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.


Markets

Ethereum Could Hold Lead as Dominant Smart-Contract Blockchain: Coinbase Analysts

The only real “ETH killer” might end up being Ethereum 2.0, according to analysts for the U.S. exchange Coinbase.

Ethereum's lead over competitors might be hard to close. (Elena Rabkina/Unsplash)

Markets

Cardano-Based Decentralized Exchange SundaeSwap Off to Rocky Start

Users have complained that they have not received their tokens after swapping Cardano's ADA tokens for SUNDAE.

The SundaeSwap DEX is launching in beta on Cardano later this week. (RitaE/Pixabay)

Tech

Understanding DeFi and Its Importance in the Crypto Economy

The aim of decentralized finance is to create an entirely new financial system. As DeFi continues to evolve and strengthen, it’s vitally important for advisors to understand this space.

CoinDesk placeholder image

Finance

Privacy-Focused Blockchain Secret Network Announces $400M in Funding

The project includes a $225 million ecosystem fund and $175 million accelerator pool.

(Stefan Steinbauer/Unsplash)

Tech

Liquidity Mining Is Dead. What Comes Next?

Once DeFi’s top growth hack, a wave of new projects is reconsidering a yield farming staple.

“Whoever controls liquidity controls DeFi.” (Rahul Pabolu/Unsplash)

Tech

Cosmos Exchange Osmosis Expands to Ethereum Assets With Gravity Bridge

Connecting Osmosis with the leading smart-contract chain could give the Cosmos automatic market marker another boost in total value locked.

CoinDesk placeholder image

Layer 2

Ethereum Is No Longer a One-Chain Ecosystem

Some highlights from The Year in Ethereum 2021 report by Evan Van Ness and Josh Stark.

(RobertoDavid/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Finance

Crypto Miner Argo Diversifies Into Non-Mining Blockchain Business

The “Argo Labs” unit will be funded internally and focus on blockchain-related, non-mining projects.

(Yuichiro Chino via Getty Images)

Markets

DeFi’s Wonderland Is Buying TIME

The Olympus fork saw its TIME token drop below its treasury-backed value on Monday, spurring liquidations and protocol intervention.

magic, frog

Markets

Opyn’s New ‘Squeeth’ Raises Ether Trading to the Power of Two

In yet another example of the crypto industry's tendency to combine innovation with leverage, the new "Squeeth" index (for squared-ether) turns the options trade into a perpetual contract and can be used as a hedge.

Financialization means big directional bets and lots of leverage, propped up by a hype campaign. In crypto, those bets are often followed by a hard landing. (Creative Commons)