Asset Category Overviews
Remember, not all crypto-assets are alike. Before investing, you should ensure you understand the specific risks involved. Please read our asset risk summaries to get a better understanding of the key risks for some of the main categories of crypto-assets available on Coinbase.
Estimated reading time: 4 mins
The term often used for crypto-assets that claim their value is linked to certain reserve assets such as a fiat currency (e.g. US Dollars). Stablecoins may use a range of different ways to maintain stability, each with their own risks.
DeFi tokens are crypto-assets linked to financial applications and protocols built on decentralised blockchain technology.
Tokenised representations of other crypto-assets. They are typically created to facilitate compatibility and interaction across different blockchain protocols
Crypto-assets whose value is driven primarily by community interest and online trends
Tokens that are locked on the relevant blockchain protocol in order to secure the network and earn rewards.
'Stablecoin' (e.g. USDC, USDT) is the term often used for crypto-assets that claim their value is linked to certain reserve assets such as a fiat currency (e.g. US Dollars). Stablecoins may use a range of different ways to maintain stability, each with their own risks.
Counterparty risk: Where the asset is backed by collateral (e.g. fiat currency) you are relying on a third party to maintain that collateral which introduces risk if the party becomes insolvent or fails to maintain the necessary collateral.
Redemption risk: If the asset claims to be redeemable for underlying collateral, there is risk that the redemption process will not work as expected e.g. in times of market volatility or due to operational issues.
Collateral risk: There’s a risk that the value of the collateral could decline or become volatile, affecting the stability of the asset (e.g. where the collateral is another type(s) of crypto-asset(s)).
FX risk: Lots of stablecoins are denominated in US Dollars, meaning you will be exposed to movements in the exchange rate between US Dollars and your local currency, e.g. USD:GBP for users in the UK.
Algorithm risk: If the asset relies on an algorithm to maintain stability (e.g. by adjusting supply based on demand) there’s a risk the algorithm could fail or behave unexpectedly, which might cause the asset to lose its stability and even lose all its value.
Important information for Canadian users:
Although the term “stablecoin” is commonly used, there is no guarantee that the asset will maintain a stable value in relation to the value of the reference asset when traded on secondary markets or that the reserve of assets, if there is one, will be adequate to satisfy all redemptions.
Stablecoins (Value-Referenced Crypto Assets) are not the same as and are riskier than a deposit in a bank or holding cash with Coinbase Canada.
Due to uncertainties in the application of bankruptcy and insolvency law, in the event of the insolvency of a stablecoin (Value-Referenced Crypto Asset) issuer, there is a possibility that creditors of the Value-Referenced Crypto Asset would have rights to the reserve assets that could outrank a Value-Referenced Crypto Asset holder’s rights, or otherwise interfere with a Value-Referenced Crypto Asset holder’s ability to access the reserve of assets in the event of insolvency.
Decentralised Finance (or ‘DeFi’) tokens (e.g. UNI, AAVE) are crypto-assets linked to financial applications and protocols built on decentralised blockchain technology.
Smart contract risk: DeFi relies heavily on smart contracts. Even a minor coding error or oversight can lead to a contract being exploited, potentially resulting in significant losses for DeFi tokens.
Regulatory risk: DeFi operates in a decentralized manner, often without intermediaries or financial crime controls. Regulatory bodies across jurisdictions might introduce new regulations impacting the use, value, or legality of certain DeFi protocols or assets.
For example, the Perpetual Protocol (PERP) and Quickstop (QUICK) protocols may be accessible in jurisdictions where some or all the available activity may need to be regulated now or in the future. If a regulator deemed the activity to be in breach of regulation, this could seriously impact token value.
Rug-pulls / Exit scams: Some DeFi projects might be launched by anonymous or pseudonymous teams, increasing the risk of "rug pulls" where developers abandon the project and withdraw funds, leaving investors with worthless tokens.
Data/oracle risk: DeFi protocols often rely on external data sources or ‘oracles’. Manipulation or inaccuracies in these data sources can lead to unintended financial outcomes within the protocols.
Protocol complexity: The complexity of some DeFi protocols can make it difficult for average users to fully understand the mechanisms and associated risks.
Wrapped crypto-assets (e.g. cbETH, WBTC) (often referred to as ‘wrapped tokens’) are tokenised representations of other crypto-assets. They are typically created to facilitate compatibility and interaction across different blockchain protocols.
Smart contract risk: Wrapped tokens rely on smart contracts to ensure their value remains pegged to the underlying asset. These contracts could have vulnerabilities or flaws that can be exploited, potentially leading to a loss of funds.
Collateral risk: The value of a wrapped token is typically backed by an equivalent amount of the underlying asset. If the mechanisms ensuring this collateralization fail, the wrapped token's value might not be preserved.
Custodial risk: The underlying assets for wrapped tokens may be held in custody by a third party. If this party becomes insolvent, mismanages the assets, or is subjected to fraud or hacking, the value of the wrapped token might be jeopardized.
Bridging risk: Wrapped tokens are often used to bridge assets between different blockchain ecosystems. The integration layers that facilitate these bridges might suffer from technical issues, hampering the ability to transfer or utilize the tokens as intended.
Pricing disparity: In certain situations, the price of the wrapped asset and its underlying asset might diverge due to market inefficiencies or liquidity issues.
‘Meme coins’ (e.g. DOGE, SHIB) are crypto-assets whose value is driven primarily by community interest and online trends.
Volatility risk: Meme coins can have extreme price volatility, often experiencing rapid and unpredictable price fluctuations within short periods. The value of meme coins can be influenced by social media trends, celebrity endorsements, and other factors unrelated to traditional investment fundamentals.
Lack of utility: Meme coins often lack intrinsic value or utility, being primarily driven by community interest, online trends, and speculative trading.
Market manipulation: Meme coins may be susceptible to increased risk of market manipulation including ‘pump-and-dump’ schemes, where the price is artificially inflated followed by a sudden crash.
Lack of transparency: Meme coins may have limited available information about their development teams, goals, and financials. This lack of transparency can make it challenging to assess the credibility and potential of a meme coin accurately.
Emotional investing: Meme coins often garner strong emotional reactions from investors, leading to impulsive decisions. Emotional trading activity can amplify losses.
Staked crypto-assets (e.g. staked ETH, staked ATOM) are locked on the relevant blockchain protocol in order to secure the network and earn rewards.
Slashing risk: By electing to stake your assets, you risk potential loss if the network penalizes your validator for malfeasance, whether intentional or due to software issues. Some staking service providers (including Coinbase) will reimburse slashing losses when the validator operator is at fault.
Liquidity risk: Some protocols require staked assets to be locked for a period or time, which can prevent you from accessing or selling your assets quickly. You can find further information on staking lock-up periods here.
APY not guaranteed: The yield or reward rate you get from staking your assets is determined by the relevant protocol and is not guaranteed and may vary over time. You can find more information on how our staking APYs are calculated here.
Protocol risks: Staking protocols are often continually evolving. Changes or updates to the consensus mechanism can introduce new vulnerabilities or unforeseen outcomes.