Purchase Celsius (CEL) with Colombian peso (COP) 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.
Typically, you would use a cryptocurrency exchange that supports COP as a fiat on-ramp. Users often first buy a major cryptocurrency like BTC or USDT via a PSE or Bancolombia transfer, and then trade it for CEL on the exchange's order book. Given Celsius Network's Chapter 11 bankruptcy, direct COP/CEL pairs are rare, so trading is mainly on secondary markets that still list the digital asset.
The bankruptcy proceedings have fundamentally altered the risk profile and utility of the CEL token. This has led to delistings from some exchanges and significantly reduced trading volume and liquidity. For COP traders, this means fewer platforms offer the asset, and the available order books may have wider spreads, making it more challenging to execute trades at a desired price. All trading is now speculative, based on the outcome of the restructuring plan.
After acquiring CEL, it is highly recommended to transfer the digital asset from the exchange's custodial wallet to a non-custodial digital wallet where you control the private keys. Options include hardware wallets (e.g., Ledger, Trezor) for maximum security, or software wallets (e.g., MetaMask, Trust Wallet) for easier access. Given the history of Celsius Network freezing withdrawals, self-custody is a critical security practice.
The CEL token was designed as a utility token to provide users with enhanced benefits. Holding and using CEL offered loyalty rewards, such as increased interest earnings on deposited digital assets through their 'Earn' program, and reduced interest rates on crypto-backed loans. The token's value proposition was deeply integrated into this community-centric, interest-bearing account model.
Yes, any reputable cryptocurrency exchange acting as a fiat gateway in Colombia requires strict KYC/AML (Know Your Customer/Anti-Money Laundering) verification. This process typically involves submitting a government-issued ID (Cédula de Ciudadanía), proof of address, and sometimes a selfie for verification. These measures are in line with regulations from bodies like the Superintendencia Financiera to prevent illicit activities and secure the digital asset purchase.
Direct fiat-to-altcoin pairs are generally based on high trading volume and liquidity. The COP/CEL pair lacks sufficient market demand to justify a dedicated order book on most platforms. Furthermore, Celsius Network's bankruptcy has reduced CEL's overall market relevance. Consequently, traders must typically use a two-step process: converting COP to a liquid base currency like USDT or BTC, and then trading that for CEL.