These instruments represent claims on underlying digital assets, ranging from the base cryptocurrency to tokenized real-world assets or synthetic equivalents. The fungibility and custody requirements of the underlying asset fundamentally influence the instrument’s tradability and risk profile. Defining the precise nature of the underlying is the first step in valuation.
Instrument
In this context, instruments encompass standardized contracts like futures and options, as well as novel on-chain products such as perpetual swaps or collateralized debt positions. Each instrument carries a unique set of cash flow characteristics and settlement procedures that must be modeled accurately. Strategic deployment of these tools allows for complex risk/return profile construction.
Contract
The codified agreement, often executed via smart contract, that defines the rights and obligations between parties for a derivative or security. Analyzing the terms of this contract reveals the embedded leverage, expiration, and payoff structure. Professional authority requires a deep dive into the code’s enforcement logic.
