Cryptocurrencies are a new emergence at the intersection of technology and finance. It is therefore of particular interest whether cryptocurrencies can form a new asset class or need to be subsumed under an existing one. We find that cryptocurrencies show characteristics of a distinct asset...

Cryptocurrencies have gained in popularity and generated a great deal of enthusiasm in recent years with regard to the sustained increase in the number of transactions achieved by miners. On what scale can we consider the process and uses of virtual money to be ethical? What are the misuses...

This chapter is mainly concerned with outlining the process of cryptocurrency mining. There are dozens of altcoins which you could mine; however, Bitcoin by far is the most popular choice for cryptocurrency miners. This is primarily due to the advancement in technology concerning the hardware and...

This chapter adapts the Coffee bonding theory to the modern context of bitcoin, using tax as a case study. As the theory predicts, tax authorities may be able to increase the legitimacy of bitcoin by improving tax compliance and reducing tax evasion. Thus, while the Coffee theory arose two...

A common narrative of cryptocurrencies presents them as "trustless," decentralized, and autonomous systems. The "trustlessness" is meant to suggest lack of need for third-party verification in blockchain technologies, but the term has been somewhat conflated with broader connotations of "trust."...

For the past decade, Bitcoin has captured the attention of the world with its extreme price swings and yet constant price rises, outperforming most traditional asset classes. Along with Bitcoin came the phenomenon of the ICOs or Token Offerings, equally captivating, that turned start-ups’...

The tokenomics of Initial Coin Offerings is a new field of research. The wording Initial Coin Offering is only a few years old, the field of tokenomics is even younger. This chapter will discuss the parameters of the tokenomics of Initial Coin Offerings in a qualitative and quantitative way to...

This chapter provides an overview of crypto tokens and token offerings. Based on both utility tokens and security tokens, this chapter reviews the economics of tokens and token offerings. Specifically, it discusses the economic value of tokens for the financing, operations, and corporate...

This chapter reviews empirical studies on the characteristics of initial coin offerings (ICO) and determinants of ICO success. This chapter contributes to the literature by providing a discussion on all key elements in a full-cycle ICO and conducts comprehensive literature review of the common...

The emergence of the cryptocurrency as an investment vehicle has brought the phenomenon of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) into the spotlight, since they provide rapid access to capital for new ventures, but suffer from drawbacks relating to regulation and accountability. In that regard, this...