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TOKENS & ASSETS

Wrapped Token

Definition

A wrapped token represents another cryptocurrency on a different blockchain. It's backed 1:1 by the original asset held in custody, enabling cross-chain functionality.

Example

💡 Example

Ethereum, the network, existed before the ERC-20 token standard was establishd, thus ETH the token is not ERC-20 compliant. wETH is an ERC-20 compliant representation of ETH, enabling smart contracts to handle it like a regular ERC-20 token.

Risks to Consider

⚠️ Risks
  • Custodial risk
  • Depeg risk
  • Bridge vulnerabilities

Common Questions

Is a wrapped token the same as the original?

Functionally similar but technically different. They should maintain 1:1 value but carry additional risks from the wrapping mechanism. Wrapping mechanism can vary, the ideal is immutable contracts like for wETH.

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