Interest Rate Swap

Definition

An interest rate swap in digital asset markets functions as a derivative contract where two counterparties exchange periodic cash flow streams based on a notional principal amount. One participant typically commits to pay a fixed rate, while the other pays a variable rate linked to decentralized finance lending benchmarks or funding rates. These instruments enable market participants to hedge against fluctuations in borrowing costs or to express a directional view on yield curves within crypto-native ecosystems.