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Decentralized finance (DeFi) is the financial industry’s latest and most surprising innovation. Unlike traditional finance, decentralized finance is based on blockchain technology. Blockchain is a decentralized network of high-power computers connected through the Internet.
Decentralized finance is a threat to traditional finance. It offers secure financial services without any intermediaries. This blog post will use real-life examples to explore how a decentralized finance system works. Keep reading!
What is Decentralized Finance?
To understand decentralized finance, you should first understand the concept of blockchain technology. Satoshi Nakamoto (anonymous name) gave the idea of blockchain in 2008.
A decentralized and shared network of computers connected through the Internet, making a chain of blocks, is known as the blockchain. It is accessible to everyone through the Internet. Every transaction is encrypted, making it secure and confidential, and no governing authority exists.
Decentralized finance (DeFi) is the latest financial system version that uses blockchain technology. The traditional financial system has limitations, takes time, has intermediaries, is unsecured, and has a central authority to control all your financial transactions.
In a decentralized financial system, you are the single authority for all transactions. This allows you to make secure and fast transactions (in seconds) without any third parties. Once the transaction is done, there is no reversal. No one can change or edit that.
Defi has made the financial system easy, fast, and secure. One can borrow, trade, and invest in Defi like traditional financial systems.
Decentralized Finance vs Centralized Finance
Decentralized finance (DeFi) and centralized finance (CeFi) are different approaches to managing financial systems. Defi is a new invention in the financial system, while Cefi is the traditional financial system that has existed since the beginning of civilization.
Here are the main points that differentiate between Defi and Cefi:
| Decentralized Finance (Defi) | Centralized Finance (Cefi) |
| Defi is a new approach to the financial system | Cefi is the old, traditional financial system |
| Cefi is a centralized system | Cefi is centralized system |
| It has no controlling authority | It has a single controlling authority |
| It is very fast, completing transactions in seconds | It takes time to complete a transaction |
| It is secured and confidential | CEFI is not fully booked or confidential |
| It is based on blockchain technology | It operates manually |
| There is no intermediary in Defi | There are intermediaries in Cefi |
| It is free of cost | It bears costs and transaction fees |
| Defi is open to all | It operates as a closed system |
How Does it Work?
Now, how do decentralized finance systems work? It uses blockchain technology to create a network of computers that can perform several financial transactions with complete security and transparency. Users can connect to the network through decentralized apps (dApps) on the internet.
The Defi network on a blockchain needs no intermediaries like banks or financial institutions to complete a financial transaction. Instead, it allows users to do so independently. Users can trade, lend, borrow, and invest instantly.
All this is possible with smart contracts—high-level computer programs or protocols in the blockchain network that automate all transactions. Smart contracts allow transactions to be completed when certain predetermined conditions are met. This makes the process faster, cheaper, and more efficient than the traditional financial system.
A decentralized finance system uses cryptocurrencies as a medium of exchange in the blockchain network instead of traditional fiat currencies like the US dollar or Euro.
Overall, a decentralized finance system provides a more transparent, secure, flexible, and open financial ecosystem that gives greater financial access to its users. However, Defi is new and emerging; there is much more to wait and see.
Decentralized Finance Examples
Here are some real-life examples of decentralized finance (Defi) applications.
1- MakerDAO
MakerDAO is a decentralized and shared platform for cryptocurrency transactions. This platform allows users to trade, invest, and lend stable cryptocurrencies without intermediaries.
2- Yearn Finance
Yearn Finance is an excellent example of decentralized finance (Defi). It is based on the Ethereum blockchain. It provides users with the best yield farming strategies across the Defi platforms. It is fully decentralized, shared, and secure.
3- Uniswap
Uniswap is also an excellent example of decentralized finance. It is fully automated and governed by token holders on the platform. This platform allows users to swap one cryptocurrency for another without any third-party involvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike traditional financial systems, decentralized finance uses digital currencies (cryptocurrencies) to transact. It is automated, and no single controlling authority is there in Defi. It can replace the whole traditional financial system shortly.
All financial institutions can use Defi. They will use digital currency instead of fiat money for lending, investing, and trading.
Decentralized finance is an emerging technology in the financial industry. Decentralization means there is no single authority to control. It is managed by all stakeholders in the system. Decentralized finance is a digital financial system that is shared, secured, and fast.
Defi is a whole financial system that facilitates users making a wide range of transactions. At the same time, a cryptocurrency is a single cryptocurrency that can be exchanged on the platform
No. Bitcoin is a single, stable cryptocurrency. Decentralized finance is a financial ecosystem, and Bitcoin is part of it.
The core benefits of decentralized finance are
1- Decentralization
2- Security
3- Very fast
4- Confidential
5- Lowest transaction fees
Some of the well-known examples of decentralized finance (Defi) are
1- Uniswap (UNI)
2- MakerDAO
3- Aave (AAVE)
4- Yearn Finance (YF)
5- AllianceBlock
