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.


Videos

Messari CEO: 'Crypto Regulatory Fears Unrelated to Market Sell-Off'

As U.S. regulators pay closer attention to the crypto industry and bitcoin enters pullback mode, Messari CEO Ryan Selkis discusses why he doesn't think the "looming regulatory threat" or "more aggressive language from the SEC" is what caused this week's massive market sell-off. Plus, his take on regulating DeFi and insights into his tweet suggesting someone was served a subpoena at the Mainnet conference in New York.

Recent Videos

Videos

Solana-Based Metaverse Gaming Platform Star Atlas Closes $2M in Public Token Sale

Blockchain-based metaverse gaming platform Star Atlas has closed $2 million in a public token sale, adding to the $41 million in sales it has already raised in NFTs. These NFTs and native Atlas tokens will be issued in Star Atlas’ play-to-earn gaming platform.

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Tech

Vee Finance Hit for $35M in Second Major Exploit on Avalanche

The platform was attacked for a total of 8804.7 ETH (around $26 million) and 213.93 BTC (around $9 million).

(Clint Patterson/Unsplash)

Markets

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Sell-Off Deepens as Equity Volatility Rises

Analysts expect further choppiness this week as investors seek safety from risk assets.

Bitcoin 24-hour chart (CoinDesk)

Finance

Sushi Core Contributor 0xMaki Transitioning to Advisory Role

The de facto CEO said he will be turning his attention to the broader DeFi ecosystem.

(Dbarak/Wikimedia Commons)

Tech

$3M Was Stolen, but the Real Steal Is These Kia Sedonas, Say Anonymous Developers

One of the most elegant hacks in recent history is also one of the strangest.

A Kia Sedona. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Videos

FTX CEO: 'Every Major Finance Firm Is Talking About Crypto'

Sam Bankman-Fried, head of crypto exchange FTX and trading firm Alameda Research, and co-founder of decentralized finance (DeFi) project Serum discusses institutional adoption of crypto and his conversations with Wall Street. He launched his career as a trader at Jane Street Capital before entering the digital asset space. Plus, his take on plans for FTX following a $900 million raise valuing the firm at $18 billion, crypto regulators reacting to the SEC's case against Coinbase, and transparency around stablecoins. 

Recent Videos

Finance

$3M in Ether Stolen From SushiSwap’s MISO Launchpad

An auction on the DeFi exchange’s launchpad was attacked on Thursday.

(Dbarak/Wikimedia Commons)

Tech

Kyber DEX Launches on Avalanche With $5.8M Liquidity Mining Program

“We’re going after the users,” said Kyber Network co-founder Loi Luu.

Loi Luu, Kyber Network CEO, at CoinDesk Consensus 2018 (CoinDesk archives)

Finance

Polychain Capital, Three Arrows Lead $230M Investment in Avalanche Ecosystem

The major funding will be used to inject liquidity into Avalanche-based DeFi platforms.

Ava Labs founder Emin Gün Sirer (CoinDesk archives)