initial coin offering
noun
: the first sale of a cryptocurrency to the public conducted for the purpose of raising funds (as to support a start-up)
Coinciding with the substantial growth in cryptocurrencies, companies and individuals increasingly have been using initial coin offerings to raise capital for their businesses and projects.—
Jay Clayton
Jay Claytoncalled also ICO
Examples of initial coin offering in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Similarly, in the months leading up to 2018, there was a frenzy of investments on initial coin offerings — in which cryptocurrencies were sold much like how companies sell shares during initial public offerings.
—Rafael Nam, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
The largest bust happened in 2018, when bitcoin tumbled 74%, fueled by fear that the explosion of initial coin offerings was overdone.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
Floyd Mayweather paid over $600,000 to settle charges about undisclosed promotion of initial coin offerings.
—Kori Hale, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
In 2017, protocols such as decentralized exchanges began to emerge, contributing to the growth of initial coin offerings.
—Cathy Ross, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Polybius raised $25 million in an initial coin offering from outside investors.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 31 May 2024
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Rafael Nam, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
The largest bust happened in 2018, when bitcoin tumbled 74%, fueled by fear that the explosion of initial coin offerings was overdone.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
Floyd Mayweather paid over $600,000 to settle charges about undisclosed promotion of initial coin offerings.
—Kori Hale, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
In 2017, protocols such as decentralized exchanges began to emerge, contributing to the growth of initial coin offerings.
—Cathy Ross, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Polybius raised $25 million in an initial coin offering from outside investors.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 31 May 2024
Cite this Entry
“Initial coin offering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/initial%20coin%20offering. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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