Cryptocurrency market has been growing fast since its emergence in recent years. Moreover, digital finance has forged the convergence of profit motives with social objectives creating a class of large FinTech companies. In addition, the underlying technology innovation may be applied to a wide range of industries, not limited to financial sector. Yet, few researches have been done to study these phenomena. Hence, it is the task of this book to shed light on the introduction and trends in FinTech, blockchain and token sales.Richly illustrated with original lecture slides taught by the authors, Inclusive FinTech: Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and ICO hopes to dispel the many misconceptions about blockchain and cryptocurrencies (especially bitcoin, Initial Crypto-Token Offering or ICO), as well as the idea that businesses can be sustainable without a social dimension going forward. With comprehensive coverage given to the FinTech scene in Asia, it is targeted at those who are searching for business opportunities. Most important of all, this book seeks to change the mindset of a whole new generation that is familiar with digital economy and yearns for a more just and equitable world.

Handbook of Blockchain, Digital Finance, and Inclusion, Second Edition presents the latest technological developments and innovations occurring in financial institutions and the engineering advances driving them. Students, scholars, and professionals can explore practical and academic contributions in domains not usually found together in a single resource. Volume 1: Cryptocurrency, FinTech, InsurTech, and GreenTech includes five entirely new chapters on Web3, Blockchain Interoperability for Decentralized Finance, Quantum Technologies in Decentralisation, GreenTech, and The Application of Blockchain & Internet of Things in ESG Data Platforms. Newly expanded into three volumes, this handbook not only emphasizes the financial opportunities made possible by digital banking, such as financial inclusion and impact investing, but it also presents the engineering theories and advances that can create additional opportunities. It provides a collection of contributions by pioneers, academics, and practitioners carefully chosen as established experts in their respective fields. Each chapter reviews, synthesizes, and analyzes the topic at hand, acknowledges areas where there are gaps between theory and practice, and suggests directions for future research when appropriate. The volumes are reorganized into distinct themes, every existing chapter is updated with the latest information, and new chapters bring even more valuable information to readers. This handbook serves as a valuable reference to an international audience that wants to learn not only about their own fields of specialization but also fields related to theirs. It bridges the gap between the practical usability and the academic perspective, written in a language assessable to practitioners and graduate students alike.

The great and fastening strides of the Fintech revolution continuously transform once-static traditional financial industry and provision of credit in particular. Blockchain innovation has led to creation of new industry of raising funds without the need for financial intermediaries such as venture capital or banks. In this book we build up a holistic picture of the token sales or initial coin offerings (ICOs) from their inception in 2013 to our days. We analyze the initial phases of the industry’s development, collecting information on all campaigns or ICO attempts in this period, providing a thorough quantitative analysis of the phenomenon. We also provide a detailed account of token sales mechanics and overview all the main actors in this new ecosystem of blockchain-based financing. By leveraging the open data on token sales contributions, we study the behavior of token sales investors and find out that recurrent investors do not succeed in selecting better ICO projects but bigger investors do. In the last part of the book, we study crypto tokens as investments and overview their functionality and risks involved, as well as look at the alternative methods of creating and distributing tokens and compare them to token sales.

Explore the differences between ICOs, cryptocurrencies, and tokens (offerings), enabling the reader to understand the ICO landscape, how millions were raised in minutes, and where the future of the tokenized economy is heading. Take a real-time journey, cutting through the myths, understanding token choices available to everyone. Key FeaturesInterviews with key figures in TokenomicsUnbiased evaluation and comparison of the different offeringsConceptual analysis of the market’s reactionLeague table showing current exposureAn account of the theoretical and current legal foundations of alt coins and tokensA complete introduction to the phases of an initial coin offeringBook Description Tokenomics is the economy of this new world. This is a no-holds-barred, in-depth exploration of the way in which we can participate in the blockchain economy. The reader will learn the basics of bitcoin, blockchains, and tokenomics; what the very first ICO was; and how over a period of 5 years, various projects managed to raise the enormous sums of money they did. The book then provides insights from ICO experts and looks at what the future holds. By comparing the past, current, and future of this technology, the book will inform anyone, whatever motivates their interest. The crypto shift of blockchains, ICOs, and tokens is much more than just buying bitcoins, creating tokens, or raising millions in a minute in an ICO. It is a new paradigm shift from centralized to decentralized, from closed to open, and from opaqueness to transparency. ICOs and the creation of tokens during the craze of 2017 needed a lot of preparation, an understanding of cryptocurrencies and of emerging legal frameworks, but this has spurred a new movement to tokenize the world. The author gives an unbiased, authoritative picture of the current playing field, exploring the token opportunities and provides a unique insight into the developing world of this tokenized economy. This book will nourish hungry minds wanting to grow their knowledge in this fascinating area. What you will learnThe background of ICOs and how they came to beThe difference between a coin and a token, a utility and a security, and all the other acronyms you’re likely to ever encounterHow these ICOs raised enormous sums of moneyTokenomics: structuring the token with creativityWhy it’s important to play nicely with the regulatorsA sneak peak into the future of ICOs from leaders in the industryWho this book is for With the media hype about bitcoin, this book appeals to anyone, from those with a general interest in anything crypto, or those with some knowledge of the nuances between cryptocurrency, ICOs, IPOs and the Token economy.

Few blockchain centric projects have gone beyond their white paper or proofs-of-concept. While many have fallen below expectations and failed to address the fundamental issues of scalability, privacy, and trust distribution, there are a few “imperfect” projects that are making an impact on society. We describe the lessons learned from three projects and highlight their “improvisions” in achieving their vision of serving the underserved, and identify areas of possible improvements. Our research has shown that mass adoption of blockchain technology will accelerate in financial industry and supply chain with private permissioned blockchains, but these e-inclusion projects using “Inclusive” Blockchain will take a longer time with OnChain/OffChain complexities. A long-term view is needed to build a Noah's Ark as the rush to build the Tower of Babel to harness short term gain may not bring net benefits to the economy and society.

In the sector of modern finance, a new issue emerges – the fragility of traditional financial systems in the face of technological evolution. The march of time has brought forth formidable challenges, shaking the foundations of age-old norms. This evolving financial paradigm grapples with challenges such as trust issues, geographical limitations, and exclusivity. In response to these challenges, Decentralized Finance and Tokenization in FinTech offers profound insights and solutions to navigate the complexities of this era. This book delves into the disruptive forces of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and the revolutionary nature of Tokenization, ultimately paving the way toward a decentralized future. This comprehensive resource seeks to contribute significantly to current research and understanding in the realms of DeFi and Tokenization. It serves as an educational cornerstone, providing in-depth insights into fundamental concepts, technologies, and applications for both newcomers and seasoned professionals. By demystifying technical complexities, addressing challenges, and analyzing comparative advantages, the book empowers readers to navigate the evolving landscape. From decentralized governance models to global perspectives on DeFi, it fosters thought leadership and inspires discussions on the societal, economic, and technological impacts of decentralized finance and tokenization.

As technology continues to revolutionise today’s economy, Big Data, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency are rapidly transforming themselves into mainstream functions within the financial services industry. This book examines each concept individually, analysing the opportunities and challenges they bring and exploring the potential for future development. The authors further evaluate the fusion of these three important products of the FinTech revolution, illustrating their combined influence on the digital economy. Providing a comprehensive analysis of three innovative technologies, this timely book will appeal to scholars researching innovation in the finance industry and financial services technology more specifically.