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.


Finance

Solana-Based Yield Aggregator Tulip Raises $5M

The DeFi app formerly known as SolFarm has over $800 million in TVL.

(Earl Wilcox/Unsplash)

Videos

Why Is the Economist Auctioning Its "Down the Rabbit Hole" Cover as NFT?

The Economist is auctioning its Sept. 18 cover titled "Down the rabbit hole: The promise and perils or decentralised finance" as an NFT. All proceeds go to the Economist Education Foundation, its independent charity. Alice Fulwood, a Wall Street correspondent at The Economist, shares insights into the launch and the possibilities of decentralized web in providing new ways of distributing media.

Recent Videos

Finance

XDEFI Wallet Looks to Raise $12M in Initial DEX Offering

The IDO will take place in early November on MISO, the platform built for offering new tokens on SushiSwap.

wallet on wood

Finance

Solana-Based Perpetual Swaps DEX Drift Protocol Raises $3.8M

Multicoin Capital led the decentralized exchange’s funding round with Jump and Alameda also participating.

(Danny Sleeuwenhoek/Unsplash)

Markets

Fractional-Algorithmic Stablecoin Protocol Frax’s Governance Token Surges 80% on Supply Squeeze

About three-quarters of all circulating FXS supply is locked away for an average of 1.08 years, one analyst said.

FXS price (Messari)

Tech

Near Protocol Offers $800M in Grants in Bid for DeFi Mindshare

Amid a spree of mammoth layer 1 incentive programs, Near has raised the bar in sheer size.

Near co-founder Illia Polosukhin speaks at NEARCON 2021. (NEAR)

Videos

NEAR Protocol Offers $800M in Grants in Bid for DeFi Mindshare

NEAR, the high-speed and self-styled “climate neutral” chain, has launched a mammoth $800 million grants fund with major tranches earmarked for specific purposes, with DeFi being a major focus of the program. "The Hash" squad discusses the latest development in what may be the first step towards a full DeFi ecosystem.

Recent Videos

Policy

DeFi on the Ballot: Yearn Developer Matt West Is Running for Congress

The Oregon resident will be running on a pro-crypto platform as a Democrat.

Matt West could be a key voice for DeFi if he ends up being successful in his bid for public office. (Matt West)

Videos

New Lawsuit Shows Terra’s Do Kwon Was Served by SEC at 2021 Mainnet Conference

Do Kwon, CEO of DeFi platform Terraform Labs, is suing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after confirming he was served with an SEC subpoena at Messari’s Mainnet conference last month. “The Hash” team discusses the outlook for crypto projects following the latest ramped up enforcement efforts by U.S. regulators.

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Markets

Solana Hits New Record High as Layer 1 Tokens Follow Bitcoin’s Gains

Momentum has been building after bitcoin hit an all-time high last week.

Solana hit new record high prices on Monday. Credit: Kurt Cotoaga/Unsplash