The process of IOTA creation was launched in 2015. The purpose was to integrate the altered blockchain to the “Internet of Things”, maximizing the efficiency of the payments made between the parts of the IoT devices. After the system was launched, the period of beta-testing began; it lasted the greatest part of 2016.
Though during the mentioned period of time, IOTA was functioning as a payment system, it was possible to buy/sell it only in the off-market space