Initial coin offerings ([ICOs](/news/article/what-is-an-ico)) were the talk of the town in 2017, trumping traditional, equity-based fundraising methods. While ICOs are still prevalent on the investment calendar, they are not as popular as they once were. 

An ICO is a fundraising method for cryptocurrency-based projects that involves the pre-sale of project-native tokens. 

These tokens are minted by a crypto project and offered to early-stage investors (generally at a discount). ICOs allow these startups to raise funds without giving up equity. A major plus point is that the community of incentivised users rally around the project, as they want the project to succeed so that their initial investment bears fruit. 

If the project succeeds, both the team and early investors benefit. Unfortunately, this is a big IF. Given the relative ease of this funding mechanism, we as a sphere have witnessed numerous unfortunate [examples of pumps and dumps](/news/article/how-to-spot-a-pump-and-dump). 

Nevertheless, a few rotten eggs cannot take away from the numerous advantages of launching and participating in a CREDIBLE ICO. Read on to learn about the ICO calendar 2023. 

## The Ethereum ICO success story and ICO investment tips 

Before we dive into the ICO calendar 2023, you need to know about the first real ICO success story, and oh boy, did early-stage investors benefit from the Ethereum ([ETH](/news/article/meme-crypto-outshines)) ICO in 2014! Performing due diligence is crucial to making any good investment decision, especially when it comes to ICOs. 

Before investing in an ICO token, thoroughly research the underlying project and determine its short and long-term future. A solid founding team is an important factor to consider. The steps you should follow include: 

- Read the project’s whitepaper to better understand its feasibility. A bogus whitepaper may indicate a rug pull. 

- Follow announcements on various channels and evaluate the community's response. 

- Prepare a list of similar projects and determine whether they are building something different/valuable. 

- Understand the project’s tokenomics. A massive token supply with continuous inflation is a strict NO. Knowing the sharing ratio and whether the supply is fixed or not is important as well. 

Early-stage Ethereum investors reaped the benefits of their research and faith in the cryptocurrency project, led by Vitalik Buterin. The rest is history. 

In 2014, the Ethereum ICO sold 50M ETH at $0.311 each, raising $15.5M. On 12 May 2021, ETH hit an all-time high of $4382.73. If an ICO investor sold their ETH at that price, they would have made a profit of nearly [14,100x](https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2023/07/19/ethereum-ico-participant-transfers-116m-eth-after-8-years-of-dormancy/)! 

That said, even if a project ticks all the right boxes, success is not guaranteed. The Tezos (XTZ) ICO in 2017 is the perfect example. The ICO raised a whopping $232M, but the project failed miserably despite a highly successful fundraiser, a solid underlying mission, and a trustworthy team. 

ICO calendar 2023: ICOs to look out for 

Now that you know how to avoid a rug pull (please, DYOR at ALL times!), you may review our compiled list of ICOs to look out for in 2023. 

There are several fantastic launchpads on the market today. We advise you to follow them on X (formerly Twitter) so that you can take advantage of the earliest entry prices. 

Here is the ICO calendar 2023: 

![Crypto Calendar](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_10_03_at_15_41_21_29c8acea0c.png)


ICO calendar 2023: list of active and upcoming ICOs 

[Startups](/news/article/mastercard-start-path) in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sphere consider ICOs a cheap, fast, and less cumbersome way of acquiring funding for upcoming projects. Maybe you're considering participating in an ICO crypto soon, but there are concepts and intricacies you don't grasp besides not knowing about upcoming ICOs. 

This article helps you understand the ICO process and what projects you can expect soon. 

## What are ICOs? 

An Initial Coin Offering (ICO) is an ingenious method blockchain and cryptocurrency project startups use to raise funds for their products or services. ICO crypto offerings enable investors to participate in [token sales](/news/article/token-vs-coin), where they can acquire tokens newly listed on cryptocurrency exchanges. 

ICOs are popular among startups because they enable them to bypass traditional venture capital when raising capital for new tokens, applications, or other services. The primary benefit of ICOs is building a direct connection between startups and investors, besides eliminating the need for third parties from the capital-raising process. 

## Upcoming ICO crypto calendar 

If you're interested in participating in ICO crypto, you need to look for ICO calendars, where you'll find lists containing past, active, and upcoming ICOs. 

Here, you'll learn about the imminent projects and their fundraising goals, including token sale metrics, project details, crypto presales, and other pertinent information regarding token sales. 

Below is a list of excellent crypto projects you can go through to explore and discover high-potential initial coin offerings. 

## Bitfinder (BITF) 

The first ICO crypto project on our list is Bitfinder (BITF), set to become the pioneer crypto search engine running on a decentralized/centralized network Discover. According to the [Whitepaper](https://cryptototem.com/wp-ico/img/new%20projects/Bitfinder/bitfinder-whitepaper.pdf), the project will offer a search engine specializing in crypto-related content, a publisher program for adding banners, an advertiser program, paid-to-click ads, and crypto games that pay in cryptocurrency. The ICO presale runs between 21 October and 21 November, 2023, with the public sale beginning 21 May until 21 June, 2024. There's a pre-token supply of 60,000,000 BITF out of 1,000,000,000 BITF, priced in USD: 1 BITF = 0.01 USD. 

## Landslide (LADD) 

The Landslide ICO crypto project, whose token sale runs between 15 October and 30 November, 2023, proposes to build the world's fastest blockchain. With speeds of at least 850,000 transactions per second (TPS) and up to 2 million TPS, the project running on Binance Smart Chain will be highly scalable and faster than pioneers Solana, Ethereum, Avalanche, Polkadot, and Polygon. Per the [Whitepaper](https://cryptototem.com/wp-ico/img/new%20projects/Landslide/landslide-whitepaper.pdf), there’s a pre-token supply of 50,000,000 LADD out of the planned token supply of 220,000,000. The LADD utility token is priced in USD, where 1 BNB = 50,000 LADD.   

## Tezos Domains (TED) 

Tezos Domains proposes to launch domains similar to the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) that can be used to secure ownership and link Web 3.0 wallet addresses with websites, share avatars, and publish verifiable contact information. The Tezos Domains, DApps, and wallets will run on the Tezos ecosystem to replace complex public addresses. The [Whitepaper](https://tezos.domains/en/about/faq) states that users will use their Tezos Domains to store their cryptocurrency, addresses, NFTs, or tokens. The token sale has been ongoing since 25 September with a supply of 100,000,000 TED targeting the Tezos community at 1 TED = 0.04 USD. 

## CutKitts (CUT) 

CutKitts consolidates the power of NFTs and memes to introduce a unique Earn-to-Play concept in gaming where users can enjoy games using NFT heroes. The [Whitepaper](https://cryptototem.com/wp-ico/img/new%20projects/CutKitts/Whitepaper.pdf) proposes a robust economic system where users can trade, craft, and enhance their NFTs and enjoy endless possibilities. Investors can expect a good ROI as gamers plunge into the new era of eSports, eLeagues, and other thrilling tournaments. The project's presale began on 7 September and runs until 30 September, 2024, targeting 40,000,000,000 CUT. Public sales run from 20 November to 1 September, 2028. The token price is 1 CUT = 0.00072 USD and is sold in ETH. 

## KlubCoin (KLUB) 

The KlubCoin ICO crypto project is a cryptocurrency that blazes the trail in the electronic music industry and is already popular with some strong brands in a fast-growing ecosystem. The [project](https://cryptototem.com/wp-ico/img/new%20projects/Klubcoin/KlubCoin-LitePaper-1.pdf) enables clubs, festivals, DJs, and artists to offer their loyal fans rewards and crypto ownership via a fan token – KLUB, which can be used in physical and Metaverse events. The project proposes a party-to-earn model for electronic music fans, targeting clubbers and festival goers, offering them instant cashback rewards whenever they buy from partners. Moreover, KlubCoin will allow seamless Web 3.0 onboarding via iOS and Android apps. The pre-token launch takes place between 4 October and 6 October, 2023, targeting 1,000,000,000 KLUB priced at 1 KLUB = 0.0120 USD. 

## How to select a good ICO crypto project  

There are hundreds of ICO crypto and blockchain projects to choose from, each with a horde of returns and benefits for investors. You must comb through lists and calendars of upcoming ICOs offering updated information to locate the best. 

Take the time to carefully go through complete ICO schedules, including the technology behind the project, funding goals, the roadmap, and the developers' team and project community ratings and feedback. 

Check the stage of the project and token sale, read their Whitepaper, conduct sufficient research to understand the project’s risks and viability, and evaluate your risk tolerance before pursuing any ICO crypto [investment opportunity](/news/article/alt-season-crypto). 

Best upcoming ICO crypto presales

In the cryptocurrency world, initial coin offerings (ICOs) are a popular way for startups to raise capital for their blockchain-based projects. Investing in a crypto project through its ICO can also be rewarding for early investors. So what is an ICO, and how does it work? 

Let's explore this and how to identify a project worth investing in. 

## What is an ICO? 

![Blue image of ICO website screenshot](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/Screenshot_2023_06_01_at_14_48_02_b9ccbafdc6.png)

An ICO is a frequently used method of raising funds deployed by crypto startups to finance their blockchain-based projects. It is, in many ways, quite similar to an IPO (initial public offering). 

ICOs involve startups creating and issuing new digital tokens or cryptocurrency to investors in exchange for funding. The company then uses the funds it raises to develop and launch the project's platform or product. 

Essentially, an ICO allows startups to bypass traditional fundraising methods and access a wider pool of potential investors while also allowing investors to invest in promising new cryptocurrency projects in their early stages. 

A good example of a successful ICO is [Ethereum's ICO, which raised more than $17 million](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/initial-coin-offering-explained-ethereum-ico#section-ethereums-role-in-the-ico-boom). 

## How does an ICO work? 

Different stages lead to a successful ICO. Here is a summary of what a project team has to do to land a successful ICO. 

- Research and documentation: The process begins with the cryptocurrency startup creating a whitepaper that outlines their project and the goals they aim to achieve. The startup then sets a target amount of funding they hope to raise from the ICO. 

- Building the product: The startup can now start building the project. This will often involve creating the platform, features, and tokens to help users access the features. 

- Pitching, promotions, and campaigns: The company will begin approaching potential investors at this stage. Project teams can achieve this through cold pitches, social media campaigns, or word of mouth. The aim is to inform investors of the information contained in the documentation and ask for their financial contributions. 

- Initial coin offering launch: This is the D-day when investors buy the project's tokens using an existing crypto like [Bitcoin](/news/article/how-to-buy-bitcoin-with-poli) or [Ethereum](/news/article/ethereum-max). An ICO launch takes place in rounds.  

## What is an ICO round? 

Because an ICO is intended to generate funds over time, there's often more than one ICO launch for a given company. Instead, these launches come in a three-round sale model: 

- The seed round: This is often the first ICO for any project. The round offers investors a bonus for taking an early investment risk in the project. Alternatively, it may offer a token discount, ensuring investors buy the coins at their lowest-ever pre-launch value. 

- Pre-sale round: The pre-ICO sale round tokens still sell at a discount, but less than the project offered during the seed round.  

- Token sale: This is the final ICO stage. The token or crowd sale offers the least discounts and rarely has bonuses.  

## The difference between ICO and IPO 

An ICO is used to raise funds by creating and selling a new digital asset or cryptocurrency, while an IPO raises capital through the public sale of shares of a company's stock for the first time. 

Additionally, ICOs are often less regulated than IPOs, and investors in ICOs typically receive the newly created digital tokens or cryptocurrencies, while investors in IPOs receive company shares. 

## The pros and cons of an ICO 

Like most financial investments, ICOs have pros and cons. Here's a breakdown of an initial coin offering's main merits and demerits. 

### Pros 

- ICO enables startups to raise funds without giving up equity. 

- If the project succeeds, they allow investors early-bird access to platform features and impressive returns on investment. 

- ICOs establish a community of incentivized users, ensuring the project has demand even before its launch.  

### Cons 

- Some ICOs can be financial pitfalls or scams. 

- They are not very well regulated. 

## How to spot a legitimate ICO 

You can take several measures to avoid spending your money on ICO rug pulls and doomed projects. Let's explore a few tips on how to spot legit ICOs. 

- Read the project's white paper: This will help you understand what it's all about. Consequently, it helps in assessing the organization's growth potential. 

- Review the project's team: Do your due diligence on the company's team members and analyze the success of projects they were previously involved in. 

- Join the project's community: You can learn a lot from following a project on social media and joining its Discord server. The concerns raised on these platforms and the responses offered can help you gauge the company's legitimacy. 

## Frequently Asked Questions 

### Are ICOs safe? 

ICOs can be safe if legitimate companies conduct them. It is crucial to #DYOR (do your own research) to verify a project's legitimacy before you put your money into it. 

How to get information on an upcoming ICO? 

Information on ICOs is often present on the social media pages of the given projects. Additionally, you can follow valid crypto investors, subreddits, or Discord channels that discuss upcoming projects to know what's trending. 

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ICO calendar 2023: list of active and upcoming ICOs

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What is an ICO and How Do They Work?