🥇
Kra
Kraken
US and EU users who prioritise a spotless security record — no major hack since 2011 — and want a serious pro-grade trading terminal.
9.1
Score
★ Live priceRank · #182Decentralized Finance (DeFi)USD · spot
Compound
COMP
$17.53
24h
+0.58%
7d
+1.55%
30d
+2.76%
1y
−64.91%
24h low24h high
$17.14
$17.65
Market cap
$175.31M
Rank #182
24-hour volume
$9.81M
spot and derivatives
Circulating
9.67M
96.7% of max
All-time high
$854.45
−97.95% from ATH
Price action
12-month historyCompound price chart
Range$15.19 → $23.81−26.35%
$23.81$21.65$19.50$17.35$15.19
April 30, 2026July 24, 2026
Snapshot
Key numbers
Rank
#182
Market cap
$175.31M
24h volume
$9.81M
FDV
$175.31M
Circulating
9.67M
Max supply
10M
Calculator
Compound converter
Convert between COMP and US dollars at the live rate.
★ Live rate1 COMP = $17.53
COMP
$USD
Records
Compound all-time history
▲ All-time highMay 11, 2021
$854.45
−97.95% from current
▼ All-time lowJune 25, 2026
$14.86
+17.97% from current
Where to buy
Full ranking Top exchanges for Compound
Independent editorial ranking. Score is 0–10 across six criteria: Security, Fees, UX, Features, Support, Reputation.
- 🥈CoiCoinbase Exchange
Institutions and funds requiring an SEC-registered venue with segregated qualified custody and audited on-chain reserves.
9.0Score - 🥉BinBinance
Active spot traders chasing the deepest global liquidity and the widest listing catalogue outside the US perimeter.
8.8Score - #4OKXOKX
Traders who mix spot and on-chain — the Web3 wallet, DEX aggregator and Ethereum L2 X Layer sit inside the same account as CEX pairs.
8.4Score - #5BitBitstamp
Long-horizon EU holders who want the oldest continuously-operating exchange (2011) with conservative listings and full MiCA licensing.
8.4Score - #6BybBybit
Derivatives-first traders who want tighter perp funding and a maker-friendly fee schedule; accept offshore regulatory footprint.
8.0Score
Adjacent
More Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
Top coins in the same category, ordered by market cap.
Briefing
About Compound (COMP)
What is Compound?
Compound is one of the original DeFi lending protocols, launched in September 2018 by Robert Leshner and Geoffrey Hayes. Compound pioneered the algorithmic interest-rate model that most subsequent DeFi lending markets have adopted: interest rates for borrowers and depositors move automatically based on pool utilisation. When more of a supplied asset is borrowed, both borrowing and supply rates rise; when utilisation falls, rates decline.
In 2026, Compound remains one of the top DeFi lending markets by TVL but has been overtaken decisively by Aave (~$30B TVL vs Compound's $2-3B). The 2022 Compound III (Comet) architecture — which replaced the multi-asset pool model with isolated single-borrow-asset markets — is now the primary Compound deployment across Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Optimism, and Polygon.
COMP was one of the first governance tokens distributed via liquidity mining (summer 2020) — a distribution model that touched off the "DeFi Summer" that shaped the 2020-2021 crypto cycle. COMP holders continue to govern all significant protocol parameters.
How Compound V2 and Comet (V3) work
Compound V2 (the original architecture, still live for legacy assets) uses the traditional multi-asset pool model. Users deposit any supported asset and receive cTokens (cUSDC, cETH, etc.) that accrue interest. Borrowers post collateral and can borrow any supported asset up to their collateral factor.
Compound III (Comet) uses a fundamentally different design. Each Comet market has one specific borrow asset (e.g., USDC, ETH) and multiple approved collateral assets. This isolates risk — a bad debt event in one Comet market doesn't affect other Comet markets — and enables more precise risk parameterisation per market.
Both architectures use algorithmic interest rates based on utilisation. Liquidations happen automatically when a borrower's collateral value falls below the required threshold. Liquidators receive a bonus for closing risky positions.
COMP tokenomics and governance
COMP has a fixed maximum supply of 10 million tokens. As of July 2026, approximately 8.8 million COMP are in circulation. The remainder is held in the Compound Reservoir for ongoing distribution (COMP is emitted to protocol users as a liquidity mining incentive).
COMP is used exclusively for governance. Holders propose and vote on Compound Improvement Proposals (CIPs), which control all protocol parameters — supported assets, collateral factors, interest rate models, treasury operations, and Comet market configurations. COMP has no direct claim on protocol fees, though various proposals to add revenue-sharing mechanisms have been discussed.
This is Compound's persistent value-accrual criticism: like early Uniswap, COMP has real governance value but no automatic economic claim on the protocol's significant fee revenue. Whether governance-driven fee-sharing mechanisms eventually materialise is an ongoing question.
Use cases for COMP in 2026
- Governance participation. Vote on CIPs including collateral additions, rate parameter changes, treasury allocations, Comet market deployments.
- Delegation. Delegate COMP voting weight to specialised governance participants.
- Liquidity mining rewards. Depositors and borrowers on Compound earn COMP as ongoing incentives.
- DeFi collateral. COMP is accepted as collateral in various DeFi lending markets including Compound itself.
Risks and structural questions
- DeFi lending market competition. Aave has decisively outpaced Compound in TVL. Morpho's efficient market architecture has taken additional market share.
- COMP value accrual. Governance-only utility limits direct economic claim on protocol fees.
- Compound V2 → Comet migration. Progressive rather than complete; legacy V2 markets continue to hold significant TVL.
- Smart contract risk. Compound has an extensive audit history and years of production operation but any DeFi protocol carries smart-contract risk.
- Governance participation concentration. A small number of large COMP holders can materially influence governance decisions.
- Cultural attention. Compound has been a lower-attention protocol since its 2020 peak.
Outlook for Compound in 2026
Compound's 2026 setup is one of consolidation and progressive Comet expansion. The protocol remains a top-tier DeFi lending market with meaningful ongoing TVL, but it operates in the shadow of Aave and Morpho by market share. Whether Compound can regain competitive momentum via Comet architecture advantages or new product lines is the ongoing strategic question.
For a comparison of Compound versus Aave, Morpho, and other DeFi lending markets, see our independent rating of DeFi lending.
Analysis last updated:
Compound price analysis
Compound (COMP) trades at $17.53 with a 24-hour volume of $9.81M and a market capitalization of $175.31M. The asset is currently ranked #182 among all tracked cryptocurrencies.
In the last 24 hours, the COMP price has risen +0.58%. On a seven-day window, Compound has climbed +1.55%, showing consistent upward momentum across both windows. Short-term moves are often amplified by liquidity, news flow, and derivatives positioning, so confirm signals across multiple indicators before acting.
Compound's all-time high of $854.45 was set on May 11, 2021. The current price sits +97.95% below that peak. Distance from the all-time high is a common reference point when evaluating long recoveries and macro support or resistance.
How to buy Compound
Buying Compound (COMP) is a five-step routine once you have picked the right venue and pair. The steps below mirror what most investors do today.
- Pick a reputable exchange. Choose a platform that lists COMP with deep liquidity, transparent fees, and a clean security record. Our top-rated exchanges guide compares the leading venues side by side.
- Create and verify your account. Complete the exchange's KYC process — most platforms require a government-issued ID and a short identity check. It is a one-off step that usually takes a few minutes.
- Fund your account. Deposit fiat via bank transfer or card, or use a stablecoin like USDT or USDC. Stablecoin deposits settle the fastest and cost the least.
- Place a buy order. Open the COMP/USD or COMP/USDT pair, then execute a market order for instant fills or a limit order at your preferred entry.
- Secure your COMP. For long-term holdings, move tokens to a non-custodial wallet — a hardware device for highest security, or a reputable software wallet for frequent access.
You can also use the Compound converter above to estimate how much COMP you would get for a given dollar amount before placing the order.
Is Compound a good investment?
Whether Compound is a good investment depends on your goals, time horizon, and tolerance for volatility. Like all cryptocurrencies, COMP carries real market risk: prices can rise or fall sharply in a day, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Potential strengths
- Ranked #182 by market cap with an established trading history and active exchange coverage.
- Transparent on-chain data: real-time supply, circulation metrics, and publicly auditable transactions.
- Ongoing ecosystem development and community engagement, reflected in Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Yield Farming activity.
Key risks to consider
- Volatility: 5–15% intraday moves are common across crypto markets.
- Regulatory uncertainty: policy changes in major jurisdictions can meaningfully affect price and access.
- Liquidity and custody risk: not all exchanges are equally safe, and self-custody requires careful key management.
This page provides data and analysis for educational purposes only. It is not financial advice. Always do your own research, diversify, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
FAQ
Common questions about Compound
What is Compound used for?
Compound is a decentralised lending protocol where users deposit crypto to earn interest and borrow against collateral. Two architectures exist: V2 (multi-asset pools with cTokens) and V3/Comet (isolated single-borrow-asset markets with multi-collateral).
What is Comet?
Compound III (branded as Comet) is Compound's newer architecture. Each market has one specific borrow asset (e.g., USDC, ETH) and multiple approved collateral assets. This isolates risk between markets and enables more precise risk parameterisation.
What is COMP used for?
COMP is Compound's governance token. Holders vote on Compound Improvement Proposals controlling all protocol parameters. COMP has no direct claim on protocol fees currently, though revenue-sharing mechanisms have been discussed.
How many COMP tokens are there?
COMP has a fixed maximum supply of 10 million tokens. As of July 2026, approximately 8.8 million are in circulation. The remainder is held in the Compound Reservoir for ongoing liquidity mining distribution.
Is Compound safe?
Compound has been audited extensively and has years of production operation with no major protocol failures. Any DeFi protocol carries smart-contract risk. Compound's history is one of the strongest security track records in DeFi.
How is Compound different from Aave?
Both are DeFi lending markets with similar core mechanics. Aave has significantly larger TVL and broader multi-chain deployment. Aave has GHO stablecoin; Compound doesn't issue a stablecoin. Both use algorithmic interest rates based on pool utilisation.
Where can I buy COMP?
COMP is listed on all major exchanges including Coinbase, Kraken, Binance, KuCoin, and Bybit. See our exchange rating for jurisdiction-specific recommendations.
Reporting
All news Latest Compound news
RegulationJul 28
Bitcoin Slides Ahead of FOMC as CLARITY Act Stalls Again in the Senate
4 min read
RegulationJul 27
Coinbase Bets on AI Agents as Crypto Braces for Its Biggest Week Since Spring
5 min read
US Crypto News (or "Regulation" / "ETFs", per your taxonomy)Jul 26
US Institutional Bitcoin Demand Cools as CLARITY Act Uncertainty Weighs on ETF Flows
4 min read