ICO for non-blockchain: Possible or not?

[JakeP]

Can non-blockchain projects go for an ICO? If yes, what are the restrictions? If not, why not?   

[cointabo]

Can non-blockchain projects go for an ICO? If yes, what are the restrictions? If not, why not?   

There is no saying that non-blockchain projects cant have ICO. The restrictions are that in countries like USA, if the ICO acts as a security, it needs licensing from the SEC. ICO of all kinds is banned in China, HK, South Korea.

[chengyiming]

why non-blockchain need to go for ICO? why don't they go for IPO?

[HeRetiK]

Can non-blockchain projects go for an ICO? If yes, what are the restrictions? If not, why not?   

There is no saying that non-blockchain projects cant have ICO. The restrictions are that in countries like USA, if the ICO acts as a security, it needs licensing from the SEC. ICO of all kinds is banned in China, HK, South Korea.

It may be semantics, but isn't the very definition of an ICO that it takes place on a blockchain or at least uses some form of crypto-currency token? Otherwise it's just a security in the traditional sense...

Either way, restrictions and regulations are already tricky with ICOs. I'd say the legal situation even trickier with "traditional" securities. ICOs are arguably still in a legal grey area in most parts of the world, but unregulated non-blockchain securities are illegal pretty much everywhere.

[artras]

I also think that ICO is only for blockchain projects or projects for the crypto currency market. For other projects, founders can use kickstarters or indigogo

[Iranus]

It may be semantics, but isn't the very definition of an ICO that it takes place on a blockchain or at least uses some form of crypto-currency token? Otherwise it's just a security in the traditional sense...

This is about non-blockchain projects using an ICO for fundraising, not about an ICO not using a blockchain (which obviously would just be traditional fundraising).
ICOs are supposed to be a different form of fundraising.  They are not inherently any better for fundraising blockchain-related projects than other ones apart from the fact that people who are interested in blockchain-related projects are likely to already have cryptocurrencies to use.

There absolutely can be ICOs for other projects.  Thinking otherwise is what triggers all these stupid attempts to tie every industry to the blockchain for no apparent reason.