DeFi

DeFi, short for decentralized finance, represents a shift in the financial sector by leveraging blockchain technology, primarily Ethereum, to eliminate traditional financial intermediaries. It enables various financial applications, from simple transactions to complex contracts, through smart contracts that execute automatically under specific conditions. Key DeFi applications include decentralized exchanges (DEXs), stablecoins, lending platforms, and prediction markets. DeFi offers financial services like loans and interest-earning opportunities without traditional identity verification, relying instead on collateral, usually in cryptocurrency. This innovative sector promises increased accessibility and efficiency but comes with risks, such as market volatility and unregulated projects.


Learn

What Is DeFi?

Decentralized finance (DeFi) applications aim to cut out the middlemen of our everyday finances.

(Pixabay)

Policy

Crypto Industry Battles to Exempt NFTs, DeFi From Tax Reporting Rules

The OECD is trying to introduce new rules to stop crypto from being used to stash assets out of sight of the taxman.

OECD members mapped out across the globe. (michal812/Getty images)

Opinion

Martin Shkreli Is Back. He Loves Crypto

The flawed former hedge fund manager is looking to reinvent himself as a crypto entrepreneur. Buyer beware.

Martin Shkreli acknowledging the public. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Markets

Goldman Sachs Says DeFi’s Interconnections Can Increase Systemic Risk

Contagion risk related to UST’s depegging hit staked ether (stETH) because of Lido’s exposure to the Terra ecosystem, the bank said.

Yuri Turkov/Shutterstock

Markets

Market Wrap: Cryptos Decline Amid Choppy Trading, DeFi Tokens Underperform

Aversion to risk remains as volatility returns to stocks and cryptos.

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Finance

DeFi Protocol iZUMi Finance Raises $30M, Launches Exchange

The funds were raised through the sale of bond vouchers and claims to back the new iZiSwap decentralized exchange.

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Markets

It’s Not Just LUNA. Terra’s DeFi Apps Have Hemorrhaged $28B

Investors have largely exited the Terra ecosystem – now evident in DeFi protocols on the blockchain – and analysts remain skeptical about its long-term prospects.

Moon (Ralph Mayhew/Unsplash)

Finance

SingularityNET, SingularityDAO Receive $25M to Accelerate AI-Backed DeFi

Global investment group LDA Capital committed the funds and will provide strategic support.

Web 3's use of AI will present challenges. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Finance

Nomura’s Digital Division to Focus on Cryptocurrencies First, DeFi Later

Phase one of Nomura’s new digital-assets division will include the top 10 cryptocurrencies, with DeFi and NFTs further down the line.

Nomura. (charnsitr/Shutterstock)

Finance

Institutional DeFi Enabler? Data Firm Kaiko Probes DEX Liquidity With New Product

The data feed unpacks what’s what in Uniswap, SushiSwap, Curve Finance and Balancer asset pools.

Kaiko CEO Ambre Soubiran (CoinDesk archives)