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.

Consensus Magazine

The Funniest Anon on Crypto Twitter

Gwart has the ear of DeFi’s elite. What they don’t know is that crypto’s truth-telling funnyman is secretly a Bitcoiner.

By Daniel KuhnDec 5, 2023

Finance

DeFi Market Rebounds to $50B as Speculators Hunt for Yield

An uptick across Solana-based protocols coupled with more than $700 million in deposits to Blast has fueled growth of the value locked in decentralized finance.

By Oliver KnightDec 5, 2023

Consensus Magazine

Antonio Juliano: Uprooting a Successful Exchange to Explore the Cosmos

Juliano's dYdX switched from Ethereum to Cosmos in one of the year's biggest blockchain defections. The project has big plans for 2024.

By Daniel KuhnDec 4, 2023

Consensus Magazine

Shytoshi Kusama and the SHIB community Proved that ‘Meme Coins’ Are No Joke

With the launch of Shibarium this year, Shytoshi Kusama and the SHIB community have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in DeFi and Web3.

By Dilin MassandDec 4, 2023

Shib/Shytoshi Kusama (Mason Webb/CoinDesk)

Consensus Magazine

Hayden Adams: From Ethereum Idealist to Business Realist at Uniswap

Uniswap, the first decentralized crypto exchange of its kind, was Adams’ first and greatest contribution to Ethereum. The latest V4, inviting praise and criticism, earns him a spot on the Most Influential 2023.

By Daniel KuhnDec 4, 2023

Uniswap's Hayden Adams (portrait by Mason Webb for CoinDesk)

Consensus Magazine

Ogle Catches the Crypto Crooks

Hacks happen a lot in crypto. So, Ogle has professionalized asset recovery for the victims. He's pretty good at it.

By Daniel KuhnDec 4, 2023

Policy

Duo Behind $9M Platypus Exploit Acquitted by Paris Court: Report

Charges were dropped after one of the accused argued he was an "ethical hacker," according to French news publication Le Monde.

By Camomile ShumbaDec 4, 2023

Markets

There Are Tentative Signs of Revival in DeFi and NFT Markets, JPMorgan Says

Expectation of U.S. approval of a spot bitcoin ETF has led to an increase in DeFi and NFT activity in recent months, the report said.

By Will CannyNov 30, 2023

Decentralized finance activity is starting to pick up. (Alina Grubnyak/Unsplash)

Videos

How Spool Is Aiming to Help Institutions Enter DeFi

SpoolDAO, which wants to help institutions enter decentralized finance (DeFi), has launched v2 of its middleware product. Spool lead contributor Simon Schaber discusses the current demand from TradFi institutions, details on Spool V2 and mitigating some of the risks that come with DeFi for institutional clients.

Nov 29, 2023