DeFi

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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.

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Bitcoin 24-hour chart (CoinDesk)
Market Wrap: Bitcoin Sell-Off Deepens as Equity Volatility Rises
Analysts expect further choppiness this week as investors seek safety from risk assets.
Bitcoin 24-hour chart (CoinDesk)

Assorted sushi (Dbarak/Wikimedia Commons)
Sushi Core Contributor 0xMaki Transitioning to Advisory Role
The de facto CEO said he will be turning his attention to the broader DeFi ecosystem.
Assorted sushi (Dbarak/Wikimedia Commons)

A Kia Sedona. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
$3M Was Stolen, but the Real Steal Is These Kia Sedonas, Say Anonymous Developers
One of the most elegant hacks in recent history is also one of the strangest.
A Kia Sedona. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

FTX CEO: 'Every Major Finance Firm Is Talking About Crypto'
FTX CEO: ‘Every Major Finance Firm Is Talking About Crypto’
Sam Bankman-Fried, head of crypto exchange FTX and trading firm Alameda Research, and co-founder of decentralized finance (DeFi) project Serum discusses institutional adoption...
FTX CEO: 'Every Major Finance Firm Is Talking About Crypto'

(Dbarak/Wikimedia Commons)
$3M in Ether Stolen From SushiSwap’s MISO Launchpad
An auction on the DeFi exchange’s launchpad was attacked on Thursday.
(Dbarak/Wikimedia Commons)

Loi Luu, Kyber Network CEO, at CoinDesk Consensus 2018 (CoinDesk archives)
Kyber DEX Launches on Avalanche With $5.8M Liquidity Mining Program
“We’re going after the users,” said Kyber Network co-founder Loi Luu.
Loi Luu, Kyber Network CEO, at CoinDesk Consensus 2018 (CoinDesk archives)

Emin Gün Sirer (CoinDesk archives)
Polychain Capital, Three Arrows Lead $230M Investment in Avalanche Ecosystem
The major funding will be used to inject liquidity into Avalanche-based DeFi platforms.
Emin Gün Sirer (CoinDesk archives)

Polychain Capital, Three Arrows Lead $230M Investment in Avalanche Ecosystem
Polychain Capital, Three Arrows Lead $230M Investment in Avalanche Ecosystem
Fresh on the heels of a $180 million incentive program, the Avalanche Foundation announced Thursday a $230 million raise led by Three Arrows Capital and Polychain Capital to j...
Polychain Capital, Three Arrows Lead $230M Investment in Avalanche Ecosystem

Opinionated
Banks Will Have to Adapt to DeFi, Featuring Eric Wall
From bitcoin trading basics, we’re going right into the wild world of decentralized finance
Opinionated

JST Capital Co-Founder on Embracing Bitcoin's Volatility
JST Capital Co-Founder on Embracing Bitcoin’s Volatility
Scott Freeman, a partner and co-founder of crypto services firm JST Capital based in the U.S. and Singapore, discusses his crypto markets assessment and outlook, explaining wh...
JST Capital Co-Founder on Embracing Bitcoin's Volatility