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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Federal Reserve building, Washington D.C.
High-Yield Crypto Ecosystem Offers Alternative to Low Interest Rates
People are turning to crypto not just as a hedge against inflation but also for the high returns it can offer.
Federal Reserve building, Washington D.C.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban Invests in Ethereum Layer 2 Polygon
"I was a Polygon user and find myself using it more and more," Cuban said in an email.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban

Aerial view of Chicago Downtown
DeFi Is Rising in Chicago
The Windy City’s crypto industry has been thriving thanks to regulations in other states.
Aerial view of Chicago Downtown

CoinDesk XBX Index
Market Wrap: DeFi Token Yearn.Finance Pops 76% as Bitcoin, Ether Make Double-Digit Gains
Opportunities in the crypto market this month have led to gains on decentralized and centralized exchanges.
CoinDesk XBX Index

SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk
Opium, UMA to Launch Decentralized Insurance for SpaceX Flights
Opium is to offer a DeFi derivatives contract allowing users to hedge against the risk of a failed SpaceX launch.
SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk

PwC's London offices
Crypto Hedge Funds Show Growing Appetite for DeFi: PwC
Crypto hedge funds had $3.8 billion in assets under management in 2020. Chainlink, Polkadot and Aave tokens proved to be popular.
PwC's London offices

Keys on keyboard, scam
People Behind Crypto Protocol DeFi100 May Have Absconded With $32M in Investor Funds
A not-so-classy message on the DeFi100.org website told investors they'd been fooled and "you can't do [the slightest thing] about it."
Keys on keyboard, scam

Crypto Startup 'Eco' Bringing DeFi to the Masses with A-List Celebrity Investors
Crypto Startup ‘Eco’ Bringing DeFi to the Masses with A-List Celebrity Investors
Crypto banking app “Eco” closed a $26 million funding round in March, with A-list stars like Tiffany Haddish, Diddy, and Kevin Durant being among its investors. “The Hash” pan...
Crypto Startup 'Eco' Bringing DeFi to the Masses with A-List Celebrity Investors

Flash Loan Attack Causes DeFi Token Bunny to Crash By 95%
Flash Loan Attack Causes DeFi Token Bunny to Crash By 95%
It’s a bad day for Bunny whales. A hacker used PancakeSwap to manipulate the DeFi Bunny market, causing it to crash by 95%. “The Hash” panel discusses what attacks like this m...
Flash Loan Attack Causes DeFi Token Bunny to Crash By 95%

A circuit board.
Flux Protocol Raises $10.3M Seed Round to Build DeFi Infrastructure on NEAR
Distributed Global, Coinbase Ventures and others are betting the data protocol can help lending applications attract users to NEAR.
A circuit board.