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.


Opinion

CeFi Broke. But DeFi Is Not Without Blame

It’s dangerous to simply throw all the blame for the current round of market mayhem at centralized lenders. Work is needed to bring security and stability to DeFi, says CoinDesk's chief content officer.

Issues with both DeFi and CeFi need resolution (Rachel Sun/CoinDesk)

Markets

First Mover Americas: BTC Nears $21K but DeFi Tokens Steal the Show

The latest price moves in crypto markets in context for July 15, 2022.

BTC holds the $20,500 level and DeFi tokens continue to surge. (Matt Jelonek/Getty Images)

Finance

DeFiance Capital Has Been 'Materially Affected' by Three Arrows Liquidation

The firm's CEO has said he is committed to recovering all assets that may have been affected.

CoinDesk placeholder image

Markets

DeFi Coins Outperform Bitcoin, Ether as Traders Pare Bets on Jumbo Fed Rate Hike

The outperformance of the DeFi coins could be fleeting, given the weak fundamentals.

Prominent DeFi coins take the lead as the crypto market remains resilient to inflation fears. (mibro/Pixabay)

Markets

Celsius Pays Off Last DeFi Loan, Reclaims Nearly $200M of Wrapped Bitcoin From Compound

The troubled crypto lender previously paid off loans from Aave and Maker.

(Piaras Ó Mídheach/Web Summit via Sportsfile)

Markets

Celsius Pays Off Aave Loan, Moves $418M 'stETH' Stack to Unknown Wallet

The liquidity-stricken crypto lender fully paid off its debt to the decentralized finance protocol, freeing $26 million in tokens as part of its latest debt restructuring maneuver.

Consensus 2019 Alex Mashinsky Founder and CEO Celsius Network (CoinDesk)

Finance

A16z, Variant Lead $18M Round for Lending Protocol Morpho Labs

The protocol enhances existing lending protocols such as Compound and Aave with peer-to-peer liquidity.

A16z partner Chris Dixon (Steve Jennings/Getty Images for TechCrunch)

Markets

Celsius Reclaims $410M of 'stETH' Tokens After Paying Down $81M Debt to Aave

The embattled crypto lender Celsius is inching closer to fully paying off its loans from decentralized finance protocols, reducing its outstanding debt to $59 million.

Alex Mashinsky, founder and CEO of Celsius Network, at Consensus 2019 (CoinDesk)

Markets

Celsius Reclaims $172M Collateral From Aave, Compound

The liquidity-strapped crypto lender has paid down $95 million in debt from the two DeFi platforms since Friday.

Alex Mashinsky, founder and CEO of Celsius Network, at Consensus 2019 in New York (CoinDesk)

Policy

International Securities Regulator IOSCO to Focus on Global DeFi, Crypto Rules

In its first two years, the global standard-setter's new fintech task force will concentrate on setting up policy recommendations for digital assets.

El emisor de estándares internacionales para la regulación de valores IOSCO planea publicar recomendaciones de políticas para cripto y DeFi para fines de 2023. (simoncarter/ Getty)