Author: Journalist Benedict

Hello from the other side — Adele-style. I’ve been writing about crypto since way back in 2017. And despite all these years of researching, publishing, and following crypto trends, guess what? I’ve made absolutely zero profit. Not even a single coin. Why? Well, it all comes down to fear — fear of scams. After hearing countless horror stories about crypto fraud, I started to feel more and more hesitant about investing. Ironically, the more I learned about cryptocurrency, the more I backed away from putting my money into it. I convinced myself that staying out completely was safer than risking…

When people think about crypto loans, they usually picture Bitcoin or Ethereum being used as collateral. But surprisingly, NFTs can also be used to secure a loan in some cases. In this guide, we’ll explain what it means to use an NFT as loan collateral, how the process works, and why some people might find it useful. What Are NFT-Backed (Collateralized) Loans? An NFT-collateralized loan is a type of loan where the borrower uses an NFT they own as security for the loan. This means the borrower temporarily gives control of the NFT to the lender, and in return, the…

Cryptocurrencies have become a major part of modern investing. Like traditional assets, crypto can be lent, borrowed, and used as security for loans. Crypto lending offers users attractive interest rates, quick access to loans and borrowing options, and a way to earn passive income or unlock cash without selling their digital assets. But after several high-profile liquidity problems that caused major platforms like Celsius and BlockFi to collapse, many investors are now more cautious about lending their crypto. Related Topic: How to Refinance Your Celsius Loan This caution is understandable—and even wise. There are real concerns about how safe crypto…

Decentralized Finance, or simply DeFi, is completely transforming the way people handle money. It allows users to lend, borrow, trade crypto assets, and earn interest—without needing a bank or financial institution. With the rise of blockchain technology, more people are eager to build their own DeFi platforms. This detailed guide explains every step involved in developing a DeFi protocol, from creating smart contracts and tokens to building a functional interface and launching your application. What Is a DeFi Protocol? A DeFi protocol is a financial system built on blockchain that replaces the need for centralized banks. Instead of relying on…

A zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) is a powerful cryptographic technique that lets one person prove they know something without revealing what that information is. Let’s break this down in the context of blockchain. For example, on February 21st, a North Korea-linked hacking group, Lazarus, stole around $1.5 billion worth of Ethereum from Bybit’s cold storage wallet. Shocking incidents like this raise major concerns: Can we really trust blockchains to keep our digital assets safe? Is it possible to improve privacy without compromising decentralization? What Is a Zero-Knowledge Proof? A zero-knowledge proof allows someone (called the prover) to show they know certain…

A Simple Overview of DeFi Lending As of now, the total value locked (TVL) in the DeFi lending sector is around $14.308 billion, which makes up about 18% of the entire DeFi ecosystem. This shows that lending is one of the fastest-growing areas within decentralized finance. Most of this TVL is held by just three major lending platforms: How Does DeFi Lending Work? DeFi lending, or decentralized finance lending, is similar to traditional bank loans but happens through decentralized applications (DApps) instead of banks. Everything is done through blockchain-based smart contracts without the need for middlemen. To borrow funds, a…

Synthetic derivatives have become one of the most exciting innovations in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. These unique financial tools allow investors to trade and gain exposure to real-world assets—like stocks, currencies, or commodities—without actually owning those assets. In this article, we’ll explore the seven most prominent synthetic derivative products available on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and how DEX software development plays a crucial role in supporting this ecosystem. What Are Synthetic Assets? Synthetic assets are digital financial instruments created using blockchain and smart contract technologies. Their purpose is to replicate the value and price movements of real-world assets such as…

An Automated Market Maker (AMM) is a special model used in decentralized finance (DeFi) that powers decentralized exchanges (DEXs). Unlike traditional exchanges that use order books to match buyers and sellers, AMMs use algorithms and smart contracts to allow users to trade directly from liquidity pools. These pools contain pairs of tokens, and the price of each token is calculated automatically based on how much of each token is available in the pool. Instead of matching buy and sell orders like in centralized exchanges, AMMs follow pre-set mathematical formulas to keep trading continuous. This system removes the need for middlemen…

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is a revolutionary breakthrough in the world of finance. However, its open and unrestricted nature can be misused, which makes traditional financial institutions wary of getting involved due to compliance concerns. To address this challenge, a new model known as Permissioned DeFi (PDeFi) is emerging — a concept that blends the open principles of DeFi with the strict regulatory frameworks institutions require. From permissioned liquidity pools to regulated payment systems, PDeFi offers a way to make DeFi safer and more acceptable for institutional investors while still maintaining its decentralized core. What Is DeFi? DeFi refers to financial…

The rapid progress in blockchain technology has paved the way for a wide variety of financial services through decentralized finance (DeFi). One major area where DeFi stands out is in lending and borrowing. Today, people who want to borrow using their cryptocurrency have two main options: DeFi loans and centralized finance (CeFi) loans. DeFi, short for Decentralized Finance, is designed to create an open, transparent, and accessible financial system that doesn’t depend on traditional middlemen like banks or brokers. Unlike traditional finance, DeFi has no central authority controlling its services. Instead, everything runs on blockchain networks and smart contracts. In…