Hello Monaco magazine Winter 2018 - issue HM02 | Page 60
INVESTORY
Go to www.coinschedule.com and you will see dozens of
launches for new digital currencies. Similar to an IPO for
shares, these are crowd-funded ventures launching digital
coins — an ICO — in which you can buy a stake.
So what is an ICO? An ICO is like an IPO for shares. An IPO,
or initial public offering, offers a chance to make big mon-
ey quickly by getting in on the ground floor of the newly
traded company. In the same way, an ICO, or initial coin of-
fering, offers a chance to make big money quickly by get-
ting in on the next new Blockchain venture. It’s a formula
that has led to over $3 billion being raised so far this year
(with only 200 Blockchain start-ups), issuing digital tokens
at a faster pace than any other early-stage venture capital
funding. Their digital tokens, just like Bitcoin, soar in value
when they trade on digital currency exchanges — making
new millionaires and billionaires.
Does it sound like the dotcom boom all over again? That is ex-
actly what it is. Here is a listing of some interesting companies
that raised fast money:
What the Rich, Famous say about Bitcoin
Richard Branson likes Bitcoin so much he
has publically pleaded with people to buy
even one Bitcoin. He even offers a ride on
Virgin Galactica for a mere 35 Bitcoins.
More than 700 people have signed up so
far, including celebrities Brad Pitt, Ashton
Kutcher, Angelina Jolie, Tom Hanks and
Paris Hilton, reports say.
Gold is a good way to preserve wealth, but it is difficult to
move around. Bitcoin fits nicely as an alternative. I’m not
amazed to see that happening.»
— Jim Rickards, American Lawyer, Economist and Investment Banker
58 / Hello Monaco – Winter 2018
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But not everyone is pro-Blockchain.
While Bill Gates likes Bitcoin, War-
ren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire Hatha-
way and Gates’ long-time investment
guru, warns against Bitcoin: «Stay
away from it. It’s a mirage, basically»
(14 Feb, 2014). And Paul Krugman,
Nobel-prize winning economist, said
in December, 2013: «Bitcoin is evil.»
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