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.


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Uniswap Community Creates Foundation to Support Open-Source Development

Community members of decentralized exchange Uniswap have voted to create the Uniswap Foundation, an organization aiming to support open-source development and community governance within the protocol. “The Hash” panel discusses the implications for the Uniswap ecosystem, Ethereum, and the state of DeFi.

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Uniswap Blocks 253 Crypto Addresses Related to DeFi Crimes

Decentralized exchange (DEX) Uniswap has blocked 253 crypto addresses possibly linked to sanctioned crypto mixer Tornado Cash or to stolen funds. “The Hash” hosts discuss what this suggests about the state of DeFi as the crackdown on Tornado Cash continues.

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Crypto Investment Scams Fall With Market Downturn, but DeFi Hacks Surge: Report

Crypto investment scams are down along with the rest of the market, Chainalysis Director of Research Kim Grauer tells “First Mover,” citing macroeconomic headwinds and law enforcement actions. But, at the same time “the hacking of DeFi protocols is way up,” she explains.

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Why Smart Contract Platforms Held Up Better Than DeFi Amid Inflation Fears

Amid inflation concerns, CoinDesk Indices Managing Director Jodie Gunzberg tells “First Mover” that the smart contracts sector held up better than the “recession sensitive sectors” like DeFi. “We are seeing divergence based on different use cases of different assets,” she explains, using CoinDesk’s Digital Asset Classification Standard, also known as DACS.

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How Digital Asset Sectors Are Performing Across Crypto Markets

CoinDesk Indices Managing Director Jodie Gunzberg breaks down how various major digital asset sectors are performing in the broader crypto markets, explaining the divergence in performance based on different use cases and recession impacts. Why are smart contract platforms holding up better than DeFi? Plus, the implications for the future of global finance.

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