2017 ICO Retrospective: Winners, Losers, and Lessons for Investors

• Many 2017 ICOs face lower token market values despite high fundraising.
• Polkadot and Cardano significantly outperform initial ICO valuations.
• Bancor and TenX struggle to maintain value despite raising substantial funds.

An analysis of initial coin offerings (ICOs) from 2017 reveals a stark contrast between the initial fundraising success and the current market valuations of several prominent blockchain projects. This disparity brings to light the nature of the crypto market and the challenges faced by projects seeking to maintain long-term value.

The analysis was brought out by Wu Blockchain on his X (formerly Twitter) account, details the funds raised by various blockchain projects during their ICOs and their current market valuations, shedding light on both the successes and challenges faced by these initiatives.

In 2017, several blockchain projects raised impressive amounts of capital through ICOs. According to the data, EOS raised 7,211,776 ETH, valued at $4 billion at the time. Filecoin raked in 321,711 ETH, amounting to $257 million, while Tezos secured 65,681 BTC and 361,122 ETH, totaling $232 million.

Currently, the valuations of these projects have experienced considerable changes. EOS, initially valued at $4 billion, has a current valuation of $22 billion, though its token market value stands at $905 million. Filecoin’s ICO value has grown from $257 million to a current valuation of $980 million, with its token market value reaching $2.693 billion. Tezos, with an initial value of $232 million, now has a valuation of $4.8 billion, despite its token market value being $789 million.

Some projects have significantly outperformed their initial ICO values, such as Polkadot and Cardano, with current token market values of $9.135 billion and $15.714 billion, respectively. These projects have demonstrated strong market performance and sustained investor interest, reflecting their strong development and adoption within the crypto space .

The review also highlighted projects with varied success. Bancor, which raised 390,000 ETH, has a current valuation of $1.19 billion, but its token market value is lower at $80 million. Additionally, TenX, despite raising 245,832 ETH and achieving a current valuation of $750 million, has a lower token market value of $1.75 million.