Unlock the Value of Your Assets
So, you've been accumulating cryptocurrencies for years, maybe even over a decade at this point, and are starting to think about when a good time to sell might be. Here's the thing, better options exist! Depending on your situation, it might make more sense to take out perpetually borrow USDC against your assets, which can be done tax free. As the value of your assets go up, the amount you can borrow goes up as well. This site recommends Compound Finance, a decentralized protocol that enables you to borrow against your cryptocurrency holdings without selling them. For now, we are specifically recommending deposits with Ethereum to withdraw USDC, but other combinations are possible as well.
Risks
- Liquidation Risk: If the value of your collateral drops too low compared to the borrowed amount, your assets could be liquidated to repay the loan. This risk increases if market conditions are volatile.
- Protocol Risk: While Compound Finance is a robust and widely used protocol, it’s still subject to potential bugs, hacks, or governance issues inherent in decentralized finance (DeFi).
- No Custodial Risks: Unlike custodial services, you retain control of your assets in the protocol. This means no third party has custody of your funds.
Guidelines
To minimize risks and use this strategy effectively:
- Bull Markets: Keep your liquidation risk below 10% to account for market fluctuations.
- Bear Markets: Stay conservative with a maximum of 20% liquidation risk to avoid being caught off guard by price drops.
Careful management of your collateral ratios ensures you can leverage your assets without exposing yourself to undue risk.
Supply Collateral
- Visit the Compound Finance USDC Market.
- Connect your wallet to the platform.
- Deposit Ethereum (ETH) into the protocol as a "collateral asset."
- Confirm your transaction and ensure your collateral is properly deposited.
Borrow USDC
- Navigate to the "Borrow" section on Compound Finance.
- Select USDC as the asset to borrow.
- Specify the amount you need, ensuring you stay below the 10% liquidation risk threshold.
- Confirm your transaction to borrow USDC.
- Transfer the borrowed USDC to your preferred exchange, such as Coinbase.
- From Coinbase, deposit the USDC into your normal US bank account.
Important Notes: Do not borrow more than you need, as the loan will accrue interest over time.
Exit
- To repay your loan, withdraw a portion of your collateral Ethereum (ETH).
- Use a decentralized exchange like Uniswap to sell the withdrawn ETH for USDC.
- Use the USDC to repay your loan on Compound Finance.
- Once your loan is fully repaid, you can exit the protocol by withdrawing any remaining collateral.
Important Notes: Selling ETH for USDC is a taxable event. Be sure to account for potential taxes on any realized gains.
References
Disclaimers
- The information presented on this site is US-centric and may not be applicable in other jurisdictions.
- Always consult a financial advisor for personalized financial guidance.
- For tax-related inquiries, seek advice from a qualified tax advisor.
- For legal questions or concerns, consult a lawyer to understand your rights and responsibilities.
This site is intended to educate and inform, but it’s essential to do your own research and seek professional advice before making financial decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bitcoin is great, but its lack of smart contracts makes it difficult to use as collateral. There are options to use Bitcoin as collateral, but they involve a moderate amount of either custodial risk or protocol risk. These options might be explored on this site if there is interest
There are other protocols, such as Aave, that have similar lending capabilities, but Compound has been around the longest, carries a bit less protocol risk, and currently seems to have lower fees than competitors.
Tether (USDT) is another popular USD stablecoin, and each carry their own set of risks. Generally, USDT is better for people who are outside the US, but US citizens and residents are likely better off using USDC.
Coinbase is a user-friendly platform for buying, selling, and managing cryptocurrency, making it accessible for beginners, especially for people in the US.
Yes! Please feel free to send pull requests to https://github.com/pierce403/hodl.how