Alternative Assets

Definition ∞ Alternative assets are investments that fall outside traditional categories such as stocks, bonds, and cash. These can include private equity, real estate, commodities, and, increasingly, digital assets like cryptocurrencies. They often exhibit different risk-return profiles and lower correlation with conventional markets. Such assets provide portfolio diversification benefits for investors.
Context ∞ Digital assets are gaining recognition as a significant class of alternative investments, attracting attention from institutional and retail participants. News frequently covers the allocation of capital into these non-traditional holdings, particularly Bitcoin and Ethereum. Discussions often center on their potential for capital appreciation, their role in hedging against inflation, and their liquidity characteristics. Regulatory bodies are also examining how to classify and supervise these novel asset types.