them require a coin or token to do this. That’s because the applications of blockchain technology and smart contracts can often achieve the same results without the coin/token.
Most ICOs have become a simple case of solving the right problem with the wrong business model. Their technology is needed in the market but a coin/token may not always be required. Today, the initial coin offering market is in turmoil with some ICOs closing down. Others are prolonging their capital raising with the hope that the market will pick up. However, this is unlikely to happen soon as new patterns are beginning to emerge from the rubble.
Most ICOs have become a simple case of solving the right problem with the wrong business model. Their technology is needed in the market but a coin/token may not always be required.
Whilst the challenges facing the ICO market sparked some controversy in the blockchain ecosystem, this has also led to new developments and trends with crypto exchanges and ICOs.
Here’s a fresh look at some of these new patterns that are transpiring.
Crypto exchanges will develop new business structures
ICOs may have to rethink their business structure and the same could occur with crypto exchanges. Ras Vasilisin, the CEO of Virtuse, a crypto exchange that pairs cryptocurrencies with real-world assets, believes that exchanges will evolve into entirely new business entities.
There will be more security tokens (STOs)
The crypto exchange Huobi has been developing interests in the STO market with its recent investments in the security token exchanges OpenFinance and SharesPost, hinting that there will likely be more STOs. Similarly, Coinbase expanded its scope into the STO segment by acquiring 3 companies.
Trading volumes will increase on decentralized exchanges (DEX)
Several top exchanges are working on transitioning to non-custodial trading, from Binance DEX to Coinbase acquiring Paradex, to Bitfinex’s Ethfinex Trustless. 0x, a DEX protocol that is not associated with any centralized exchanges has also been gaining momentum with their recent V2 launch.
Ivan Bogatyy, the General Partner at MetaStable Capital sheds some light. “Now that centralized exchanges are pouring significant resources into solving these problems, we will likely see a significant increase in DEX trading volume share in the next year or two.”
Craig McGregor, the CEO of DSTOQ, a regulated stock exchange echoes similar beliefs. “A trend that has largely taken the world of crypto exchanges by storm is ‘decentralization.’ As a result of numerous security issues plaguing centralized crypto exchanges, more and more users prefer decentralized crypto exchanges.”
M&A of coins and initial exchange offerings (IEOs)
In South Korea, a crypto ecosystem that is dense with over 90% of the crypto community residing in Seoul is growing their ecosystem together. This includes Korean exchanges, startup hubs and crypto coworking spaces like the Bitcoin Center Korea.
Jin Gil Lee and Sang Wook Kim, the co-CEOs of the Korea Crypto eXchange (KCX) believe that Korean crypto exchanges will become institutional investors, resulting in the M&A of crypto coins. Lee says, “Some coins may then receive liquidity after investment from exchanges, hence, receiving a lifeline that would ‘resurrect’ under-valued coins”.
Kim adds, “Initial exchange offerings (IEOs) may in the near future, serve as a model that could soon replace ICOs by listing projects directly on exchanges — without them necessarily needing to go through an ICO.” Assuming that Kim is correct, IEOs could now be the new ICO.
