Coins vs. Tokens
In this primer, you will be introduced to the difference between coins and tokens. This is a simple yet extremely important concept to understand.
- The terms coin and token are commonly, and improperly, used interchangeably.
- Coins are cryptoassets with their own blockchain.
- Tokens are cryptoassets built on another blockchain.
- Example: Bitcoin is a coin, and the U.S.Dollar Coin (USDC), an Ethereum-based stablecoin, is a token.
To make the distinction between coins and tokens, we’d like to take you back to the Series 65 exam. This is very similar to the difference we all had to learn between an RIA and an IAR. You cannot be an IAR without being registered with an RIA, but the RIA is a standalone entity that can house multiple IARs. Similar to RIAs, coins are any cryptoasset that has a standalone and independent blockchain. The most notable examples of these are Bitcoin and Ethereum. Tokens, on the other hand, do not have their own blockchain, but live as a ‘token standard’ of an existing blockchain. For example USDC, a cryptodollar, is a token (the IAR) that is ‘registered’ on the Ethereum blockchain (the RIA).
Tokens have a broader range of use cases compared to coins due to their functionality. For example, a token can be programmable, meaning they run on software protocols using smart contracts. This is how NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) are created. It’s also worth mentioning that tokens,
unlike coins, are not intended to be used as money and thus are not part of the intended use of coins which are used for incentivizing blockchain security.
In another key distinction, coins need to be exchanged through cryptocurrency exchanges, while tokens can be exchanged through internal applications amongst each other. For instance “utility” tokens can be derived within an
application’s ecosystem to reward behavior or pay fees. In another example, an investment advisor can have their own token that their clients can use to pay for financial planning fees or other advisory services.
Tokens, like coins, can represent value and be transferred between parties. In what many are referring to as the future, ‘tokenization’ tokens can also be designed to represent tangible assets like real estate or traditional assets like stocks. As the financialization of the cryptoasset space continues there will be continued growth of both the token and coin ecosystems. They will be the onramp providing interoperability between the legacy financial system and its impending digital future.
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Disclaimers:
This material is presented for general information purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to buy or sell securities. This publication does not constitute general or personal investment advice or take into account the individual financial circumstances or investment objectives, or financial conditions of the individuals who receive it. This does not constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any securities or Funds, nor shall any securities be offered or sold to any person in any jurisdiction in which an offer, solicitation, purchase, or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.