Newly created decentralised application and sidechain platform Lisk launches an Initial Coin Offering (ICO), where users can get bonuses on the Lisk cryptocurrency in exchange for bitcoin and other rival coins.

85,000,000 Lisk units will be distributed during the ICO, reads the company’s press release. The initial coin offering itself will last for a month, from 22 February to 21 March. It will be supported by the digital currency exchange platform ShapeShift.

Bitcoin, ether and crypti will be accepted during the ICO in exchange for Lisk, as well as any other supported by ShapeShift. For every exchanged bitcoin certain bonuses are promised, however, the company’s website gives no further details.

The Lisk team recognises Ethereum as their main rival. Both companies facilitate decentralised applications (dapps). Lisk gives its clients an opportunity to create dapps using JavaScript. The important thing here is the simplicity, claims the company. Being the most widespread programming language, JavaScript makes it possible even for amateur users to launch their applications within hours.

Lisk’s dapps run on sidechains, i.e. on separate blockchains encapsulated in the main Lisk blockchain. The applications are fully customisable and the developer can adjust them to their needs. Lisk itself is open-source, allowing anyone to join the development process.

So far Lisk is functioning in testnet mode. As soon as the ICO is finished, the mainnet will become available.

Lisk was founded by a team of former developers of the decentralised application platform Crypti. The project is aimed at creating applications such as decentralised games, exchanges, prediction markets or social networks, as well as developing blockchains for the Internet of Things.

Andrew Levich