Convenience Yield
The convenience yield is the benefit or premium associated with holding the physical asset rather than a derivative contract. It reflects the value of having immediate access to the asset for usage, staking, or governance purposes.
In crypto, this is often linked to the ability to participate in protocol governance or earn native staking rewards. When the convenience yield is high, the market is more likely to be in backwardation.
This yield acts as a counterweight to the cost of carry in the pricing of futures. It is a crucial concept for understanding why spot prices may sometimes exceed forward prices.
Traders monitor the convenience yield to assess the underlying demand for the physical token. It represents the intangible value derived from asset ownership beyond simple price appreciation.