🧠Core Concepts
Farad (FRD) is a cryptocurrency that emerged during the 2017 initial coin offering (ICO) boom. Unlike most digital assets that are purely speculative or utility-based, Farad was designed with a unique value proposition: each token represents a claim on real-world economic production — specifically, the manufacturing of ultra-capacitors[reference:0].
What Is Farad (FRD)?
Farad is an Ethereum-based ERC-20 token[reference:1]. It was launched by Farad Limited Hong Kong SAR, with the token's official launch taking place in Dubai on August 21, 2017[reference:2]. The project's stated goal was to bridge the gap between cryptocurrency and real economic activity by tying token value to the production of ultra-capacitor cells (UCC)[reference:3].
The Asset-Backed Model
The FRD token represents the right to a forward purchase contract for ultra-capacitor cells produced by a factory in China[reference:4]. Specifically:
- Each FRD token is equivalent to 1 millifarad (mF) of ultra-capacitor production capacity[reference:5].
- The total production contract covered 1,600,000,000 mF over a 36-month period[reference:6].
- The total token supply was set at 1,600,000,000 units, with 1,280,000,000 units allocated for the token swap program during the ICO.
ICO Timeline
Farad conducted its token sale in 2017 through a structured crowdsale:
- Pre-Token Swap: Three batches from August 25 to September 30, 2017.
- Token Swap: Three batches from October 1 to October 31, 2017.
🔍Practical Evaluation
Evaluating Farad (FRD) requires a different approach than assessing a typical cryptocurrency. Because its value proposition is tied to physical production, you need to examine both the token's market standing and the viability of the underlying economic activity.
Token Fundamentals
- Blockchain: Ethereum (ERC-20)[reference:10]
- Contract address: 0x0abefb7611cb3a01ea3fad85f33c3c934f8e2cf4[reference:11]
- Total supply: 1,600,000,000 FRD
- Token swap volume: 1,280,000,000 FRD
- Compiler version: Solidity v0.4.12 (2017 era)[reference:14]
Real-World Asset Verification
The core question for any asset-backed token is whether the underlying asset actually exists and retains value. For Farad, this means verifying:
- Whether the ultra-capacitor factory in China is still operational[reference:15].
- Whether the production contract is still valid and being fulfilled.
- Whether the 1,600,000,000 mF production target was ever achieved.
- Whether there is a mechanism for token holders to claim their share of production.
📊Market Data Points
Understanding the current market status of Farad is critical for any evaluation. The data paints a clear picture of a token that has become effectively inactive.
| Data Point | Current Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Price (USD) | $0.00 (no active market) | Coinbase[reference:16] |
| Circulating Supply | 0 FRD | Coinbase[reference:17] |
| Market Cap | $0.00 | Coinbase[reference:18] |
| 24h Trading Volume | $0.00 | Bitget[reference:19] |
| Active Trading Markets | None found | Coindesk[reference:20] |
| Market Rank | 999999 (lowest tier) | Bitget[reference:21] |
What the Data Tells Us
- No liquidity: There are no active trading pairs for FRD on major exchanges[reference:22].
- Zero market cap: With no circulating supply reported, the token has effectively no market capitalization[reference:23].
- Inactive project: The lack of trading volume and market activity suggests the project has been abandoned or is in a state of indefinite dormancy.
Some data aggregators show historical price points — for example, a reported price of $0.006557 in August 2024[reference:24] or $0.045636 in June 2026[reference:25] — but these figures are not supported by active trading and may reflect synthetic or outdated data.
🛡️Safety & Security
When evaluating a token like Farad, security considerations extend beyond the smart contract to include the project's operational status and the safety of holding the token.
Smart Contract Risks
- Outdated compiler: The contract uses Solidity v0.4.12, which is several years old and may contain known vulnerabilities that have been patched in later versions[reference:26].
- No recent audits: There is no evidence of recent third-party security audits for the Farad smart contract.
- Proxy risk: The contract is not known to use proxy patterns, but the owner retains certain privileges (the contract is Ownable)[reference:27].
Operational Risks
- Project abandonment: The lack of active development, community engagement, and market activity suggests the project may no longer be maintained.
- Website status: The official website (farad.energy) may or may not still be operational[reference:28]. Always verify independently.
- Counterparty risk: The value of FRD depends on the performance of a third-party factory in China. If production has ceased, the token's underlying value may be zero[reference:29].
Holding and Custody
- FRD is an ERC-20 token and can be stored in any Ethereum-compatible wallet (MetaMask, Ledger, Trezor, etc.).
- However, even if you hold the tokens securely, they may have no market value if there is no liquidity to sell them.
- Always verify that you are using the correct contract address to avoid phishing or fake tokens[reference:30].
📌Examples & Limitations
What Farad Was Supposed to Be
Original vision: An investor purchases FRD tokens, each representing a claim on 1 mF of ultra-capacitor production from a factory in China. As the factory produces capacitors, the tokens theoretically gain value based on the market price of the capacitors. The project was described as "the first cryptocurrency backed by real economic activity"[reference:31].
Promise: A bridge between digital assets and physical manufacturing, with token value derived from actual production output rather than speculation alone.
What Farad Became
Current reality: As of 2026, Farad has no active trading markets, no reported circulating supply, and no market capitalization[reference:32]. The project appears to have become inactive, with no recent development, community activity, or exchange listings[reference:33].
Outcome: Like many ICO-era projects, Farad's ambitious vision did not translate into lasting market presence or liquidity.
Key Limitations
- Liquidity risk: The most significant limitation is the complete absence of active trading markets. Even if you hold FRD tokens, you may not be able to sell them[reference:34].
- Verification difficulty: There is no transparent mechanism for token holders to verify the status of the ultra-capacitor production or to claim their share of output.
- Regulatory uncertainty: Asset-backed tokens may face different regulatory treatment than pure cryptocurrencies, but in Farad's case, the lack of active operations makes regulatory status largely moot.
- Technology obsolescence: The smart contract uses an outdated compiler version and has not been updated to reflect modern security practices[reference:35].
✅Evaluation Checklist
Use this checklist when evaluating Farad (FRD) or any similar asset-backed token:
- Verify contract address: Confirm you are using the correct ERC-20 contract address (0x0abefb7611cb3a01ea3fad85f33c3c934f8e2cf4)[reference:36].
- Check exchange listings: Verify whether FRD is listed on any major exchange with active trading pairs[reference:37].
- Review trading volume: Look for 24h trading volume on aggregators like CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap[reference:38].
- Examine circulating supply: Check reported circulating supply figures across multiple sources[reference:39].
- Visit the project website: Check if farad.energy is still active and whether there are any updates[reference:40].
- Search for recent news: Look for any mentions of Farad in crypto media or forums from the past 12 months.
- Audit the smart contract: Review the contract on Etherscan for any red flags or unusual patterns[reference:41].
- Assess the underlying asset: Research whether the ultra-capacitor factory is still operational and whether the production contract is being fulfilled.
- Consider opportunity cost: Evaluate whether your capital could be better deployed in assets with active liquidity and transparent operations.
📌Example Scenario
Scenario: A crypto enthusiast discovers Farad (FRD) while researching asset-backed tokens. They see that the token was launched in 2017 and was backed by ultra-capacitor production. They wonder if this represents a hidden gem — an overlooked token with real-world value.
Investigation:
- They check Coinbase and see that FRD has a price of $0.00, zero circulating supply, and zero market cap[reference:42].
- They look for trading pairs on major exchanges and find none[reference:43].
- They visit the project website (farad.energy) and find it is either inactive or has no recent updates[reference:44].
- They search for news about Farad and find only articles from 2017[reference:45].
- They review the smart contract on Etherscan and note it was compiled in 2017 with an outdated Solidity version[reference:46].
Decision:
- The investor concludes that Farad is effectively inactive with no liquidity.
- Even if the ultra-capacitor production is still ongoing (which cannot be verified), there is no mechanism for token holders to realize value.
- The investor decides to avoid purchasing FRD, recognizing that the token's lack of market activity makes it a high-risk, illiquid asset.
This is a hypothetical scenario for educational purposes. Always conduct your own research before making any investment decision.
🚫Common Mistakes
- Assuming asset-backed means guaranteed value: Even if a token is backed by real assets, that does not guarantee liquidity or that you can realize that value. The backing is only as good as the enforcement mechanism.
- Confusing price with value: Seeing a reported price of $0.0065 for FRD[reference:47] does not mean you can sell at that price. Reported prices for illiquid tokens often do not reflect actual market conditions.
- Ignoring liquidity: Many investors focus on price and market cap while overlooking liquidity. An asset with zero trading volume is effectively unsellable.
- Believing outdated information: Articles and reviews from 2017[reference:48] do not reflect the current state of the project. Always look for recent information.
- Overlooking contract age: An old smart contract with an outdated compiler version[reference:49] may have vulnerabilities that have been discovered since deployment.
- Failing to verify the underlying asset: For asset-backed tokens, you need to independently verify that the asset exists and is being produced. Relying solely on the project's claims is insufficient.
- Buying without an exit plan: If you cannot identify a way to sell the token in the future, you should not buy it in the present.
⚠️Risk Warning
Farad (FRD) is an inactive cryptocurrency with no active trading markets, zero reported circulating supply, and zero market capitalization. Holding FRD tokens carries substantial risk, including:
- Illiquidity: You may be unable to sell your tokens at any price.
- Total loss of capital: If the project has been abandoned, your tokens may have no value.
- Outdated technology: The smart contract uses an old compiler version that may contain unpatched vulnerabilities.
- Verification failure: You cannot independently verify the status of the underlying ultra-capacitor production.
This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in this guide constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold Farad (FRD) or any other cryptocurrency.
Always verify current prices, fees, rules, and platform availability directly from official sources. The information in this guide may become outdated as market conditions evolve.
Never invest more than you can afford to lose entirely.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
What is Farad (FRD) cryptocurrency?
Farad (FRD) is an Ethereum-based ERC-20 token launched in 2017. Each FRD token represents a claim on the forward purchase contract for ultra-capacitor cells produced by a factory in China, with each token equivalent to 1 millifarad (mF) of production capacity over a 36-month period[reference:50].
Is Farad (FRD) still actively traded?
As of 2026, Farad (FRD) appears to have extremely limited to no active trading markets. Major exchanges and data aggregators report zero circulating supply, zero market cap, and no active trading pairs[reference:51][reference:52]. The project was launched in 2017 and has not demonstrated ongoing development or liquidity.
What makes Farad different from other cryptocurrencies?
Farad was designed to be backed by real economic activity — specifically, the manufacturing of ultra-capacitors[reference:53]. Unlike most cryptocurrencies that are purely digital assets, FRD tokens were intended to represent a claim on physical production output from an actual factory in China.
Where can I buy or sell Farad (FRD) tokens?
Currently, there are no known active trading markets for Farad (FRD). Major exchanges like Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken do not list FRD with active trading pairs[reference:54]. If you hold FRD tokens, you may need to use decentralized exchanges (DEXs) or OTC platforms, but liquidity is likely extremely limited.
What is the total supply of Farad (FRD)?
The total token volume for Farad was set at 1,600,000,000 units, with 1,280,000,000 units allocated for the token swap program during the 2017 ICO. However, actual circulating supply figures are unclear due to lack of active market data.
Is Farad (FRD) a scam?
There is no definitive evidence that Farad was created as a deliberate scam. It was a legitimate ICO project with a whitepaper, a smart contract, and a physical asset backing claim[reference:56]. However, like many ICO-era projects, it has become effectively inactive with no liquidity, making it a high-risk asset for potential investors.
What are the risks of investing in Farad (FRD)?
Key risks include: no active trading markets (illiquidity), zero market cap and circulating supply per major data sources[reference:57], an outdated smart contract (Solidity v0.4.12 from 2017)[reference:58], no recent development activity, and the possibility that the underlying ultra-capacitor production never materialized or has ceased.
How can I verify the current status of Farad (FRD)?
Check multiple data sources: CoinGecko, CoinMarketCap, Coinbase, and Etherscan for the contract address (0x0abefb7611cb3a01ea3fad85f33c3c934f8e2cf4)[reference:59]. Look for trading volume, liquidity pools, and recent transaction activity. Also check the project's website (farad.energy) and social channels for any updates[reference:60].