Generally, crowdfunding capital raise is structured as either equity or debt. Equity is issued as stock, representing a form of ownership in a company with no defined maturity date. On the other hand, debt capital is raised in the form of a loan or promissory note to be paid back at some point in the future, usually with a fixed interest rate. Debt offerings on equity crowdfunding platforms tend to be open for a shorter duration. Let's discuss the basics of debt-based crowdfunding and why investors should consider using debt instruments to better position their portfolio against market volatility.