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

Some of DeFi’s Leading Investors Are Backing a New Options Protocol

Framework Ventures and ParaFi Capital are leading the round in a bid to see if DeFi options trading can finally click.

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Policy

Who in Crypto Met With Brian Brooks When He Ran OCC? Here's His Calendar

As Donald Trump’s national bank regulator, Brooks met with a wide range of crypto market participants, from Fortune 500 execs to DeFi protocol founders, documents show.

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Markets

Uniswap Labs Limits Access to Some Tokens

The software development studio cited an "evolving regulatory landscape" in making its decision.

DeFiance Capital's Arthur Cheong is raising a new liquid venture capital fund.

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Blockchain Protocol THORChain Suffers Another Hack Totaling $8M

Cross-chain decentralized exchange THORChain has been hit by another exploit, this time costing around $8 million. Last week, the protocol was drained of around 4,000 ether in a separate incident. “The Hash” panel discusses the potential risks of investing in DeFi as the sector becomes increasingly subject to major crypto hacks.

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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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Mga video

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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Mga video

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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