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.


Markets

Thorchain's RUNE Token Tumbles After 2nd Exploit in 2 Weeks

The latest exploit cost the blockchain protocol $8 million.

Lately, Thorchain has had to battle with attackers everywhere.

Markets

Washington Should Let DeFi Succeed

Regulators should prosecute fraud, but also acknowledge the limits of their effectiveness and allow DeFi to mature.

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Videos

Crypto Venture Studio Thesis Raises $21M to Keep Building

Thesis, the crypto incubator behind the Fold crypto rewards app and the decentralized Keep protocol, has raised $21 million in a Series A funding round led by Polychain Capital and others. Thesis CEO Matt Luongo discusses the studio’s plans following the raise.

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Videos

Ethereum’s London Hard Fork Expected to Launch Aug. 4

MyEtherWallet COO Brian Norton discusses the long-awaited launch of Ethereum’s London hard fork, breaking down what the protocol update will mean for the Ethereum network and its users. Plus, his take on other bullish indicators to watch for ETH, fears of high gas prices in the DeFi market, and blockchain regulation.

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Markets

First Decentralized Exchange Launches on Polkadot and Kusama Ecosystem

Karura Swap opened for trading with $3.4 million in total value locked.

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Markets

Tron, Stuck in Polygon’s Shadow, Deserves Its Own Place in the Sun, Founder Says

Some DeFi projects on Tron apparently have quietly beaten their peers on Polygon and Ethereum.

Tron founder Justin Sun

Markets

BlockFi Is in Regulators' Crosshairs. DeFi Is Next

The DeFi industry should watch closely the regulatory actions taken against BlockFi and the securities questions being raised, CoinDesk columnist Preston Byrne writes.

BlockFi CEO Zac Prince

Tech

Index Coop, Bankless DAO Team Up to Launch New Crypto Index

The BED token represents an even split of bitcoin, ether and Index Coop’s DeFi Pulse Index.

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Markets

US Credit Union Regulator Wants to Know How Its Firms Handle DeFi

The NCUA is asking credit unions to weigh in on how they are interacting with DeFi and DLT.

The National Credit Union Administration, a federal regulator, wants to know more about how its regulated institutions are looking at DeFi and DLT.