Cryptoasset Taxonomy Report

Executive Summary

More than 1,000 cryptoassets have emerged in the last year alone. Each of these cryptoassets can be categorised and understood using numerous frameworks. There is a clear requirement for a unified approach on how to categorise and treat these assets in order to make well-informed investment decisions.

The purpose of this taxonomy is to provide an independent classification of cryptoassets, based on the depth, breadth and scope of our global data sets, while adhering to our rigorous data standards to ensure data integrity and accuracy. The taxonomy offers a framework to help retail and institutional investors, regulators and the industry as a whole gain a holistic understanding of the cryptoasset landscape.

The methodology of this taxonomy is not purely theoretical, but instead the result of bottomup analysis across a number of parameters for hundreds of cryptoassets. We analyse the classification of cryptoassets based on a variety of attributes, including: regulatory, level of decentralisation, supply issuance, economic incentive, industrial classification, supply concentration to name but a few.

The taxonomy also offers a summary classification – the CryptoCompare archetypes. This reflects what we see as the most natural grouping of cryptoassets at this moment in time.

The tree above lists the main archetypes identified in this taxonomy. It seeks to capture, in a simple form, the most meaningful grouping of cryptoassets. The CryptoCompare archetypes also seek to understand the current state of the cryptoasset ecosystem. As innovation develops and the sector matures, we expect certain types of cryptoassets to become more prevalent and for the archetypes above to change.

The Cryptoasset Taxonomy Report can be found here »