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

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Trading Flat, Holding at $9.6K

Trading volume in the crypto market weakened Tuesday but bitcoin is still holding strong from a recent rally.

By Daniel CawreyJun 23, 2020

Tech

Following COMP's Surge, DeFi Platform Balancer Begins Distribution of BAL Tokens

Balancer Labs, the maker of an automated portfolio management tool, has confirmed to CoinDesk it has begun distribution of its BAL token.

By Brady DaleJun 23, 2020

Markets

DeFi Protocols Should Act More Like Fiduciaries

Open protocols can help reform the financial system, says our columnist. But they need to come with safeguards consumers understand.

By Lex SokolinJun 23, 2020

Markets

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Hits $9.6K as Bullish Crypto Sentiment Returns

Bitcoin is back in bullish territory but can the buying last?

By Daniel CawreyJun 22, 2020

Finance

DeFi Hedging Startup Opyn Raises $2.16M Seed Round Led by Dragonfly Capital

Opyn, a hedging instrument for decentralized finance (DeFi) has closed a $2.16 million funding round led by Dragonfly Capital.

By Brady DaleJun 22, 2020

Markets

Compound Tops MakerDAO, Now Has the Most Value Staked in DeFi

Compound has overthrown MakerDAO as the decentralized finance protocol with the most value staked, locking $484 million to Maker's $481 million on Saturday.

By Brady DaleJun 20, 2020

Tech

DeFi Startups Built on Compound Weigh What to Do With $200 COMP Tokens

Startups built on Compound's decentralized lending protocol are now pondering the second-order effects of COMP's price surge.

By Brady DaleJun 19, 2020

The Banker's Table, 1877 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Markets

Tether's Supply on Compound Jumps to Over $224M in a Week

Tether's volume on decentralized lender Compound has quadrupled to over $224 million in just a few days, and is by far the dominant stablecoin on the platform.

By Paddy BakerJun 19, 2020

Markets

Blockchain Bites: COMP x2, Reddit Scales and Factom Goes Bankrupt

The COMP governance token is seeing massive gains and potential listings on Coinbase Pro and CoinFlip, while Reddit looks to scale its Ethereum-based project.

By Daniel KuhnJun 19, 2020