CoinDesk DACS

CoinDesk DACS

Standard for the classification of digital assets

DACS was created in response to the significant growth in the number and types of digital assets in the marketplace and the recognition that traditional classification standards used for equities and other asset classes cannot be accurately adapted to classify digital assets. DACS, while unique to digital assets, will perform many of the same functions as the classification systems used for traditional asset classes. Among other things, DACS provides the market with a transparent and standardized method for determining sector and industry exposure, facilitates portfolio attribution analysis, and will help identify investment opportunities.

The full list of the DACS 500 can be found below


Click here to view the DACS Glossary


ComputingCurrencyDeFiCulture & EntertainmentSmart Contract PlatformDigitizationIoTOraclePrivate ComputingShared NetworkShared StorageBaaSPrivateStablecoinTransparentAsset ManagementAtomic SwapsCredit PlatformDAODerivativesExchangesInsuranceYieldArtMediaMetaverseMulti-Chain / ParachainSingle ChainDigitizationIoTOraclePrivate ComputingShared NetworkShared StorageBaaS (Other)PaymentsSupply Chain / CommercePrivateStablecoinTransparent (Other)Transparent CeFi CurrencyTransparent DeFi CurrencyAsset ManagementAtomic SwapsLending Platform (Other)Lending / BorrowingActive DAODAO (Other)DAO BuilderDerivativesAMMCLOBExchanges (Other)InsuranceReturnsArtBroadcastSocialMedia (Other)GamingVirtual WorldMetaverse PlatformMulti-Chain / ParachainSingle ChainDigitization


How is DACS helpful?

DACS can help investors identify investment opportunities by industry for digital assets. It can also help assess the impact of industry trends on a portfolio, analyze the industry's contribution to performance, and measure industry exposure relative to benchmarks and peers.

Finally, it can help portfolio managers develop well-defined sector-focused and sector rotation strategies and allocate returns and risks by industry group and sector to optimally manage sector strategies.

How does CoinDesk Indices determine which digital assets to classify?

CoinDesk Indices currently aims to classify the top 500 digital assets by market capitalization.

How is classification done for digital assets?

Classification is determined based on the digital asset's business description, which can usually be found on the digital asset's public website. Based on this information, the digital asset is assigned to the most appropriate industry within DACS.

Will CoinDesk Indices make any changes to the DACS structure?

The structure of DACS will be reviewed periodically and will require changes as the landscape of digital assets continues to evolve. Any significant changes to DACS will be announced prior to implementation. CoinDesk Indices believes that market feedback will be critical to the continued development of DACS.

Does CoinDesk Indices offer indices for DACS?

In developing DACS, CoinDesk Indices initially focused on creating a robust and comprehensive classification standard that accurately reflects the digital asset space and developing appropriate definitions for each level of the structure to provide transparency. In this way, CoinDesk Indices was able to classify a universe of digital assets into an appropriate industry. The creation of DACS is a crucial step towards building reliable and transparent indices.

CoinDesk Indices believes that creating indices based on DACS is a critical next step and plans to begin creating indices using appropriate index methodologies.