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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The Founders of Synthetix and Chainlink on DeFi, Derivatives and 25 New Decentralized Price Feeds
Yesterday Chainlink released price reference data for 25 of its decentralized oracle networks which, together, power more than $100m in DeFi.
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DeFi's concentrated assets. Credit: Shutterstock
Most of MakerDAO's Asset Value Is in Only a Few Addresses
Though the industry is growing rapidly, a very small portion of addresses hold the majority of assets being locked and borrowed in the DeFi space.
DeFi's concentrated assets. Credit: Shutterstock

BlockFi CEO Zac Prince
BlockFi Adjusts Interest Rates to Lure Larger Crypto Deposits
BlockFi recently announced it would make changes to the interest they pay for bitcoin and ether deposits.
BlockFi CEO Zac Prince

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CoinDesk Q4 2019 Review: A Year in Suspended Animation
The CoinDesk Quarterly Review surfaces the key data, trends and events shaping the crypto markets. Check it out now.
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Tyrone Ross on Why Financial Advisors Are Taking Notice of DeFi
Financial advisor and crypto advocate Tyrone Ross joins for hot takes on financial advisors, DeFi and the most important company in crypto.
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TaxBit co-founders Justin and Austin Woodward
2019's DeFi Boom Raises New Questions for Tax Filing Season
A number of startups are now trying to help retail investors make sense of the tax implications of decentralized finance.
TaxBit co-founders Justin and Austin Woodward

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Why Crypto's 'Rogue State' Narrative Is a Risk to the Industry
From a North Korean blockchain conference to a sanctions-evading crypto hedge fund, does this type of activity present a narrative risk to the crypto industry as a whole?
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Balloons image via Shutterstock
Traders Turn to DeFi to Capitalize on Tuesday's Crypto Market Spike
Decentralized finance (DeFi) applications are popping off Tuesday, and the ETH price spike isn't the whole story.
Balloons image via Shutterstock

CES 2020 image by Brady Dale for CoinDesk
MakerDAO Pitches DeFi to the Masses at CES 2020
There's a "digital money" section on the show floor of this year's CES. MakerDAO's DAI is the only crypto with a booth.
CES 2020 image by Brady Dale for CoinDesk

Ryan Zurrer image via CoinDesk archives
Store of Value Remains Crypto’s Best Use Case
Store of value was the most viable and desirable use case across crypto in 2019 and offers a basis to increase adoption in the second decade of crypto, says Ryan Zurrer of Dia...
Ryan Zurrer image via CoinDesk archives