The Mona Lisa Effect – How to Create the Perfect ICO Whitepaper

The Initial Coin/Token Offering (ICO/ITO) revolution is upon us and it seems that everyone wants to join in. Hundreds of enterprises, from medtech and traveltech startups to financial brokers and blockchain entities, are looking to this mechanism as a form of crowdfunding.

There are inherent advantages to ICOs which are causing the hype. These include the decentralized system, the inclusion of small and amateur investors in the ecosystem, and the automatization of smart contracts. However, these attributes alone do not guarantee success.

Upon deciding to initiate an ICO, one must go through a complex process made up of several phases. One of those steps, and perhaps the most challenging, is the development of a comprehensive whitepaper covering all elements of the ICO.

During the past quarter, Finance Magnates has been engaged in assisting firms to successfully complete their ICOs. In doing so, we have explored the field of whitepaper development in dozens of diverse cases. The end result is a strong familiarity with the overall process and framework.

For starters, let’s define what a whitepaper is.

Is it a legal document? Is it a commercial offering? Is it a form of a prospectus? Is it a technical spec or business plan? The fact of the matter is that the whitepaper is a unique construct that is all of these things and more.

This means that upon engaging in this endeavor, one must balance all of these features to make sure that all aspects of the ICO are represented in full and understood by all parties via one comprehensive document.

This can be a challenging feat given that a whitepaper should leave exactly the same impression for all relevant parties. Be the reader a financial regulator, hedge fund manager, teacher or plumber, all sides should be able to glean all necessary information regarding the enterprise.

A whitepaper should convey the firm’s business plan and why it considers it unique and innovative. The document should also outline in full which blockchain technology the company plans to implement, and which smart contracts will design the ICO process.

Perhaps no less important is the fact that a good whitepaper should also be clear and understandable to all, regardless of background and education.

So, as is the case with Da Vinci’s 500-year-old Renaissance masterpiece, the whitepaper should stare at you from whichever angle you might look at it and give the feeling that this document is addressing you personally.