Purchase Celsius (CEL) with Chilean peso (CLP) easily at Switchere and benefit from fast, secure transactions.
Celsius Network, with its native CEL token, emerged as a major centralized finance (CeFi) platform designed to bridge the gap between traditional banking and the world of digital assets. Its primary function was to offer users the ability to earn yield on their cryptocurrency holdings and to take out crypto-collateralized loans. The platform operated on a custodial basis, managing user funds to generate interest income through lending activities to institutional borrowers. This model positioned it as a user-friendly alternative for crypto holders seeking to put their assets to work without navigating complex DeFi protocols.
The CEL token was the core of its loyalty and rewards system. As a utility token, holding and using CEL provided tangible benefits within the Celsius ecosystem, such as preferential interest rates for both earning and borrowing. Users could receive higher yields on their deposited assets and lower rates on loans, with rewards often distributed weekly in the form of CEL. This tokenomics structure was designed to incentivize user loyalty and drive demand for the native asset. However, the platform faced significant operational challenges and market pressures, which ultimately led to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, profoundly impacting its users and reshaping the narrative around risk in the CeFi lending industry.
Trading CLP for CEL involves using a fiat on-ramp to convert your Chilean Pesos into a digital asset, typically on a cryptocurrency exchange. Since CEL is an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain, you are essentially purchasing a speculative digital asset whose original utility was tied to the Celsius Network lending platform. Given the platform's Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, trading CEL is considered high-risk and is primarily driven by speculation.
When funding an account with Chilean Pesos on a fiat on-ramp, common payment methods include local bank transfers (transferencia bancaria) and online payment systems like WebPay. Some platforms may also accept debit or credit card payments. These methods are used for the initial digital asset purchase before you can swap for a specific token like CEL on a secondary market.
As an ERC-20 token, CEL must be stored in a secure digital wallet that supports the Ethereum blockchain, such as MetaMask or a hardware wallet. The most critical security practice is safeguarding your private keys or seed phrase. Never share them. When transferring from an exchange, always double-check the recipient wallet address, as blockchain transactions are irreversible. Be aware of the high counterparty risk of keeping assets on exchanges that list highly volatile tokens.
Direct CLP/CEL trading pairs are exceptionally rare due to low liquidity and the speculative nature of the CEL token. The standard method involves a two-step process: first, use a Chilean-focused fiat gateway to buy a major cryptocurrency like Ethereum (ETH) or a stablecoin with CLP. Second, transfer that asset to an international exchange that still lists CEL and execute a trade from ETH or the stablecoin to CEL after completing their KYC/AML compliance checks.
Historically, the primary utility of the CEL token was within the Celsius Network ecosystem. Holding and using CEL provided users with benefits like increased rewards on crypto deposits and lower interest rates on loans. Since Celsius Network's bankruptcy filing, this utility is no longer functional, and the token is now a speculative asset whose value is influenced by market sentiment and news regarding the company's restructuring.
The process typically involves multiple fees. First, a deposit fee might apply when funding your account with CLP. Second, a trading fee is charged on the initial CLP-to-crypto trade (e.g., CLP to ETH). Third, you'll pay a network fee, specifically an Ethereum gas fee (in Gwei), to withdraw the ETH to another exchange. Finally, another trading fee will be incurred when you swap ETH for CEL on the second exchange's order book.