Indexes are a common investing tool that have long been used within traditional finance to enable investors to gain broad exposure to a specific asset class, often stocks or other securities. In the gradually expanding digital assets ecosystem, indexes have existed for years but are not being widely leveraged.
While several crypto indexes are available, mostly as a peripheral offering from a major crypto company, their impact and value within the ecosystem are largely unrealized. However, one company believes that crypto index investing should become a more mainstream way for responsible investing.
J’JO Finance is unofficially dubbed as the “S&P 500 of the decentralized economy” because its premier product, J’JO35, offers investors broad exposure to the crypto market, similar to the offering of the world’s most prominent index. J’JO35 is an index of the top 35 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding stablecoins and wrapped assets, that provides exposure to about 80 percent of the market. By providing this true reflection of the market, J’JO35 enables users to not have to worry about dedicating time to researching tokens and market trends.
Aleksei Ponomarev, J’JO’s CEO and co-founder, recently spoke with Bitcoinist about the company, its founding, philosophy, future, crypto indexes generally, and more. “J’JO originated from a desire to give everyday individuals a practical way to access decentralized finance without hype or complexity,” said Ponomarev. “Instead of pushing for quick profits, our philosophy centers on careful, long-term growth.”
With crypto indexes playing a relatively small role in the broader crypto investing space, Ponomarev said that J’JO likes to emphasize education and transparency to help new users unfamiliar with digital assets make more informed decisions. As to why crypto indexes play a rather small role, Ponomarev said: “Indexes in crypto haven’t been as common partly because the industry’s novelty favors high-risk, high-reward gambling,” which makes indexes “less visible to the typical investor.”
Users interested in investing in J’JO35, which has outperformed both Bitcoin and Ethereum since its inception in 2020, only need to have an account with one of the more than 11 leading centralized exchanges supported by J’JO’s API. Discussing why J’JO decided to go with centralized exchanges over their decentralized counterparts, Ponomarev said: “Our immediate priority was ensuring a smooth, low-barrier entry point for users through centralized exchanges.”
He hinted that DEXs could be the “logical next step” for the company. “… We do envision a future where J’JO seamlessly integrates with DEXs, further cutting out intermediaries and upholding the principle of direct ownership. This move isn’t just a technical upgrade; it’s also about extending our commitment to user freedom and fostering a more open, less restrictive financial environment.”
As the crypto market stabilizes and more individuals seek to invest in digital assets, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of risk management in crypto circles. This bodes well for J’JO, who aims to onboard not only crypto enthusiasts but also retail and more TradFi-oriented investors.
In line with its mission to be a platform that serves a wide range of users, J’JO recently launched “Market Segment Indexes,” a new product that allows users to build their own customized indexes. “With Market Segment Indexes, J’JO is shifting the investment experience from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model to a flexible, user-driven approach,” said Ponomarev. “Now individuals can combine specific asset categories under one index, balancing personal interests with risk management.”
As part of its philosophy, J’JO prioritizes user satisfaction over profits. As such, the company enables users to invest up to $500 for free.
“When we decided on the free tier, we asked ourselves: ‘How can we encourage a real understanding of decentralized finance without forcing people to pay upfront?’ The $500 no-fee option was our answer. It breaks down some financial fences and invites newcomers to experience the platform’s benefits firsthand,” said Ponomarev.
Expanding on this commitment, Ponomarev added: “Beyond pure marketing, it’s a statement that J’JO cares about genuinely opening doors. Of course, we operate a business, but long-term loyalty and user empowerment trump the fleeting profit of immediate subscription fees.”
With its unique vision and philosophy, J’JO makes a strong case that index investing should play a greater role in the rapidly evolving crypto ecosystem.
