Risk-Free Rate Proxies

Benchmark

Proxies in cryptocurrency derivatives represent substitutes for a truly risk-free yield curve, a concept absent in the nascent crypto market. Traditional finance utilizes government bonds as benchmarks; however, the inherent volatility and counterparty risk within digital asset ecosystems necessitate alternative approximations. Stablecoin yields, particularly those generated through decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols offering lending or staking, frequently serve as the closest available proxy, though they are subject to smart contract and collateralization risks.