DeFi, or decentralized finance, is a term to describe financial services and products on blockchain networks such as Ethereum. It offers all the services that a traditional financial institution like a bank offers, such as borrowing, lending, earning interest on holdings, trading crypto assets, and more. It performs all the financial services but is faster and does not need intermediaries.
The current financial system is highly dependent on fiat currencies and big institutions that act as trusted intermediaries to complete payments and other financial transactions. Fiat currencies such as the US dollar, provide stability to markets, and banks issue credit and streamline transactions. The value and flow of capital in the current financial system are controlled by centralized entities. This makes the traditional financial markets vulnerable to censorship.
DeFi can transform traditional systems by making financial services more transparent and accessible. It can reduce transaction fees, improve security and transaction speed, and provide greater access to financial services to the unbanked. It can do so through blockchain technology and by eliminating intermediaries. Anyone can build and deploy new DeFi protocols, and so DeFi has the potential to create new financial instruments and innovation. This feature has resulted in the emergence of thousands of DeFi projects, with new applications being released daily.
Read more: What is DeFi
Table of Contents
Features of Ethereum that power DeFi
Most DeFi protocols and applications are built on the Ethereum blockchain, making it the leading crypto network for DeFi innovation and development. Developers and other users can use Ethereum’s Smart contract functionality to build unique financial products without intermediaries. There are many benefits to creating and deploying DeFi applications using the Ethereum network, such as:
● Decentralization: Ethereum DeFi projects are decentralized and not controlled by central entities. This feature reduces fraud and increases transparency.
● Efficiency: Ethereum DeFi protocols are executed automatically using Smart contracts, eliminating the need for intermediaries and hence increasing transaction efficiency.
● Accessibility: Any user with an internet connection can engage with Ethereum DeFi protocols, no matter their financial status or geographical location.
Ethereum DeFi platforms
One of the vital applications of the Ethereum DeFi ecosystem is decentralized exchanges (DEXs). DEXs empower users to trade crypto tokens without the need for centralized intermediaries. This feature drastically reduces gas fees and gives users more control over their funds.
Uniswap is one of the most popular DEXs on the Ethereum network, as it enables users to trade ERC-20 tokens without centralized exchanges or order books. It uses an automated market market (AMM) system that uses mathematical computations to determine asset prices rather than supply and demand.
Compound is another popular Ethereum DeFi protocol that enables crypto users to lend and borrow crypto tokens without intermediaries. It employs an algorithmic interest rate system that calibrates based on supply and demand to offer its users the best returns.
Conclusion
DeFi is a rapidly growing sector of the crypto market, and Ethereum is the leading DeFi platform. It provides users with many benefits when engaging with DeFi protocols, such as accessibility, decentralization, and efficiency. It also has a few drawbacks; scalability is a persistent issue as Ethereum can only handle a limited number of transactions per second. This issue has resulted in high fees and network congestion during high-demand periods. Security is another issue faced by the Ethereum DeFi ecosystem, as Smart contracts can be hacked or exploited by criminal entities.
Despite these issues, the Ethereum DeFi ecosystem is thriving and growing. Ethereum 2.0 introduced several upgrades, including the transition from a proof-of-work (PoW) to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus system, to address these issues and increase network scalability. It will be fascinating to see how the Ethereum DeFi ecosystem evolves and transforms the way we conduct financial transactions in the coming years.
You can buy Ethereum through ZebPay and join the millions already trading on the platform.
Disclaimer: Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions. Each investor must do his/her own research or seek independent advice if necessary before initiating any transactions in crypto products and NFTs. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the article belong solely to the author, and not to ZebPay or the author’s employer or other groups or individuals. ZebPay shall not be held liable for any acts or omissions, or losses incurred by the investors. ZebPay has not received any compensation in cash or kind for the above article and the article is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information.
