Initial Coin Offering (ICO)

ICOs are the most common crowdfunding method in the blockchain space. Similar to IPOs in the traditional financial industry, businesses raise funds by issuing their own tokens through ICOs. Depending on the business, investors purchasing tokens can exercise different functions or acquire shares in the business.

Security Token Offering (STO)

Businesses can issue tokens using blockchain technology through STOs, which are regulated by traditional financial laws. This allows tokens to be accessible to traditional investors.

Initial Decentralized Exchange Offering (IDO)

IDOs are token offerings initially launched through decentralized exchanges. Due to their decentralized nature, token issuers need to establish liquidity pools for users to exchange tokens. This model has higher liquidity and lower listing fees. In IDOs, the ownership (private keys) of the tokens belongs to the investors, not the exchange.

Initial Exchange Offering (IEO)

IEOs refer to tokens initially issued through centralized cryptocurrency exchanges. To reduce the risk of fraud, exchanges have certain requirements and scrutiny for token issuance, making the trading process very secure. Tokens issued through IEOs also have better acceptability.

Initial Game Asset Offering (IGO)

IGOs are crowdfunding methods for blockchain gaming projects, distinct from other forms of crowdfunding in that they issue virtual game assets (NFTs) in addition to tokens, such as weapons, land, characters, etc., used in games. Gaming projects can raise funds by selling tokens through exchanges, similar to IDOs.

Initial NFT Offering (INO)

With the maturing NFT market, INOs have emerged. INOs are based on the ICO concept: selling limited edition digital artwork NFTs through various platforms. Issuers can add different values to NFTs to attract investors, such as staking mechanisms to reward investors and the community.

Initial Lock-up Offering (ILO)

Users can pledge their digital currencies to the platform, similar to fixed-term financial products. After the lock-up period, they can redeem their currencies and receive new token rewards. Unlike IDOs, ILO requires locking up digital currencies and does not allow flexible withdrawals.

Initial Fork Offering (IFO)

Fork coins are derivative tokens issued based on mainstream tokens. The advantage of IFOs is that retail investors can mine these derivative tokens in advance using mainstream coins, practically at no cost. Even if the derivative token value drops below its issuance price, there's no loss as it's zero cost.

IFO is also interpreted as Initial Farm Offering, commonly seen on SWAP websites, where by staking specific TOKENs, one gains the eligibility to purchase newly issued NEW TOKENs.

Morocoin Exchange advises that understanding these basic concepts is the best way for novice cryptocurrency investors to participate in token issuance or sales, significantly aiding in increasing their chances of successful investments. STOs are the safest participation method, followed by the regulatory standards of IEOs. Other methods carry higher risks!