What Does Decentralized Finance Do?
Decentralized finance (DeFi) reconceptualizes traditional finance by enabling peer-to-peer financial transactions, which means there are no intermediaries like banks. It also leverages blockchain technology, specifically smart contracts, to automate transactions and create an overall more open, accessible, and efficient financial system.
DeFi offers a wide range of services, among which:
Decentralized Lending and Borrowing: Borrowers can access loans directly from lenders through DeFi protocols, while lenders can earn interest on their crypto holdings. Generally, both get better interest rates than traditional banks.
Trading: DeFi allows individuals and organizations to engage in secure and transparent peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading through Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs).
Investing: DeFi offers various investment opportunities. For instance, yield farming enables users to earn interest on their crypto holdings by locking them in a DeFi protocol.