How to Buy ICO Tokens for Beginners in 2024

Kane Pepi
Last updated: | 20 min read
how to buy ICOs

Initial coin offerings (ICO) offer access to brand-new crypto projects – usually at a discounted price for early investors. 

In this beginner’s guide, we explain how to buy ICO tokens. Read on to discover where to buy ICO tokens and which crypto startups are worth watching. 

How to Buy ICO Tokens – Quick Guide

Let’s start with a quick walkthrough of how to buy ICO tokens:

  • Step 1: Decide which ICO tokens to buy – First, lots of research needs to be done on which ICO tokens to purchase. Read the chosen project’s whitepaper and look into its roadmap and tokenomics.
  • Step 2: Set up a crypto wallet – After choosing a suitable ICO project, download a crypto wallet. This is required to invest in ICOs. MetaMask is a popular option for beginners. 
  • Step 3: Obtain crypto tokens that the ICO supports – The next step is to obtain a crypto token that the ICO supports.
  • Step 4: Buy and claim ICO tokens – Finally, visit the website and connect the MetaMask wallet. Then, choose how many tokens to buy and confirm the investment. The tokens will then be deducted from MetaMask.

Read on for a detailed explanation of how to invest in ICO tokens.

How to Buy ICO Tokens – Step-by-Step Tutorial

Now let’s dive into a more comprehensive tutorial on how to buy ICO tokens. In this example, we explain the steps required to invest in the Green Bitcoin ($GBTC) ICO. 

Step 1: Download and Install MetaMask Wallet

To begin with, ICO investors will need a crypto wallet. This is a core requirement when learning how to buy ICO crypto tokens, not only in terms of storage but transferring tokens to the ICO website to purchase them.

There are hundreds of crypto wallets, but MetaMask is a great option for newbies. MetaMask comes as a browser extension for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. Prefer investing on a smartphone device? MetaMask also comes as an app for Android and iOS. 

metamask crypto wallet download page

Download MetaMask and set up a new wallet. Choose a password and take note of the 12-word backup passphrase, writing both down on paper and securing it somewhere safe.

Step 2: Buy a Crypto Token Supported by the ICO

ICOs enable investors to buy their new cryptocurrency with an established token. In the case of Green Bitcoin, the ICO accepts Ethereum, BNB and Tether. Those that are completely new to crypto will need to purchase one of these tokens to invest in the GBTC ICO.

ethereum daily chart on trading view

Step 3: Transfer Tokens to MetaMask

Now that Ethereum or Tether has been purchased, the tokens need to be transferred to Metamask. This will enable the user to invest in the Green Bitcoin ICO. 

So, open the Metamask wallet and click on ‘Assets’. Towards the top of the interface, the wallet address is displayed beneath ‘Account 1’. Copy the wallet address. 

The tokens can then be transferred to the wallet, with the transaction usually taking 1-2 minutes to process. 

Step 4: Connect Wallet and Confirm ICO Order

The next step is to visit the Green Bitcoin website and click the ‘Connect Wallet’ button and then MetaMask and sign onto the presale site by entering your password and confirming the connection.

The order box for the ICO is on the right-hand side of the homepage. Choose your preferred payment currency, then type in a figure to invest or the number of $GBTC tokens to purchase – the adjacent box will automatically update.

Green Bitcoin allows investors to directly buy and stake tokens through the presale. Read ‘Step 5’ to learn how to directly stake $GBTC while buying tokens through the ICO.

If you do NOT wish to stake tokens then after inputting the purchase amount select ‘Buy Now’ and continue with the transaction.

As noted above, a small amount of ETH will be needed to cover the Ethereum network (gas) fee.

Step 5: Stake $GBTC

If you wish to stake GBTC tokens during the presale then select the option that says ‘Buy and Stake for XXX% Rewards’.

On that page you can select how many tokens to stake and for how long, with staking open throughout the ICO and beyond.

Step 6: Claim Tokens

The final step of an ICO is to claim tokens when the presale is complete and transfer them into your wallet.

Generally, near the end of an ICO the project will announce to investors a claiming date and time, with tokens to be held securely on the website until the token generation event (TGE).

To claim, investors return to the website at the correct time, select claim at which point that can be transferred across the Ethereum network – for example to an exchange to sell.

What are ICO Tokens?

Before cryptocurrencies are listed on exchanges, they usually go through an initial coin offering (ICO). In simple terms, this enables investors to buy the startup’s new cryptocurrency token before it is sold to the public. 

Crypto ICOs are a win-win situation for both investors and blockchain startups. 

  • For crypto startups, this enables the project to raise capital from investors to help fund their operations.
  • For crypto investors, this enables them to buy the ICO tokens at a discounted price – as an incentive to invest early. 

Active ICOs are very similar to initial public offerings (IPOs). For instance, those that invested in the Tesla IPO in 2010 received shares at a preferential price. The Tesla shares were listed on the NASDAQ exchange after the IPO and have since gone on to generate significant gains. 

This is much the same as how ICO works. For example, those investing in the Ethereum ICO in 2014 would have paid just $0.31 per token. Since then, Ethereum has hit highs of nearly $5,000. This translates into gains of over 1.5 million per cent. 

As we unravel in more detail later on, Ethereum isn’t the only ICO token that has generated huge returns for early investors. On the contrary, there are plenty of other success stories. 

Are ICO Tokens the Same as Other Cryptocurrencies?

There are many terms used in the cryptocurrency investment space, and some are used interchangeably. For example, ICO tokens refer to newly launched cryptocurrencies that are in their fundraising stage. As such, ICO tokens are also referred to as cryptocurrencies.

  • Both ICO tokens and cryptocurrencies are backed by blockchain technology. 
  • For example, XRP is backed by the Ripple blockchain.
  • Some cryptocurrencies have their own native blockchain. 
  • In this instance, the cryptocurrency is defined as a ‘coin’. 
  • Bitcoin, Cardano, Litecoin, and many others have their own blockchain. 

In other cases, cryptocurrencies will build their ecosystem on a legacy network. For example, thousands of cryptocurrencies operate on the Ethereum blockchain, and these are known as ERC-20 tokens. Ethereum ICOs are some of the most popular around. 

With so many new projects launching throughout the year it’s no wonder that many of the top crypto traders are on constant lookout for the best BSC ICOs in 2024.  There are also thousands of cryptocurrencies listed on the Binance Smart Chain, and these are known as BSC tokens

In other words, if a cryptocurrency is built on a legacy blockchain, they are referred to as ‘tokens’ rather than ‘coins. This is the case with the vast majority of ICO cryptocurrencies. 

Why Invest in ICO Tokens?

Below, we discuss some of the reasons why seasoned investors are constantly searching for the best crypto ICOs

Discounted Entry Price

Crypto ICOs typically incentive investors with an attractive entry price. This means that the investor will buy the ICO token before it is listed on a crypto exchange. 

Once again this is similar to IPOs, as the shares will be sold at a discount before they hit a stock exchange.

Small Market Capitalization 

Crypto ICOs generally seek to raise a modest amount of capital. At least when compared to IPOs.

After all, the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization currently range from $400 million to over $570 billion. 

This means that ICO tokens can offer early investors a huge upside potential. While it can take time to see sizable gains, long-term investors often see the best investment results. 

That said, Shiba Inu, which was launched in mid-2020 – took just one year to become a billion-dollar cryptocurrency. This is also the case with other ICO tokens that were able to create hype and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). 

Invest in New Ideas and Concepts

The Ethereum ICO was hugely popular with investors, largely because of its ‘smart contract’ concept. This took blockchain and cryptocurrencies to the next level, with previous networks focusing exclusively on payments. 

This is the case with many ICOs, which offer solutions to real-world problems. Crucially, the best ICO tokens are those that bring a new idea or concept to the market. This gives the token the best chance possible of going mainstream and generating attractive returns for early investors. 

Easy to Diversify

Crypto ICOs are increasingly becoming popular with new blockchain startups. This means there are plenty of opportunities for investors seeking above-average returns.

However, ICOs are also risky, considering they are backed by new and unproven concepts. That said, investors can consider diversifying into lots of different ICO tokens to help reduce the risk. 

This means that instead of investing $1,000 into one ICO, the funds could be split across 10 different projects at $100 each. In doing so, only one of the ICO tokens purchased needs to go mainstream for the investor to witness sizable growth. 

What are the Top Tokens to Buy Now?

New ICO tokens enter the market on almost a daily basis. This makes it challenging to assess the best crypto to buy.

Below, we help clear the mist by discussing some of the best emerging cryptocurrencies currently available at ICO prices. 

Green Bitcoin

One of the best new cryptocurrency ICOs is being conducted by Green Bitcoin ($GBTC). This green cryptocurrency platform offers staking opportunities and daily rewards through a price prediction game. 

Green Bitcoin presale

According to Green Bitcoin, it is 10,000 times more eco-friendly than Bitcoin. Instead of adopting Bitcoin’s energy-intensive proof-of-work algorithm, Green Bitcoin uses the proof-of-stake algorithm. Thus, it is more sustainable than Bitcoin and offers passive income through the staking mechanism. 

$GBTC token holders can earn up to 120% APYs (Annual Percentage Yields) by staking their holdings on the smart contract. Staked token holders also get access to Green Bitcoin’s gaming ecosystem. 

Every day, you can predict the price of Bitcoin to either rise or fall. Green Bitcoin rewards successful predictions with $GBTC. You can also earn token bonuses, depending on how long you have staked $GBTC. For instance, if you have staked $GBTC for at least six months, you get a 15% bonus on top of your daily earnings. 

What is Green Bitcoin

Green Bitcoin has a total supply of 21 million. For the ongoing ICO, 10.5 million tokens have been allocated. One of the best new ICOs, Green Bitcoin has raised over $4.1 million in a few months. $GBTC is currently priced at just $0.8782 per token. 

Read the Green Bitcoin whitepaper and join the Telegram channel to stay updated with this cryptocurrency. 

Presale Started 6 Dec 2023
Purchase Methods  ETH, USDT, BNB, Card
Chain Ethereum
Min Investment None
Max Investment None

Visit Green Bitcoin

Scotty the AI

Scotty the AI ($SCOTTY) is another top cryptocurrency that has recently launched on ICO. This innovative platform uses artificial intelligence to safeguard the cryptocurrency space. 

Scotty the AI presale

Scotty the AI has the capability to track every single hash and transaction on the blockchain, searching for network anomalies or suspicious transactions. It can instantly detect and eliminate fraudulent activity within the cryptocurrency network. 

$SCOTTY, the native token, can be swapped through this platform’s token swapping mechanism ‘Scotty Swap.’  You can swap the native token and access multiple DeFi cryptos through this tool. Platform members can also interact with an AI chatbot and ask questions related to the crypto and blockchain space. 

The $SCOTTY token is undergoing one of the best ICOs in recent times – having raised more than $10 million in just a couple of months. The ICO hard cap target is just over $13 million. Currently, $SCOTTY is priced at $0.01 during the final ICO stage.

Scotty 

More than 520 million of the total 1.734 billion token supply is set aside for the ICO. Early ICO investors can lock their holdings on the smart contract and generate up to 29% APYs. Over 461 million tokens are already locked on Scotty the AI’s smart contract. 

Learn more about this AI crypto by reading the Scotty the AI whitepaper and joining the Telegram channel.

Presale Started January 2024
Purchase Methods  USDT, ETH, Card
Chain Ethereum
Min Investment 10 $SCOTTY
Max Investment None

Visit Scotty the AI

Smog

Smog ($SMOG) is a trending meme coin that is built on the Solana blockchain. While Smog did not conduct an ICO round, it is one of the most popular meme tokens in recent times. 

Smog Crypto Homepage

In February 2024, Smog conducted a fair launch and listed directly on the Jupiter decentralized exchange. While the market cap during launch was just $2 million, this sensational cryptocurrency is now valued at more than $360 million. 

The popularity of Smog stems from its airdrop and staking yields. The cryptocurrency states that it wants to conduct the largest airdrop campaign on the SOL blockchain. Interested investors can sign-up for the airdrop campaign through Zealy. 

Smog offers airdrop points to token holders. You can increase your points by completing daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. The $SMOG token has a total supply of 1.4 billion. 490 million tokens will eventually be allocated as airdrop rewards. 

To generate passive income, token holders can stake $SMOG on the smart contract. Currently, Smog is offering 42% APYs to staked token holders. You also earn more airdrop points by staking $SMOG. 

Smog key highlights

Another 50% of the token supply is used to market the project and help make Smog a global name. In the long term, Smog could experience further upside momentum as it starts distributing airdrop rewards. 

Read the Smog whitepaper and join the Telegram group to stay updated with this meme coin. 

Visit Smog

Sponge V2 

The next cryptocurrency on our list is Sponge V2 ($SPONGEV2) – an upgraded version of the Sponge token. In 2023, Sponge emerged as one of the top meme coins – soaring from a $1 million market cap to nearly $100 million in a few months. 

Sponge V2 homepage

Now, the platform creators have decided to upgrade the token by offering additional earning opportunities. Usinng the stake-to-bridge mechanism, Sponge will allow token holders to bridge to the Sponge V2 smart contract. Those currently holding Sponge V1 tokens can stake their holdings on the newly launched V2 smart contract. Doing so rewards you with an equal amount of $SPONGEV2. 

Your Sponge V1 tokens will be permanently locked on the V2 smart contract – and will offer annual yields for the next four years. Furthermore, the new staking contract promises to offer huge APYs – currently standing at 175%. 

Sponge P2E Game

According to the Sponge V2 whitepaper, the platform is also developing a new play-to-earn racer game. This will allow token holders to compete in an online competition. The top performers will be rewarded with $SPONGEV2 tokens. In total, Sponge has a total supply of 150 billion – more than half are being offered through P2E gaming and staking rewards. 

Currently, the stake-to-bridge mechanism is the only way to access the new token. However, $SPONGEV2 will be listed at a price of $0.000025 on exchanges. For more information, join the Telegram channel

Presale Started 17 Dec 2023
Purchase Methods  ETH, USDT, Card
Chain Ethereum
Min Investment None
Max Investment None

eTukTuk

eTukTuk ($TUK) is a new cryptocurrency ICO that is promoting EV (Electric Vehicle) adoption among TukTuk drivers in developing nations. $TUK, the native token, is available to buy on ICO. The token can be used as a payment option to charge your EVs, staked to earn rewards, and offered as rewards for maintaining charging stations. 

eTukTuk presale

eTukTuk notes that over 270 million TukTuks operate using ICEs (Internal Combustion Engines) – which contribute to air pollution, and are going obsolete as a result. Furthermore, the increase of gas prices in countries such as Sri Lanka is stopping TukTuk drivers from making a minimum wage. 

eTukTuk will start building charging stations and zero-emission vehicles in urban and suburban areas of these developing countries. The stations will be installed and operated by local territory partners – a cheaper option than sourcing from international markets. 

According to the eTukTuk whitepaper, the entire process will allow TukTuk drivers to take home an additional 400% in revenues. The drivers can make payments on the charging stations with $TUK through a drivers app. A percentage of the revenue earned will be given to the territory partners. 

What is eTukTuk Banner

Finally, $TUK token holders can stake their tokens into power nodes and maintain the network. Staking $TUK can lead to APYs as high as 126%. Currently, $TUK is priced at just $0.028 on presale – and has raised more than $1.9 million. This ICO allows you to purchase a multi-use token for a potentially discounted price ahead of the initial exchange offering. 

Join the eTukTuk Telegram channel to stay updated with this cryptocurrency. 

Presale Started June 2023
Purchase Methods  USDT, BNB
Chain Cardano
Min Investment $10
Max Investment None

Bitcoin Minetrix 

Bitcoin Minetrix (BTCMTX) is a new stake-to-mine crypto that offers cloud mining credits. 

bitcoin minetrix btc mining graphic

Bitcoin Minetrix offers cloud mining – where an individual or group rent mining power to earn BTC – but with a difference, as it is Web3’s first stake-to-mine project and tokenizes the process.

Doing it that way means added safety and security for Bitcoin Minetrix investors, with no need to take out expensive and fixed-term contracts with other cloud mining firms, many of which have turned out to be scams, and total control over their token holdings.

The process is also simple – purchased BTCMTX can be staked with the staking rewards generating cloud mining credits, a non-transferable ERC-20 token, which can then be burned to generate mining time.

Mined BTC is then transferred to the staker’s wallet, with the whole process managed by a dedicated Bitcoin Minetrix app, which is currently in the late stages of its development.

bitcoin minetrix comparison to cloud mining

The process also gives greater autonomy to users that cloud mining contracts, as they can choose how many tokens to stake, how long to stake for and unstake and sell them on the open market at any time.

BTCMTX can also be staked simply for token rewards, with the current APY over 57%. At the time of writing, $BTCMTX is priced at $0.014 per token. Since the start of the presale, Bitcoin Minetrix has raised more than $12 million. 

For more info on the project, read through the BTCMTX whitepaper or join the Telegram group.

Presale Started 27 September 2023
Purchase Methods  ETH, USDT, BNB
Chain Ethereum
Min Investment $10
Max Investment None

 

5th Scape

The next top cryptocurrency ICO is 5th Scape ($5SCAPE). This is the world’s first virtual and augmented reality cryptocurrency ecosystem. On the 5th Scape universe, members can engage in hyper-realistic gaming worlds, access educational content, and watch blockbuster movies. 

5th Scape presale

$5SCAPE token holders are given lifetime access to a range of premium VR content. Token holders also get early access to new products and environments within the 5th Scape universe. In the gaming ecosystem, 5th Scape will let you take part in realistic MMA-fighting games. You can engage in strategic training sessions, and compete in iconic MMA arenas. 

Through the Soccer and Cricket simulators, players will experience realistic portrayals of matchdays, and engage in training drills and online matches. $5SCAPE token holders get free access to educational modules and seminars, along with a selection of popular movies. 

To enhance the experience, you can purchase 5th Scape’s VR gaming headsets and chairs. These are offered at discounted prices to token holders. 

5th Scape tokenomics

Currently, 5th Scape is allocating 80% of its 5.21 billion token supply through its ICO. The ICO consists of 12 rounds, and looks to raise $15 million. At the time of writing, $5SCAPE has raised almost $1 million. 

Stay updated with the presale by reading the 5th Scape whitepaper and joining the Telegram channel

Presale Started January 2024
Purchase Methods  USDT, BNB
Chain Ethereum
Min Investment None
Max Investment None

Visit 5th Scape

How to Find the Best ICO Tokens to Buy

Not all ICO tokens go on to become successful, so investors will need to conduct plenty of independent research. The most important factors to consider include the project’s concept, the utility of its token, and how realistic its roadmap objectives are. 

Let’s explore some of the most effective ways to find the best ICO tokens to buy:

Concept of the Project

A good starting point when exploring how to buy ICO tokens is to read the project’s whitepaper. This will reveal the concept of the project and what real-world problems it aims to solve. Ultimately, the most successful ICO tokens offer something innovative and new. 

Utility of the Token

While there are thousands of tokens in the market, many do not have any use cases. ICO tokens that fall into this category will rarely witness long-term growth. 

Instead, it’s better to focus on tokens that have an actual utility within the project’s ecosystem.

If an ICO token has utility, this increases the likelihood that people will buy it. In turn, increased buying pressure can lead to price appreciation of the token – benefiting early investors.  

Roadmap Targets

The best ICO projects offer a detailed and trackable roadmap. This is usually found in the project’s whitepaper. Investors should evaluate how realistic the roadmap targets are. Moreover, each target will have an anticipated completion date. 

This enables investors to assess whether or not the project is on course. When ICO projects meet their stated targets, this increases trust from the broader markets. But when targets are missed, this has the opposite effect. 

How to Buy ICO Tokens Safely & Avoid Scams

The unregulated nature of cryptocurrencies means that investors need to be cautious when learning how to buy ICO tokens. Put simply, just because an ICO claims to have developed an innovative solution to a real-world problem, this doesn’t mean that this will come to fruition. 

Many crypto startups fail to meet their targets, with investors never seeing the final product or service. This is why research is so important. 

Another risk associated with ICOs is a rugpull. This happens when the team behind the ICO suddenly disappears, taking investor funds with them. This leaves ICO investors with worthless tokens. 

So what steps can ICO investors take to remain safe? First and foremost, it is important that ICO investors only risk what they can afford to lose. There is no guarantee that the ICO will be successful, so investors can lose some or even all of their investment. 

Second, it is crucial to avoid putting all investment funds into one ICO. Instead, consider diversifying across many different ICOs from multiple niches.

It is also important to use a suitable crypto wallet when investing in ICOs. This will ensure that the ICO tokens purchased can be stored safely. Ultimately, ICOs are never risk-free, so investors should tread with caution. 

Conclusion

While ICOs can be risky, the investment returns can be significant. This is because ICOs enable investors to buy newly launched tokens at the lowest price possible. If the project is successful, this can yield sizable returns for early investors. 

Overall, Green Bitcoin ($GBTC) is the top ICO right now. This new green cryptocurrency has raised more than $4.1 million since the start of its ICO. With the $GBTC token, investors can stake their holdings and generate high annual yields.

Staked token holders also get access to Green Bitcoin’s price prediction game. You can predict the price of Bitcoin, and win daily rewards and bonuses. 

Visit Green Bitcoin

FAQs

How do I buy ICO tokens?

After finding a suitable project to invest in, connect a crypto wallet (e.g. MetaMask) to the ICO website and pay for the tokens with a supported crypto (e.g. Ethereum). 

What is a crypto ICO?

An ICO – initial coin offering – is a type of sale where a project makes tokens available at a certain price. This is done to raise development funds and build hype and interest in a project and can be a smart way to invest as tokens are often available below market rate.

What is the best crypto ICO?

We currently rate Green Bitcoin ($GBTC) as the best crypto ICO as it offers huge staking rewards and daily bonuses through its price prediction game.