<rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"><channel><title>Decentralized Finance on Stephen Ajulu</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/tags/decentralized-finance/</link><atom:link href="https://ajulu.netlify.app/tags/decentralized-finance/feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><description>Hello, I'm Stephen Ajulu, a seasoned multidisciplinary tech professional with over a decade of experience. I build impactful solutions using design, tech, and engineering in the pursuit of impact.</description><generator>Hugo -- gohugo.io</generator><language>en-us</language><managingEditor>ajulu.b22uf@aleeas.com (Stephen Ajulu)</managingEditor><webMaster>ajulu.b22uf@aleeas.com (Stephen Ajulu)</webMaster><copyright>Stephen Ajulu.</copyright><lastBuildDate>Sun, 21 Aug 2022 18:20:00 +0300</lastBuildDate><item><title>An Introduction in Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, Tokens, Smart Contracts</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/an-introduction-in-blockchain-cryptocurrencies-tokens-smart-contracts-nfts-web3-defi-gamefi-and-dein-crash-course/</link><pubDate>Sun, 21 Aug 2022 18:20:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/an-introduction-in-blockchain-cryptocurrencies-tokens-smart-contracts-nfts-web3-defi-gamefi-and-dein-crash-course/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;Hello there, today I&amp;rsquo;ll be covering definitions:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="what-is-blockchain"&gt;What is blockchain?&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A &lt;strong&gt;blockchain&lt;/strong&gt; is a growing list of records, called &lt;em&gt;blocks&lt;/em&gt;, that are linked together using &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptography" title="Cryptography"&gt;cryptography&lt;/a&gt;. Each block contains a &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptographic_hash_function" title="Cryptographic hash function"&gt;cryptographic hash&lt;/a&gt; of the previous block, a &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_timestamping" title="Trusted timestamping"&gt;timestamp&lt;/a&gt;, and transaction data (generally represented as a &lt;a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle_tree" title="Merkle tree"&gt;Merkle tree&lt;/a&gt;). The timestamp proves that the transaction data existed when the block was published in order to get into its hash. As blocks each contain information about the block previous to it, they form a chain, with each additional block reinforcing the ones before it. Therefore, blockchains are resistant to modification of their data because once recorded, the data in any given block cannot be altered retroactively without altering all subsequent blocks.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello there, today I&rsquo;ll be covering definitions:</p>
<h2 id="what-is-blockchain">What is blockchain?</h2>
<p>A <strong>blockchain</strong> is a growing list of records, called <em>blocks</em>, that are linked together using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptography" title="Cryptography">cryptography</a>. Each block contains a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptographic_hash_function" title="Cryptographic hash function">cryptographic hash</a> of the previous block, a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_timestamping" title="Trusted timestamping">timestamp</a>, and transaction data (generally represented as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle_tree" title="Merkle tree">Merkle tree</a>). The timestamp proves that the transaction data existed when the block was published in order to get into its hash. As blocks each contain information about the block previous to it, they form a chain, with each additional block reinforcing the ones before it. Therefore, blockchains are resistant to modification of their data because once recorded, the data in any given block cannot be altered retroactively without altering all subsequent blocks.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/"><strong>Learn more</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-is-a-cryptocurrency">What is a cryptocurrency?</h2>
<p>A <strong>cryptocurrency</strong> is any form of currency that exists digitally or virtually and uses cryptography to secure transactions. Cryptocurrencies don’t have a central issuing or regulating authority, instead, they use a decentralized system to record transactions and issue new units.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/how-to-buy-your-first-cryptocurrency/"><strong>Here is how you can buy your first cryptocurrency</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-are-crypto-tokens">What Are Crypto Tokens?</h2>
<p>The term token refers to a special virtual currency token or how cryptocurrencies are denominated. These tokens represent fungible and tradable assets or utilities that reside on their own <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchains</a>. Crypto tokens are often used to fundraise for crowd sales, but they can also serve as a substitute for other things. These tokens are usually created, distributed, sold, and circulated through the standard <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/initial-coin-offering-ico.asp">initial coin offering (ICO)</a> process, which involves a crowdfunding exercise to fund project development.</p>
<h2 id="what-is-a-smart-contract">What is a smart contract?</h2>
<p>A <strong>smart contract</strong> is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_program" title="Computer program">computer program</a> or a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transaction_Protocol_Data_Unit" title="Transaction Protocol Data Unit">transaction protocol</a> that is intended to automatically execute, control, or document legally relevant events and actions according to the terms of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract" title="Contract">contract</a> or an agreement. The objectives of smart contracts are the reduction of the need for trusted intermediates, arbitrations, and enforcement costs, fraud losses, as well as the reduction of malicious and accidental exceptions.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-smart-contracts-smart-contracts-explained/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-is-an-nft">What is an NFT?</h2>
<p>A <strong>non-fungible token</strong> (<strong>NFT</strong>) is a unique and non-interchangeable unit of data stored on a digital <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledger" title="Ledger">ledger</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain" title="Blockchain">blockchain</a>). NFTs can be associated with reproducible digital files such as photos, videos, and audio. NFTs use a digital ledger to provide a public <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_of_authenticity" title="Certificate of authenticity">certificate of authenticity</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_(property)" title="Title (property)">proof of ownership</a>, but it does not restrict the sharing or copying of the underlying digital file. The lack of interchangeability (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungibility" title="Fungibility">fungibility</a>) distinguishes NFTs from blockchain <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrencies" title="Cryptocurrencies">cryptocurrencies</a>, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin" title="Bitcoin">Bitcoin</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-explained/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-is-web-3">What is Web 3?</h2>
<p><strong>Web3,</strong> also known as <strong>Web 3.0</strong>, is an idea for a new iteration of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet" title="Internet">Internet</a> that is based on public <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain" title="Blockchain">blockchains</a>. The term was coined in 2014 by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethereum" title="Ethereum">Ethereum</a> co-founder <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_Wood" title="Gavin Wood">Gavin Wood</a>, and the idea gained interest in 2020 and 2021 from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrency" title="Cryptocurrency">cryptocurrency</a> enthusiasts, large technology companies, and venture capitalist firms.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/web-3.0-explained-part-1/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-is-defi">What is DeFi?</h2>
<p><strong>Decentralized finance</strong> (commonly referred to as <strong>DeFi</strong>) is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain" title="Blockchain">blockchain</a>-based form of finance that does not rely on central financial <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediary" title="Intermediary">intermediaries</a> such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brokerage" title="Brokerage">brokerages</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exchange_(organized_market)" title="Exchange (organized market)">exchanges</a>, or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank" title="Bank">banks</a> to offer traditional <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_instrument" title="Financial instrument">financial instruments</a>, and instead utilizes <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_contract" title="Smart contract">smart contracts</a> on blockchains, the most common being <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethereum" title="Ethereum">Ethereum</a>.[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><em>citation needed</em></a>] DeFi platforms allow people to lend or borrow funds from others, speculate on price movements on a range of assets using derivatives, trade <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrencies" title="Cryptocurrencies">cryptocurrencies</a>, insure against risks, and earn <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interest" title="Interest">interest</a> in savings-like accounts. DeFi uses a layered architecture and highly composable building blocks.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-finance-defined/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-is-gamefi">What is GameFi?</h2>
<p><strong>GameFi</strong> also known as Game Finance, is the gamification of financial systems to create profit from playing play-to-earn crypto games.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/gamers-assemble-play-games-to-earn-free-crypto/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h2 id="what-is-dein">What is DeIn?</h2>
<p>Decentralized Insurance also known as DeIn or DeFi Insurance is where rather than purchasing insurance coverage from one specific individual or company, you can purchase coverage from a decentralized pool of insurance providers. Interestingly, any individual or company can work as an insurance provider by locking up capital in the decentralized capital pool. The individual or company providing capital to the pool can qualify as a <a href="https://101blockchains.com/how-liquidity-provider-tokens-work/">liquidity provider</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-insurance-built-on-the-blockchain-is-a-game-changer/"><strong>Learn more.</strong></a></p>
<h3 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h3>
<p>I am a follower of the above simply because of how much disruption of traditional methods blockchain can create. In one way or the other blockchain technology is the future of processing. Currently, as of writing this post, there are Decentralized Supply Chain Management, Decentralized Full Proof Voting, Decentralized Real Estate, Decentralized Data Protection, and Decentralized Loyalty + Royalty Programs.</p>
<p><strong>Learn more here:</strong> <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/the-importance-and-benefits-of-blockchain-technology/"><strong>The Importance and Benefits of Blockchain Technology</strong></a></p>
<p>Blockchain <strong>increases trust, security, transparency, and the traceability of data shared across a business network</strong> — and delivers cost savings with new efficiencies. Blockchain for business uses a shared and immutable ledger that can only be accessed by members with permission.</p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/1644357966865.png" medium="image"/></item><item><title>Gamers Assemble: Play Games To Earn Crypto! GameFi Explained</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/gamers-assemble-play-games-to-earn-free-crypto/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Dec 2021 16:35:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/gamers-assemble-play-games-to-earn-free-crypto/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;GameFi is one of the hottest new trends to emerge from the crypto industry, combining decentralized finance (&lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-finance-defined/"&gt;DeFi&lt;/a&gt;) and non-fungible tokens (&lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-explained/"&gt;NFTs&lt;/a&gt;) with &lt;a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2021/08/06/binance-smart-chain-beats-ethereum-by-some-metrics-thanks-to-latest-gamefi-craze/"&gt;blockchain-based online games&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Unlike many traditional online games, which operate on a “pay-to-win” model and allow players to purchase upgrades in order to gain an advantage over others, GameFi introduces a “&lt;a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/07/29/a-play-to-earn-account-beats-a-bank-account/"&gt;play-to-earn&lt;/a&gt;” model. This concept involves giving players financial incentives to play and progress through games. In some cases, this has allowed gamers to earn a &lt;a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2021/05/11/for-filipinos-axie-infinity-is-more-than-a-crypto-game/"&gt;full-time income&lt;/a&gt; by doing so.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>GameFi is one of the hottest new trends to emerge from the crypto industry, combining decentralized finance (<a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-finance-defined/">DeFi</a>) and non-fungible tokens (<a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-explained/">NFTs</a>) with <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2021/08/06/binance-smart-chain-beats-ethereum-by-some-metrics-thanks-to-latest-gamefi-craze/">blockchain-based online games</a>.</p>
<p>Unlike many traditional online games, which operate on a “pay-to-win” model and allow players to purchase upgrades in order to gain an advantage over others, GameFi introduces a “<a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/07/29/a-play-to-earn-account-beats-a-bank-account/">play-to-earn</a>” model. This concept involves giving players financial incentives to play and progress through games. In some cases, this has allowed gamers to earn a <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2021/05/11/for-filipinos-axie-infinity-is-more-than-a-crypto-game/">full-time income</a> by doing so.</p>
<h3 id="how-it-works">How it works</h3>
<p>All objects in these types of games are expressed as <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2021/03/12/how-to-create-buy-and-sell-nfts/">NFTs</a> – digital tokens used to prove ownership of scarce intangible items. Think of things like plots of land, avatars, costumes, weapons, and gold bars. Once players find and accrue these items through gameplay, many have the option to trade these with others in <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2021/07/12/nft-marketplaces-a-beginners-guide/">digital marketplaces</a> for different NFTs or sell them in exchange for cryptocurrency.</p>
<p>Depending on which game is played, users can increase their earning potential by dedicating time leveling up and improving their characters, creating monetized structures on their land that other gamers pay to use, or by competing against others in tournaments.</p>
<p>In order to keep track of what every player owns, all NFTs and cryptocurrency transaction data are stored on a public blockchain. This is a type of <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/what-is-a-distributed-ledger/">distributed, digital record-keeping</a> technology maintained by a global network of computers. Leveraging this technology in gaming provides a number of benefits, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Players can easily prove ownership of their in-game items.</li>
<li>There is no single point of failure, meaning players will no longer be at risk of <a href="https://pvplive.net/world-of-warcraft-bug-reverting-players-characters/">losing track of what they own</a> if the underlying gaming company experiences technical issues.</li>
<li>Items accrued during gameplay cannot be counterfeited, removed, or destroyed.</li>
<li>Game-native cryptocurrencies can be sent and received without the need for intermediary settlement, clearing, or custody.</li>
</ul>
<p>Some <a href="https://mobox.io/#/">games</a> also include DeFi elements such as <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/4-tips-to-maximize-your-crypto-investment/">staking</a>, where players can lock away certain tokens in order to earn annual interest, and other rewards they can save to purchase other in-game items or unlock new content.</p>
<h3 id="what-you-need-to-play">What you need to play</h3>
<p>In order to take part in any of these play-to-earn games, users will need to do the following:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Create a cryptocurrency wallet:</strong> To store their virtual currency and NFTs, and make in-game transactions. Which wallet you need will depend on which blockchain the game was built upon. For example, MetaMask – an Ethereum-based crypto wallet service – will work with any GameFi game built on Ethereum.</li>
<li><strong>Purchase starter items:</strong> All GameFi games are free to download. However, many require players to first purchase characters, native crypto tokens, decks of cards, or upgrades in order to begin.</li>
<li><strong>Pre-funded crypto wallet:</strong> You will need to pre-fund your crypto wallet with a particular cryptocurrency in order to purchase starter items and proceed. <a href="https://cryptoblades.gitbook.io/wiki/getting-started">Cryptoblades</a>, for example, requires users to download <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFIN_ieh6U">MetaMask</a>, purchase Binance coin (BNB) and exchange it for the game’s native cryptocurrency, SKILL.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="where-did-gamefi-come-from">Where did GameFi come from?</h3>
<p>The emergence of GameFi comes from a combination of factors that dates back to 2017 and the emergence of the NFT phenomenon <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2019/09/12/cryptokitties-creator-raises-11-million-from-warner-a16z-to-launch-blockchain/">CryptoKitties</a>. The digital collectibles economy proved a viral success, with CryptoKitties amassing over <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2020/03/05/the-team-behind-cryptokitties-is-one-step-closer-to-leaving-ethereum/">14,914 users a day</a> at its peak. CryptoPunks, a collection of 10,000 pixelated NFT characters also built on Ethereum, enjoyed similar success, surpassing<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/20/cryptokitties-raises-12m-from-andreessen-horowitz-and-union-square-ventures/"> $1 billion in sales </a>over 2018.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the success of these NFTs showed both the good and bad sides of the state of blockchain technology at the time. Games like CryptoKitties caused heavy congestion on the <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/loveable-digital-kittens-clogging-ethereums-blockchain">Ethereum network, leading to extreme spikes in transaction fees </a>and much slower than normal transaction confirmation times. These technical issues highlighted a clear gap in the market for more efficient and scalable platforms that could handle the rising demand from online gamers and virtual asset collectors.</p>
<p>Since then, a number of new “<a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/09/01/solanas-sol-token-nearly-tripled-in-august-as-investors-bet-on-ethereum-killers/">Ethereum killer</a>” blockchains have emerged that promise faster transaction speeds, greater scalability, and cheaper fees. These include the likes of <a href="https://twitter.com/CoinDesk/status/1431980810631061513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Solana</a> and <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/08/19/cardano-nears-all-time-high-as-investors-await-smart-contracts/">Cardano</a>, both of which have recently set new <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/08/20/cardano-price-hits-all-time-high-overtakes-binance-coin-as-third-most-valuable-crypto/">all-time highs</a> as investors <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2021/08/16/solana-terra-hit-all-time-highs-as-markets-disregard-last-weeks-defi-hacks/">bet big</a> on new dapp competitors.</p>
<p>The proliferation of decentralized finance (<a href="https://www.coindesk.com/what-is-defi">DeFi</a>) platforms over 2020 was the next critical component enabling GameFi’s growth, introducing a range of blockchain-native financial platforms that run entirely using smart contracts. This provided the infrastructure for decentralized exchanges where in-game cryptocurrencies could be launched from and traded, as well as additional features like <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2021/07/13/defi-lending-3-major-risks-to-know/">lending</a> and <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2020/08/20/binance-launches-defi-staking-with-cryptos-kava-and-dai/">staking</a>.</p>
<p>In September 2020, <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/what-is-yearn-finance-yfi-defi-ethereum">Yearn.finance</a> founder and DeFi developer Andre Conje tweeted about the <a href="https://twitter.com/AndreCronjeTech/status/1303969754907107329">gamification of monetary policies</a> in a decentralized environment. He recognized the multiple benefits DeFi and NFTs could bring to the online gaming industry, and GameFi applications quickly started to form. Axie Infinity was one of the first play-to-earn games to take off in a big way, surpassing <a href="https://twitter.com/news_of_bsc/status/1424686970442223617?lang=en">$1 billion in revenue</a> on Aug. 9, 2021.</p>
<p>Coming Soon: <strong>Top GameFi Games</strong></p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/gamefi-how-to-earn-crypto-playing-games-online/">CoinDesk</a></p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/gamefi.jpg" medium="image"/></item><item><title>Applications and Use Cases of Blockchain Technology</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/applications-and-use-cases-of-blockchain-technology/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Dec 2021 13:01:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/applications-and-use-cases-of-blockchain-technology/</guid><description>&lt;h3 id="1-money-transfers"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1. Money transfers&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The original concept behind the invention of &lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/"&gt;blockchain technology&lt;/a&gt; is still a great application. Money transfers using &lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/"&gt;blockchain&lt;/a&gt; can be less expensive and faster than using existing money transfer services. This is especially true of cross-border transactions, which are often slow and expensive. Even in the modern U.S. financial system, money transfers between accounts can take days, while a blockchain transaction takes minutes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3 id="2-financial-exchanges"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2. Financial exchanges&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Many companies have popped up over the past few years offering decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges. Using &lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/"&gt;blockchain&lt;/a&gt; for exchanges allows for faster and less expensive transactions. Moreover, a &lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-finance-defined/"&gt;decentralized exchange&lt;/a&gt; doesn&amp;rsquo;t require investors to deposit their assets with the centralized authority, which means they maintain greater control and security. While &lt;a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/"&gt;blockchain&lt;/a&gt;-based exchanges primarily deal in cryptocurrency, the concept could be applied to more traditional investments as well.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3 id="1-money-transfers"><strong>1. Money transfers</strong></h3>
<p>The original concept behind the invention of <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain technology</a> is still a great application. Money transfers using <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain</a> can be less expensive and faster than using existing money transfer services. This is especially true of cross-border transactions, which are often slow and expensive. Even in the modern U.S. financial system, money transfers between accounts can take days, while a blockchain transaction takes minutes.</p>
<h3 id="2-financial-exchanges"><strong>2. Financial exchanges</strong></h3>
<p>Many companies have popped up over the past few years offering decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges. Using <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain</a> for exchanges allows for faster and less expensive transactions. Moreover, a <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-finance-defined/">decentralized exchange</a> doesn&rsquo;t require investors to deposit their assets with the centralized authority, which means they maintain greater control and security. While <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain</a>-based exchanges primarily deal in cryptocurrency, the concept could be applied to more traditional investments as well.</p>
<h3 id="3-lending"><strong>3. Lending</strong></h3>
<p>Lenders can use <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain</a> to execute collateralized loans through <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-smart-contracts-smart-contracts-explained/">smart contracts</a>. Smart contracts built on the <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain</a> allow certain events to automatically trigger things like a service payment, a margin call, full repayment of the loan, and release of collateral. As a result, loan processing is faster and less expensive, and lenders can offer better rates.</p>
<h3 id="4-insurance"><strong>4. Insurance</strong></h3>
<p>Using smart contracts on a <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-is-blockchain-how-does-it-work-blockchain-explained/">blockchain</a> can provide greater transparency for customers and insurance providers. Recording all claims on a blockchain would keep customers from making duplicate claims for the same event. Furthermore, using smart contracts can speed up the process for claimants to receive payments.</p>
<h3 id="5-real-estate"><strong>5. Real estate</strong></h3>
<p>Real estate transactions require a ton of paperwork to verify financial information and ownership and then transfer deeds and titles to new owners. Using blockchain technology to record real estate transactions can provide a more secure and accessible means of verifying and transferring ownership. That can speed up transactions, reduce paperwork, and save money.</p>
<h3 id="6-secure-personal-information"><strong>6. Secure personal information</strong></h3>
<p>Keeping data such as your Social Security number, date of birth, and other identifying information on a public ledger (e.g., a blockchain) may actually be more secure than current systems more susceptible to hacks. Blockchain technology can be used to secure access to identifying information while improving access for those who need it in industries such as travel, healthcare, finance, and education.</p>
<h3 id="7-voting"><strong>7. Voting</strong></h3>
<p>If personally identifiable information is held on a blockchain, that puts us just one step away from also being able to vote using blockchain technology. Using blockchain technology can make sure that nobody votes twice, only eligible voters are able to vote, and votes cannot be tampered with. What&rsquo;s more, it can increase access to voting by making it as simple as pressing a few buttons on your smartphone. At the same time, the cost of running an election would substantially decrease.</p>
<h3 id="8-government-benefits"><strong>8. Government benefits</strong></h3>
<p>Another way to use digital identities stored on a blockchain is for the administration of government benefits such as welfare programs, Social Security, and Medicare. Using blockchain technology could reduce fraud and the costs of operations. Meanwhile, beneficiaries can receive funds more quickly through digital disbursement on the blockchain.</p>
<h3 id="9-securely-share-medical-information"><strong>9. Securely share medical information</strong></h3>
<p>Keeping medical records on a blockchain can allow doctors and medical professionals to obtain accurate and up-to-date information on their patients. That can ensure that patients seeing multiple doctors get the best care possible. It can also speed up the system for pulling medical records, allowing for more timely treatment in some cases. And, if insurance information is held in the database, doctors can easily verify whether a patient is insured and their treatment is covered.</p>
<h3 id="10-artist-royalties"><strong>10. Artist royalties</strong></h3>
<p>Using blockchain technology to track music and film files distributed over the internet can make sure that artists are paid for their work. Since blockchain technology was invented to ensure the same file doesn&rsquo;t exist in more than one place, it can be used to help reduce piracy. What&rsquo;s more, using a blockchain to track playbacks on streaming services and a smart contract to distribute payments can provide greater transparency and the assurance that artists receive the money they&rsquo;re owed.</p>
<h3 id="11-non-fungible-tokens"><strong>11. Non-fungible tokens</strong></h3>
<p><a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/what-are-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-explained/">Non-fungible tokens</a>, or NFTs, are commonly thought of as ways to own the rights to digital art. Since the blockchain prevents data from existing in two places, putting an NFT on the blockchain guarantees that only a single copy of a piece of digital art exists. That can make it like <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/market-sectors/communication/media-stocks/art-investment/">investing in physical art</a> but without the drawbacks of storage and maintenance.</p>
<p>NFTs can have varied applications, and ultimately they&rsquo;re a way to convey ownership of anything that can be represented by data. That could be the deed to a house, the broadcast rights to a video, or an event ticket. Anything remotely unique could be an NFT.</p>
<h3 id="12-logistics-and-supply-chain-tracking"><strong>12. Logistics and supply chain tracking</strong></h3>
<p>Using blockchain technology to track items as they move through a logistics or supply chain network can provide several advantages. First of all, it provides greater ease of communication between partners since data is available on a secure public ledger. Second, it provides greater security and data integrity since the data on the blockchain can&rsquo;t be altered. That means logistics and supply chain partners can work together more easily with greater trust that the data they&rsquo;ve provided is accurate and up to date.</p>
<h3 id="13-secure-internet-of-things-networks"><strong>13. Secure Internet of Things networks</strong></h3>
<p>The Internet of Things (IoT) is making our lives easier, but it&rsquo;s also opening the door for nefarious actors to access our data or take control of important systems. Blockchain technology can provide greater security by storing passwords and other data on a decentralized network instead of a centralized server. Additionally, it offers protection against data tampering since a blockchain is practically immutable.</p>
<h3 id="14-data-storage"><strong>14. Data storage</strong></h3>
<p>Adding blockchain technology to a data storage solution can provide greater security and integrity. Since data can be stored in a decentralized manner, it will be more difficult to hack into and wipe out all the data on the network, whereas a centralized data storage provider may only have a few points of redundancy. It also means greater access to data since access isn&rsquo;t necessarily reliant on the operations of a single company. In some cases, using blockchain for data storage may also be less expensive.</p>
<h3 id="15-gambling"><strong>15. Gambling</strong></h3>
<p>The gambling industry can use blockchain to provide several benefits to players. One of the biggest benefits of operating a casino on the blockchain is the transparency it provides to potential gamblers. Since every transaction is recorded on the blockchain, bettors can see that the games are fair and the casino pays out. Furthermore, by using blockchain, there&rsquo;s no need to provide personal information, including a bank account, which may be a hurdle for some would-be gamblers. It also provides a workaround for regulatory restrictions since players can gamble anonymously and the decentralized network isn&rsquo;t susceptible to a government shutdown.</p>
<h3 id="blockchain-is-in-its-infancy">Blockchain is in its infancy</h3>
<p>Blockchain technology has only been around for a dozen years, and businesses are still exploring new ways to apply the technology to support their operations. With the growing amount of digital data used in our lives, there&rsquo;s a growing need for the data security, access, transparency, and integrity blockchain can provide.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/market-sectors/financials/blockchain-stocks/blockchain-applications/">The Motley Fool</a></p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/mit-algorand-01.jpg" medium="image"/></item><item><title>6 Blockchains With Massive Potential</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/6-cryptocurrencies-blockchains-with-massive-potential/</link><pubDate>Sat, 04 Dec 2021 15:01:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/6-cryptocurrencies-blockchains-with-massive-potential/</guid><description>&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Ethereum(ETH) - Specifically Ethereum 2.0&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Solana(SOL)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cardano(ADA)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Polygon(MATIC)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Binance Smart Chain(BNB)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Polkadot(DOT)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;You&amp;rsquo;ll find that these blockchains and cryptocurrencies are being used to create more cryptocurrencies and blockchains. Most are also involved in the metaverse and web 3.0 development.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Buy their cryptocurrencies by registering here:&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;a href="https://accounts.binance.com/en/register?ref=CL2JFAB6"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;BINANCE&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;NB: NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE!&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<ol>
<li>Ethereum(ETH) - Specifically Ethereum 2.0</li>
<li>Solana(SOL)</li>
<li>Cardano(ADA)</li>
<li>Polygon(MATIC)</li>
<li>Binance Smart Chain(BNB)</li>
<li>Polkadot(DOT)</li>
</ol>
<p>You&rsquo;ll find that these blockchains and cryptocurrencies are being used to create more cryptocurrencies and blockchains. Most are also involved in the metaverse and web 3.0 development.</p>
<p><strong>Buy their cryptocurrencies by registering here:</strong> <a href="https://accounts.binance.com/en/register?ref=CL2JFAB6"><strong>BINANCE</strong></a></p>
<p>NB: NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE!</p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/b0ac64ca-9452-4ee2-b6fe-6ecbe8eeaddd.png" medium="image"/></item><item><title>Decentralized(DeFi) vs Traditional Finance</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/defi-vs-traditional-finance/</link><pubDate>Fri, 03 Dec 2021 11:17:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/defi-vs-traditional-finance/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;One of the best ways to see the potential of DeFi is to understand the problems that exist today.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Some people aren&amp;rsquo;t granted access to set up a bank account or use financial services.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Lack of access to financial services can prevent people from being employable.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Financial services can block you from getting paid.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;A hidden charge of financial services is your personal data.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Governments and centralized institutions can close down markets at will.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Trading hours often limited to business hours of specific time zone.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Money transfers can take days due to internal human processes.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;There&amp;rsquo;s a premium to financial services because intermediary institutions need their cut.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3 id="a-comparison"&gt;A comparison&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
&lt;thead&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;
&lt;th&gt;DeFi&lt;/th&gt;
&lt;th&gt;Traditional finance&lt;/th&gt;
&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;/thead&gt;
&lt;tbody&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;
&lt;td&gt;You hold your money.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;td&gt;Your money is held by companies.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;
&lt;td&gt;You control where your money goes and how it&amp;rsquo;s spent.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;td&gt;You have to trust companies not to mismanage your money, like lend to risky borrowers.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;
&lt;td&gt;Transfers of funds happen in minutes.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;td&gt;Payments can take days due to manual processes.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;
&lt;td&gt;Transaction activity is pseudonymous.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;td&gt;Financial activity is tightly coupled with your identity.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;
&lt;td&gt;DeFi is open to anyone.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;td&gt;You must apply to use financial services.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;
&lt;td&gt;The markets are always open.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;td&gt;Markets close because employees need breaks.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;tr&gt;
&lt;td&gt;It&amp;rsquo;s built on transparency – anyone can look at a product&amp;rsquo;s data and inspect how the system works.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;td&gt;Financial institutions are closed books: you can&amp;rsquo;t ask to see their loan history, a record of their managed assets, and so on.&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;/tr&gt;
&lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the best ways to see the potential of DeFi is to understand the problems that exist today.</p>
<ul>
<li>Some people aren&rsquo;t granted access to set up a bank account or use financial services.</li>
<li>Lack of access to financial services can prevent people from being employable.</li>
<li>Financial services can block you from getting paid.</li>
<li>A hidden charge of financial services is your personal data.</li>
<li>Governments and centralized institutions can close down markets at will.</li>
<li>Trading hours often limited to business hours of specific time zone.</li>
<li>Money transfers can take days due to internal human processes.</li>
<li>There&rsquo;s a premium to financial services because intermediary institutions need their cut.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="a-comparison">A comparison</h3>
<table>
  <thead>
      <tr>
          <th>DeFi</th>
          <th>Traditional finance</th>
      </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
      <tr>
          <td>You hold your money.</td>
          <td>Your money is held by companies.</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
          <td>You control where your money goes and how it&rsquo;s spent.</td>
          <td>You have to trust companies not to mismanage your money, like lend to risky borrowers.</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
          <td>Transfers of funds happen in minutes.</td>
          <td>Payments can take days due to manual processes.</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
          <td>Transaction activity is pseudonymous.</td>
          <td>Financial activity is tightly coupled with your identity.</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
          <td>DeFi is open to anyone.</td>
          <td>You must apply to use financial services.</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
          <td>The markets are always open.</td>
          <td>Markets close because employees need breaks.</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
          <td>It&rsquo;s built on transparency – anyone can look at a product&rsquo;s data and inspect how the system works.</td>
          <td>Financial institutions are closed books: you can&rsquo;t ask to see their loan history, a record of their managed assets, and so on.</td>
      </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/defi.png" medium="image"/></item><item><title>More Applications of Decentralized Finance(DeFi)</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/more-applications-of-decentralized-finance-defi/</link><pubDate>Mon, 29 Nov 2021 10:48:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/more-applications-of-decentralized-finance-defi/</guid><description>&lt;h3 id="refresher"&gt;Refresher:&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;DeFi is short for “decentralized finance,” an umbrella term for a variety of financial applications in cryptocurrency or blockchain geared toward disrupting financial intermediaries.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;DeFi draws inspiration from &lt;a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/what-is-blockchain-technology/"&gt;blockchain&lt;/a&gt;, the technology behind the digital currency bitcoin, which allows several entities to hold a copy of a history of transactions, meaning it isn’t controlled by a single, central source.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h4 id="asset-management"&gt;Asset Management&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;p&gt;One of the biggest impacts of Defi is that users can now enjoy more control of their own assets. Many of the top DeFi projects are offering solutions that allow the users to manage their assets, including — buying, selling, and transferring digital assets. Thus, the users can even earn interest from their digital assets too.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3 id="refresher">Refresher:</h3>
<p>DeFi is short for “decentralized finance,” an umbrella term for a variety of financial applications in cryptocurrency or blockchain geared toward disrupting financial intermediaries.</p>
<p>DeFi draws inspiration from <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/what-is-blockchain-technology/">blockchain</a>, the technology behind the digital currency bitcoin, which allows several entities to hold a copy of a history of transactions, meaning it isn’t controlled by a single, central source.</p>
<h4 id="asset-management">Asset Management</h4>
<p>One of the biggest impacts of Defi is that users can now enjoy more control of their own assets. Many of the top DeFi projects are offering solutions that allow the users to manage their assets, including — buying, selling, and transferring digital assets. Thus, the users can even earn interest from their digital assets too.</p>
<p>On contrary to the traditional financial system, DeFi allows users to maintain the privacy of their sensitive data. Think of the private keys or passwords for your financial accounts — you had to share that information with relevant organizations earlier.</p>
<p>Now, different DeFi projects, like Metamask, Argent, or Gnosis Safe are helping the users to encrypt and store those pieces of information on their personal devices. This ensures that only the users have the access to their accounts and can manage their assets. So, asset management is one of the most practical decentralized finance uses cases to the users.</p>
<h4 id="complying-to-aml-and-cft-measurements-through-kyt-mechanism">Complying to AML and CFT Measurements through KYT Mechanism</h4>
<p>Traditional financial systems focus heavily on Know-Your-Customer (KYC) protocols. KYC guidelines are its biggest compliance tool for implementing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering-the-Financing-of-Terrorism (CFT) measurements.</p>
<p>However, KYC guidelines often contradict the privacy efforts of DeFi. DeFi answers this issue with a newer concept called — Know-Your-Transaction (KYT) mechanism. This mechanism suggests that the decentralized infrastructure would focus on transaction behaviors digital addresses rather than the identity of the users.</p>
<p>So, KYT solves two issues at the same time — monitoring the real-time behavior of the transactions and ensuring the privacy of the users. This makes KYT one of the major scopes for decentralized finance use cases.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://stephenajulu.com/blog/decentralized-finance-defined/">What is DeFi?</a></p>
</blockquote>
<h4 id="decentralized-autonomous-organizations-or-daos">Decentralized Autonomous Organizations or DAOs</h4>
<p>The DAOs are the counterpart of centralized financial organizations in DeFi — making it one of the pillars of decentralized finance use cases.</p>
<p>In the traditional system, centralized financial organizations play a massive role. These organizations serve as administrative entities that manage the core financial operations, such as — fundraising, managing assets, implementing governance, etc.</p>
<p>The Ethereum blockchain ecosystem introduced decentralized organizations to serve the same goals. However, DAOs are by nature decentralized and don’t adhere to the boundaries imposed by central governments or authorities.</p>
<h4 id="analytics-and-risk-management-tools">Analytics and Risk Management Tools</h4>
<p>Transparency and decentralization paved the way to discover and analyze an unprecedented amount of data for the users. With access to these data, users can make well-informed business decisions, discover new financial opportunities, and adopt better risk management tactics.</p>
<p>A new breed of data analytics with useful blockchain tools and dashboards has emerged from this industry trend. DeFi projects like DeFi Pulse or CoDeFi Data are bringing an impressive amount of value with analytics and risk management tool.</p>
<p>Now, businesses have become more agile as they are enjoying unforeseen competitive advantages. This is surely one of the more impacting decentralized finance use cases.</p>
<h4 id="derivatives-and-synthetic-assets">Derivatives and Synthetic Assets</h4>
<p>Smart contracts allow the creation of tokenized derivatives and it has become one of the most unique DeFi use cases. Tokenizing a derivative means setting the value of a contract based on an underlying financial asset or a set of assets. This underlying financial asset works like a traditional security, meaning it could include — bonds, fiat currencies, commodities, market indexes, interest rates, or stock prices.</p>
<p>Now, tokenization of derivatives is secondary securities, and their value changes with the value of the primary securities (bonds or fiat currencies). Thus, derivatives are essentially creating synthetic assets.</p>
<p>Synthetix and dYdX are some of the leading DeFi projects focused on tokenized derivatives.</p>
<h4 id="the-network-effect-of-infrastructure-tooling">The Network Effect of Infrastructure Tooling</h4>
<p>In the DeFi ecosystem, the components within a system can connect and interoperate. This design feature is known as composability and acts as a core infrastructure development protocol. As a result, DeFi projects are continuously integrated through a network effect.</p>
<p>The infrastructure tools are notable DeFi use cases. Different DeFi projects, such as — TruffleSuite or InfuraAPI, are good examples in this case.</p>
<h4 id="improved-digital-identity">Improved Digital Identity</h4>
<p>Blockchain-based digital identity systems are already getting much traction in recent times. Pairing DeFi protocols with these identity systems could help people access the global economic system.</p>
<p>The traditional approach prizes one’s income or accumulated asset as the nominators for creditworthiness. With DeFi-paired digital identity, it’s possible to consider the other practical attributes, such as — financial activities or professional prowess.</p>
<p>This new type of digital identity could help the underprivileged to access the DeFi applications from anywhere with an internet connection. It could surely be one of the potential use cases.</p>
<h4 id="insurance">Insurance</h4>
<p>Insurance is one of the major financial industries and has already proven to be one of the major DeFi use cases. The current insurance system is bottlenecked with an abundance of paperwork, age-old audit systems, and bureaucratic insurance claiming procedures.</p>
<p>With the successful implementation of smart contracts, all of these issues with the current system could be solved.</p>
<p>Many DeFi projects (Nexus Mutual, Opyn, and VouchForMe) are even offering blockchain for insurance coverage against DeFi or smart contract risks.</p>
<h4 id="p2p-borrowing-and-lending">P2P Borrowing and Lending</h4>
<p>As DeFi is saying goodbye to the traditional banking systems, a vacuum for the borrowing and lending market has emerged. So, borrowing and lending protocol is one of the vital DeFi use cases.</p>
<p>However, the DeFi ecosystem is more suitable for peer-to-peer (P2P) borrowing and lending efforts. Multiple DeFi projects have already entered the market focusing on this particular use case. Among these projects, Compound and PoolTogether are two well-known names. These projects have autonomous interest-based protocols for borrowing and lending assets.</p>
<h4 id="payment-solutions">Payment Solutions</h4>
<p>One of the core drivers for DeFi was serving the unbanked or underbanked from the get-go. The inherent traits of DeFi make it well-suited for solving the issues of the current global payment systems. DeFi offers faster, safer, and more transparent solutions compared to legacy systems.</p>
<p>As DeFi drops down the need for middlemen, making payments simpler and more transparent, the DeFi-based blockchain in payment solutions could become appealing to the unbanked population.</p>
<h4 id="gaming-and-esports">Gaming and eSports</h4>
<p>Long gone are the days, when video games were nothing but a form of entertainment. Most of the new video games have in-app purchases and loot box features in them. These features enable users to use real-life currency to buy new skins for their characters and tools.</p>
<p>With the use of DeFi, game developers can implement the newer incentive or reward models with DeFi coins. In fact, gaming and eSports will likely become one of the major markets as the users are more tech-savvy and open to newer technologies.</p>
<h4 id="margin-trading">Margin Trading</h4>
<p>Margin trading is a common feature of the traditional trading system. In simpler terms, it refers to the act of borrowing money from the brokers to invest and gain short-term gain.</p>
<p>With the use of DeFi, traders don’t need to rely on brokers to borrow. Instead, they could smart contracts to enforce decentralized and non-custodial lending protocols. DeFi projects, such as Compound and dYdX have already implemented such lending blockchain protocols. Some are referring to this practice as — the autonomous money markets.</p>
<h4 id="prediction-platforms">Prediction Platforms</h4>
<p>Despite the stigma around the concept, prediction platforms and the market are very large and attract many users. The rise and use of DeFi, has created an opportunity to develop DeFi-based prediction platforms where users could trade value by forecasting or predicting the outcome of future events. These prediction platforms are peer-to-peer, decentralized, and offer global access.</p>
<p>Augur is one of the leaders in the DeFi ecosystem that specialize in the prediction market. This platform allows the users to place bets on events like — sports, world events, economics, election results, and more.</p>
<h4 id="savings">Savings</h4>
<p>Due to the high inflation rate of fiat currencies and the low-interest rates, saving money has become a challenge in the current economy. In fact, the risk-averse middle-class citizens around the world are desperately seeking alternate investment/savings solutions.</p>
<p>Different decentralized finance (DeFi) projects have taken the opportunity to introduce new solutions. Projects like PoolTogether, Dharma, or Argent are showing promises with their no-loss savings ideology.</p>
<h1></h1>
<h3 id="tokenization">Tokenization</h3>
<p>Asset tokenization is one of the core features of the DeFi ecosystem. Tokenization is the process of — creating, issuing, and managing digital assets on a blockchain network. As any kind of asset could be tokenized and stored on a blockchain, it is essentially creating a new form of economy.</p>
<p>For example, the NFTs are tokenizing unique digital assets that hold value based on the rarity and the demand for any particular digital asset. A plethora of decentralized finance projects are working on tokenizing digital assets for creating, storing, or trading value.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://101blockchains.com/defi-use-cases/">101Blockchains</a></p>
<!-- raw html --> <a href="https://101blockchains.com/blockchain-infographics/"><img src="https://101blockchains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/top-defi-use-cases.png" alt="top defi use cases" border='0' width="600px"/> </a>]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/10-defi-coins.jpg" medium="image"/></item><item><title>Applications and Use Cases of Decentralized Finance(DeFi)</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/applications-and-use-cases-of-decentralized-finance-defi/</link><pubDate>Sun, 28 Nov 2021 18:53:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/applications-and-use-cases-of-decentralized-finance-defi/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;Refresher:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;DeFi is short for “decentralized finance,” an umbrella term for a variety of financial applications in cryptocurrency or blockchain geared toward disrupting financial intermediaries.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;DeFi draws inspiration from &lt;a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/what-is-blockchain-technology/"&gt;blockchain&lt;/a&gt;, the technology behind the digital currency bitcoin, which allows several entities to hold a copy of a history of transactions, meaning it isn’t controlled by a single, central source.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="applications-and-use-cases-of-defi"&gt;Applications and Use Cases of DeFi&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Decentralized exchanges (DEXs)&lt;/strong&gt;: Online exchanges help users exchange currencies for other currencies, whether U.S. dollars for bitcoin or ether for DAI. DEXs are a hot type of exchange, which connects users directly so they can trade cryptocurrencies with one another without trusting an intermediary with their money.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Stablecoins&lt;/strong&gt;: A cryptocurrency that&amp;rsquo;s tied to an asset outside of cryptocurrency (the dollar or euro, for example) to stabilize the price.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lending platforms&lt;/strong&gt;: These platforms use smart contracts to replace intermediaries such as banks that manage lending in the middle.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;ldquo;Wrapped&amp;rdquo; bitcoins (WBTC)&lt;/strong&gt;: A way of sending bitcoin to the Ethereum network so the bitcoin can be used directly in Ethereum&amp;rsquo;s DeFi system. WBTCs allow users to earn interest on the bitcoin they lend out via the decentralized lending platforms described above.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Prediction markets&lt;/strong&gt;: Markets for betting on the outcome of future events, such as elections. The goal of DeFi versions of prediction markets is to offer the same functionality but without intermediaries.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There are more applications that I&amp;rsquo;ll talk about in part 3 of DeFi.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Refresher:</p>
<p>DeFi is short for “decentralized finance,” an umbrella term for a variety of financial applications in cryptocurrency or blockchain geared toward disrupting financial intermediaries.</p>
<p>DeFi draws inspiration from <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/what-is-blockchain-technology/">blockchain</a>, the technology behind the digital currency bitcoin, which allows several entities to hold a copy of a history of transactions, meaning it isn’t controlled by a single, central source.</p>
<h2 id="applications-and-use-cases-of-defi">Applications and Use Cases of DeFi</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>Decentralized exchanges (DEXs)</strong>: Online exchanges help users exchange currencies for other currencies, whether U.S. dollars for bitcoin or ether for DAI. DEXs are a hot type of exchange, which connects users directly so they can trade cryptocurrencies with one another without trusting an intermediary with their money.</li>
<li><strong>Stablecoins</strong>: A cryptocurrency that&rsquo;s tied to an asset outside of cryptocurrency (the dollar or euro, for example) to stabilize the price.</li>
<li><strong>Lending platforms</strong>: These platforms use smart contracts to replace intermediaries such as banks that manage lending in the middle.</li>
<li><strong>&ldquo;Wrapped&rdquo; bitcoins (WBTC)</strong>: A way of sending bitcoin to the Ethereum network so the bitcoin can be used directly in Ethereum&rsquo;s DeFi system. WBTCs allow users to earn interest on the bitcoin they lend out via the decentralized lending platforms described above.</li>
<li><strong>Prediction markets</strong>: Markets for betting on the outcome of future events, such as elections. The goal of DeFi versions of prediction markets is to offer the same functionality but without intermediaries.</li>
</ul>
<p>There are more applications that I&rsquo;ll talk about in part 3 of DeFi.</p>
<p>For now:</p>
<p>Have a nice day!</p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/n0hcw35at9m4acjgaqkw_what-is-defi-decentralized-finance-guide.jpe" medium="image"/></item><item><title>Decentralized Finance Defined</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/decentralized-finance-defined/</link><pubDate>Sat, 27 Nov 2021 15:48:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/decentralized-finance-defined/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;Decentralized Finance (DeFi) refers to the financial transactions that eradicate intermediaries between participants. It uses cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to eliminate central authorities and provide peer-to-peer facilities to carry out financial services such as banking, loans, mortgages, and more. The primary purpose here is to establish an open-source, transparent, and permissionless ecosystem without any central authority owning the power over financial transactions. It allows participants to control their assets, efficiently conduct peer-to-peer exchanges and build decentralized applications (dApps).&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Decentralized Finance (DeFi) refers to the financial transactions that eradicate intermediaries between participants. It uses cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to eliminate central authorities and provide peer-to-peer facilities to carry out financial services such as banking, loans, mortgages, and more. The primary purpose here is to establish an open-source, transparent, and permissionless ecosystem without any central authority owning the power over financial transactions. It allows participants to control their assets, efficiently conduct peer-to-peer exchanges and build decentralized applications (dApps).</p>
<p>Once a transaction is carried out in a traditional banking system, its details are recorded in a private ledger owned and monitored by a financial institution. However, in DeFi, the financial transactions are stored in a computer code on a decentralized public ledger. All participants using DeFi applications and platforms have an identical copy of the general ledger.</p>
<p>This ledger holds the information of every transaction in encryption code. Since decentralized blockchain platforms and applications are immutable, the records of ownership cannot be modified or deleted by a third party providing security in verifying transactions and storing their data.</p>
<p>Decentralized Finance works on the traditional financial system and replaces the intermediaries or central authorities with smart contracts. A smart contract is an automated merger, enforces agreements without intermediary involvement, and is easily accessible by anyone with an established internet connection. Most of the protocols work on the Ethereum blockchain, and the decentralized applications are often created using Ethereum.</p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/defi-finance-decentralisee.jpg" medium="image"/></item><item><title>The 3 Cryptocurrencies You Should Definitely Invest In and More</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/the-3-cryptocurrencies-you-should-definitely-invest-in/</link><pubDate>Sat, 20 Nov 2021 14:36:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/the-3-cryptocurrencies-you-should-definitely-invest-in/</guid><description>&lt;p&gt;Hi there, here are 3 cryptocurrencies I believe you should invest in right now before the end of 2021&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 id="ethereumeth"&gt;Ethereum(ETH)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;With the advent of &lt;strong&gt;WEB 3.0&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Ethereum 2.0&lt;/strong&gt;, Ethereum is set to become the most popular and most used cryptocurrency. Then there&amp;rsquo;s the &lt;strong&gt;Ethereum Naming Service&lt;/strong&gt;. Look just own 0.01 of ETH. Please do. Ethereum is that crypto that has so much potential. It can be used for so many things. Most metaverse tokens are built on Ethereum. Most Defi tokens are built on Ethereum. This should tell you something about the coin. So just make an effort to own this. Even just 0.01 ETH. That&amp;rsquo;s enough.&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hi there, here are 3 cryptocurrencies I believe you should invest in right now before the end of 2021</p>
<h2 id="ethereumeth">Ethereum(ETH)</h2>
<p>With the advent of <strong>WEB 3.0</strong> and <strong>Ethereum 2.0</strong>, Ethereum is set to become the most popular and most used cryptocurrency. Then there&rsquo;s the <strong>Ethereum Naming Service</strong>. Look just own 0.01 of ETH. Please do. Ethereum is that crypto that has so much potential. It can be used for so many things. Most metaverse tokens are built on Ethereum. Most Defi tokens are built on Ethereum. This should tell you something about the coin. So just make an effort to own this. Even just 0.01 ETH. That&rsquo;s enough.</p>
<h2 id="bitcoinbtc">Bitcoin(BTC)</h2>
<p>Bitcoin is the biggest crypto right now and it still has the potential to grow. Buy it now and forget about it.</p>
<h2 id="metaverse-index-tokenmvi">Metaverse Index Token(MVI)</h2>
<p>The metaverse is hyped right now. I believe it&rsquo;s going to continue to grow. Buy this and you should be good.</p>
<p>Others to include that have potential: Dogecoin, Solana, Decentraland, Binance Coin, Uniswap, Binance USD, and Shiba Inu</p>
<p>NB: This article is not financial advice. Do your research. I recommend you start with Web 3.0, Metaverse, and Defi.</p>
<p>To finalize, if you’d like to invest in the aforementioned cryptocurrencies then invest with Binance and get 5%: <a href="https://www.jadeblack.co/?ref=kuzqn53jomp-"><strong>Buy and Trade Crypto With The Best Exchange: Binance</strong></a></p>
<p>Have a great day everyone!</p>
<p>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@executium?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Executium</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></p>
]]></content:encoded><media:content url="https://ajulu.netlify.app/images/executium-ltazfutkcl8-unsplash.jpg" medium="image"/></item><item><title>Future Industries and Sectors</title><link>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/future-industries-and-sectors/</link><pubDate>Sun, 07 Nov 2021 12:18:00 +0300</pubDate><guid>https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/future-industries-and-sectors/</guid><description>&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Artificial Intelligence&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cyber Security&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Blockchain&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Clean Energy&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Metaverse&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cryptocurrencies&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Decentralized Manufacturing/Home-based Manufacturing&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Natural Plant Medications and Supplements(Including microdose psychedelic and THC/CBD therapy)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Decentralized Finance&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Biotechnology&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Neurotechnology (Think Neuralink or Fully Immersive VR)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Nanotechnology&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Space Technology&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Cloud Computing&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Web3/Decentralized Web&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Science Fiction is slowly becoming non-fiction&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;These are the industries I believe will shape the future. Many in this list are already in use now. I&amp;rsquo;ll explain each at a later time. For now, have a nice day!&lt;/p&gt;</description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<ol>
<li>Artificial Intelligence</li>
<li>Cyber Security</li>
<li>Blockchain</li>
<li>Clean Energy</li>
<li>Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality</li>
<li>Metaverse</li>
<li>Cryptocurrencies</li>
<li>Decentralized Manufacturing/Home-based Manufacturing</li>
<li>Natural Plant Medications and Supplements(Including microdose psychedelic and THC/CBD therapy)</li>
<li>Decentralized Finance</li>
<li>Biotechnology</li>
<li>Neurotechnology (Think Neuralink or Fully Immersive VR)</li>
<li>Nanotechnology</li>
<li>Space Technology</li>
<li>Cloud Computing</li>
<li>Web3/Decentralized Web</li>
</ol>
<p>Science Fiction is slowly becoming non-fiction</p>
<p>These are the industries I believe will shape the future. Many in this list are already in use now. I&rsquo;ll explain each at a later time. For now, have a nice day!</p>
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