Alternative Investments

Definition ∞ Alternative investments are assets outside of traditional categories like stocks, bonds, and cash. This includes real estate, private equity, hedge funds, commodities, and digital assets such as cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens. They are often sought for their potential to offer diversification and uncorrelated returns relative to conventional markets. Their inclusion in portfolios can introduce novel risk-return profiles and require specialized knowledge for proper evaluation and management.
Context ∞ The landscape of alternative investments is continuously evolving, with digital assets gaining increasing prominence and regulatory scrutiny. News concerning the integration of cryptocurrencies into institutional portfolios, the development of new tokenized real estate projects, or the valuation of digital art collections highlights the growing intersection of traditional finance and novel asset classes. Debates persist regarding their classification, liquidity, and the appropriate risk management frameworks for their inclusion in diversified investment strategies.