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

S&P Assigns First-Ever Credit Rating to a DeFi Protocol, Rates Sky at B-

S&P Global Ratings assigned Sky Protocol a B- rating with a stable outlook, marking the first time a credit rating company has assessed a DeFi protocol

By Jamie Crawley, AI BoostAug 11, 2025

A mountain outlined against a starry sky (sebadelval/Pixabay)

Markets

Asia Morning Briefing: Tokenized Assets Will Eclipse DeFi, Chronicle Founder Niklas Kunkel Says

In an interview with CoinDesk, Kunkel outlines how oracles are moving beyond price feeds to power real-time risk management for the next wave of onchain credit.

By Sam Reynolds, AI BoostAug 11, 2025

Markets

Pendle's TVL Hits Record $8.3B After Yield-Trading Platform Debut

The protocol's new yield-trading platform, Boros, allows traders to go long or short on funding rates, and has attracted significant deposits and activity since its launch.

By Francisco RodriguesAug 9, 2025

Stock market price charts (Anne Nygård/Unsplash)

Markets

Decentralized Finance and Tokenization Growth Still Disappoints: JPMorgan

Total value locked (TVL) in DeFi remains below 2021 highs, the report noted.

By Will Canny, AI BoostAug 7, 2025

Lending money, bills on a person's hands (Christian Dubovan/Unsplash)

Finance

Bitcoin DeFi Project BOB Raises Another $9.5M to Build BTC DeFi Infrastructure

The investment bring BOB's ("Build on Bitcoin") total funds raised to $21 million, following previous raises in 2024

By Jamie Crawley, AI BoostAug 7, 2025

CoinDesk Indices

The Layer 1 Fallacy: Chasing Premium Without Substance

DeFi and RWA protocols are rebranding themselves as Layer 1s to capture infrastructure-like valuations. But most remain narrowly focused applications with little sustainable economics — and the market is beginning to see through it, says Avtar Sehra.

By Avtar SehraAug 6, 2025

Finance

DeFi Cheers as SEC Affirms Liquid Staking Protocols Aren’t Securities

The SEC’s new guidance on liquid staking boosts governance tokens like LDO and RPL, while TVL across protocols holds steady at $67 billion.

By Oliver KnightAug 6, 2025

Finance

Aptos-Backed Decibel Unveils On-Chain Trading Platform With CEX Speed

The trading platform combines spot, perpetuals and yield strategies into a single interface, aiming to offer CEX-like speed with DeFi transparency.

By Oliver KnightAug 5, 2025

Markets

Ondo Finance Had a Blockbuster July. Analyst Sees ONDO Exploding Higher in August.

Ondo Finance’s July moves may fuel an ONDO rally this month, says a popular crypto analyst citing acquisitions, partnerships, and regulatory momentum.

By Siamak Masnavi, CD AnalyticsAug 4, 2025

ONDO rises 5% with key breakout above $0.92 on Aug. 4

Finance

DeFi Protocol CrediX Taken Offline After $4.5M Exploit

CertiK said all the stolen funds were bridged to Ethereum from Sonic.

By Oliver KnightAug 4, 2025

A pair of spectacles sits on a tabletop in front of a bank of screens. (Kevin Ku/Unsplash)