I can sort of see it. Let's say you have a Kickstarter and the first 100 people get a ticket to a concert. If you give them an online token that works as a ticket, it's (in theory) more easily transferable, so they could exchange it online.
This is a way of creating an online secondary market with little infrastructure. It assumes you want to encourage it. (Unlike many artists who want to discourage scalpers.) You could imagine this sort of thing happening with any other credits, like game currency or frequent flyer miles. Something usable worldwide (unlike concert tickets) would have more value.
However, I don't know how many companies who will want to hand out credits that are exchangeable worldwide in this way, since you don't know who your customers are and there is little protection against abuse. It seems like there would be a lot of potential for money laundering as well.
But, if you're desperate to raise funds, it gets you money up front (much like Kickstarter) and speculation might result in raising money faster. On the other hand, it might reduce demand due to less "fear of missing out," since people might consider buying it later (much like they buy products on ebay).
What would open source projects could give people that they would want to buy? There are games and other product-oriented stuff, but most software isn't in that category.
It's ironic that a technology supposedly based on not having to trust anyone relies so much on trust. If the company doesn't deliver on whatever the tokens are supposed to buy, they become worthless.
Comments
I can sort of see it. Let's say you have a Kickstarter and the first 100 people get a ticket to a concert. If you give them an online token that works as a ticket, it's (in theory) more easily transferable, so they could exchange it online.
This is a way of creating an online secondary market with little infrastructure. It assumes you want to encourage it. (Unlike many artists who want to discourage scalpers.) You could imagine this sort of thing happening with any other credits, like game currency or frequent flyer miles. Something usable worldwide (unlike concert tickets) would have more value.
However, I don't know how many companies who will want to hand out credits that are exchangeable worldwide in this way, since you don't know who your customers are and there is little protection against abuse. It seems like there would be a lot of potential for money laundering as well.
But, if you're desperate to raise funds, it gets you money up front (much like Kickstarter) and speculation might result in raising money faster. On the other hand, it might reduce demand due to less "fear of missing out," since people might consider buying it later (much like they buy products on ebay).
What would open source projects could give people that they would want to buy? There are games and other product-oriented stuff, but most software isn't in that category.
It's ironic that a technology supposedly based on not having to trust anyone relies so much on trust. If the company doesn't deliver on whatever the tokens are supposed to buy, they become worthless.