We further explore the significance of cryptocurrency fundamentals at the aggregate market level using traditional asset pricing tests. For this analysis, we construct risk factors that are based on aggregate values of computing power and network. We denote the aggregate computing power factor with ACP and aggregate network factor with ANET. The innovation in constructing these factors is that we express them in cryptocurrency return units following the factor mimicking portfolio approach (Knez et al. 1994, Lamont 2001, Vassalou 2003).
These protocols also mask the identities of cryptocurrency users, making transactions and fund flows difficult to attribute to specific individuals or groups.

Some security tokens are linked to an external tradable asset, and you can feel relatively comfortable assessing them as a more volatile relative of traditional shares, perhaps using a similar framework to the one you’d employ for penny stocks.
People can also borrow crypto assets on various platforms and earn interest for loaning out assets. This niche of the cryptocurrency space is what is known as decentralized finance, or DeFi. Based on the DLT, various platforms facilitate the lending and borrowing of crypto without requiring the user to submit to the control of a centralized entity. DeFi also includes other aspects as well such as decentralized exchanges, or DEXs.