Decentralized finance, or DeFi for short, is a financial system built on top of blockchain technology that enables the creation of decentralized, open-source financial applications. Unlike traditional finance, which relies on centralized institutions like banks and governments, DeFi uses blockchain technology to create a trustless, transparent, and decentralized ecosystem for financial transactions.
The key advantage of DeFi is that it allows for greater accessibility and inclusivity, as anyone with an internet connection can participate in the system without the need for intermediaries or gatekeepers. Additionally, DeFi platforms offer a wide range of financial services such as lending, borrowing, trading, and insurance, often with lower fees and higher returns than traditional financial institutions.
DeFi is still a relatively new field, but it is growing rapidly, with the total value locked in
DeFi protocols reaching over 20 billion USD at the end of 2020. Some of the most popular DeFi protocols include MakerDAO, Compound, Uniswap, and Aave, which offer services such as lending, borrowing, and trading of cryptocurrencies.
Overall, Decentralized finance allows for more transparency and accessibility in the financial world, and has the potential to democratize access to financial services. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more developments and new use cases in the DeFi space.