A Theory of ICOs: Diversification, Agency, and Information Asymmetry

Jiri Chod, Evgeny Lyandres

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

106 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper develops a theory of financing of entrepreneurial ventures via crypto tokens, which is not limited to platform-based ventures. We compare token financing with traditional equity financing, focusing on agency problems and information asymmetry frictions associated with the two financing methods, as well as on risk sharing between entrepreneurs and investors. Token financing introduces an agency problem not present under equity financing (underproduction), while mitigating an agency problem often associated with equity financing (entrepreneurial effort underprovision). Our theory abstracts from all institutional and potentially transient differences between tokens and equity and is based on a single intrinsic characteristic of tokens: they represent claims to a venture's output. We show that tokens are likely to dominate equity for ventures developing goods or services that involve low marginal production costs, those for which entrepreneurial effort is crucial, and/or those with relatively lowpayoff volatility. In addition, tokens can have an advantage over equity in signaling venture quality to outside investors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5969-5989
Number of pages21
JournalManagement Science
Volume67
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2021

Keywords

  • Agency
  • Crypto tokens
  • Diversification
  • Ico
  • Information asymmetry

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