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Initial coin offering (ICO) is a method used to raise capital in the cryptocurrency environment. The ICO can be seen as an initial public offering (IPO) that utilizes cryptocurrencies. These crowdsales of new cryptocurrencies allow companies to raise funds from the general public, and token buyers receive something close to equity in the network, as the price of their shares should climb as the platform grows in popularity. With extremely little regulation of ICOs in the United States at the moment, anyone with access to the necessary technology is free to start a new cryptocurrency.