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.

Finance

Every Bank and Fintech Wants DeFi Under the Hood: Alchemy

Firms want to explore a “DeFi mullet:” compliance guardrails at the front, seamless access to DeFi tools at the back, said Web3 plumber Alchemy.

By Ian AllisonJun 23, 2025

Markets

Crypto Lenders Hold Nearly $60B of Assets as New Wave of DeFi Adoption Sweeps In: Report

DeFi protocols are expanding into tokenized real-world assets, with crypto-native asset managers playing a key role in capital allocation and governance, according to a new report.

By Krisztian SandorJun 18, 2025

(Christian Dubovan/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

Finance

Bitcoin DeFi Project Elastos Debuts BTC-Backed Stablecoin BTCD

BTCD developer Elastos' aim is to create a digital version of the Bretton Woods system, with BTC at its core rather than gold.

By Jamie CrawleyJun 18, 2025

Markets

XRP Gets Another DeFi Boost Through Flare’s FAssets and FXRP, Messari Says

Trading platform Uphold, which holds 1.8 billion XRP, is looking to integrate FXRP. Separately, NASDAQ-listed VivoPower has committed $100 million in XRP for deployment on the Flare network.

By Shaurya MalwaJun 17, 2025

Finance

CoinDesk Indices, Sentora Unveil Stablecoin Overnight Rates to Mirror Money Market Tools

The CoinDesk Overnight Rates (CDOR) convert USDC and USDT stablecoin borrowing data on Aave into daily benchmarks to support hedging and rate-based products.

By Krisztian SandorJun 17, 2025

U.S. dollar (Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

Tech

Polyhedra Blames Liquidity Attacks for Sudden 80% Price Drop in ZKJ, Promises Buyback

Co‑founder Tiancheng Xie revealed that Polyhedra Network is launching a buyback strategy to support ZKJ token prices after an “egregious” liquidity attack wiped out over 80% of its value.

By Shaurya MalwaJun 17, 2025