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.

Tech

Uniswap's First Governance Vote Ends in Ironic Failure

The vote had been intended to decide whether or not to reduce the threshold required to make and pass proposals on the DeFi protocol.

By Sebastian SinclairOct 20, 2020

Videos

Binance’s CZ: Binance Smart Chain Is ‘Not Trying to Be the Ethereum Killer’

Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao explains why the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange is tapping into the decentralized finance (DeFi) trend with Binance Smart Chain. He also tells CoinDesk reporter Muyao Shen why he doesn’t view Ethereum as competition.

Oct 19, 2020

Videos

RAC on DeFi and Yield Farming: ‘These Days It Feels Like a Full-Time Job’

RAC, the Grammy award winning artist and part-time yield farmer says that “these days it feels more like a full-time job.” RAC joins CoinDesk senior narkets reporter Daniel Cawrey to discuss a day in the life of a musician turned yield farmer during lockdowns, the end of DeFi and the future of NFTs.

Oct 19, 2020

Markets

First Mover: OKEx Private Key Snafu Sends Bitcoin Lower as China DeFi Rises

OKEx withdrawal suspension sends bitcoin lower, China becomes hotbed of DeFi development, Filecoin first-day trading leaves market cap above $800M.

By David Pan, Omkar Godbole, Sebastian Sinclair, Bradley KeounOct 16, 2020

The OKEx exchange had to suspend withdrawals because a founder who held a crucial private key was reportedly detained.

Tech

DeFi Audit Firms Seeing 'Overwhelming Demand' Even Amid Token Price Slump

Overbooked audit firms are “rejecting” DeFi projects for code checks as the young sector wallows in its first bear market.

By William FoxleyOct 15, 2020

DeFi projects are lined up out the door for code audits as 'DeFi Summer' dies down.

Markets

How the DeFi Craze Made Its Way to China

DeFi is booming in China, with startups adapting and building on popular western projects within the nation's active crypto economy.

By David PanOct 15, 2020

The interest in decentralized finance (DeFi) projects has made its way to China.

Markets

First Mover: As Ethereum Enthusiasm Builds, 'Bear Case' Could Still See Prices Double

There's a lot of money to be made in and around maturing Ethereum-centric markets, where a "bear market" means prices double.

By Bradley Keoun, Omkar Godbole, Sebastian SinclairOct 15, 2020

Ethereum has emerged from its larval stage and cryptocurrency traders are bullish on the pupal.

Markets

Bloq Enters DeFi World With Simplified Staking Product 'Vesper'

Vesper will pool and stake deposited ether (ETH), wrapped bitcoin (wBTC) or tether (USDT) across DeFi protocols selected on the basis of a user’s risk preference starting mid-November.

By Jaspreet KalraOct 14, 2020

Jeff Garzik, co-founder of Hemi Labs (TEDx)

Markets

Binance’s CZ Views ‘CeDeFi’ as a Complement, Not a Competitor, to DeFi

Binance’s latest experiment to integrate decentralized finance with its centralized platform, Binance Smart Chain, is not here to beat DeFi, said the company’s CEO during CoinDesk’s invest: ethereum economy program.

By Muyao ShenOct 14, 2020