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How lending and borrowing take place in Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ?

As associations began exploring different avenues regarding the potential of  Blockchain technology, the financial area has additionally introduced the need to assemble blockchain-based fintech applications. By covering practically every financial service from online installments to cryptocurrency trading and its storage, Blockchain is set to change the conventional finance system. With the rise of DeFi (Decentralized Finance), Blockchain has become more assertive.

With loads of enthusiasm yielded effectively in the market, DeFi has continued thriving ahead and drawn in a significant capital sum since 2020. As indicated by DeFi-Pulse, the Total Value Locked (TVL) in DeFi programs is at $20.46 billion today, up from under 1 billion dollars a year ago.

Let’s look into what makes Decentralized finance and Defi lending such a significant hit. This article discusses each of the DeFi related concerns in detail.

Table of content

  • What is DeFi?
  • What is DeFi lending and borrowing?
  • How does DeFi lending work?
  • Benefits that Defi Lending offers to its users.
  • Improved speed of loan procedure.
  • Greater consistency in lending decisions.
  • Compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
  • Permissionless
  • Transparency
  • Interoperability
  • Self-custody
  • Closing thoughts

What is DeFi?

In most simple words, DeFi is an environment of financial applications dependent on Blockchain technology that works without central administration intercession or third-party involvement. It utilizes a P2P system to build decentralized applications that would empower everybody to interface and deal with their assets regardless of their location and status. It intends to give a transparent, open-source,  and permissionless financial help setting. 

Smart contracts are the base for decentralized finance (DeFi) as they are self-executing and don’t need intermediary supervision. Since Ethereum launched the DeFi concept, the more significant part of the DeFi applications is Ethereum Blockchain.

What are DeFi lending and borrowing?

DeFi lending platforms offer crypto lendings in a trustless way, i.e., without delegates and permit users to enroll their crypto coins on the platform for lending. A borrower can take a loan by using a decentralized platform called P2P lending. Moreover, the lending practice permits the lender to gain interests. DeFi has the highest lending growth rate and is the most predominant patron for locking crypto assets among all decentralized applications (DApps).

How does DeFi lending work?

DeFi loans allow clients to loan their crypto to another person and acquire interest on the loan. Banks consistently have been using this system to the fullest. Presently, in the realm of DeFi, anybody can turn into a lender. A loan provider can loan their assets to other people and will gain interest on that loan. This process can be made possible through lending pools.

Clients can pool their assets and disseminate them to borrowers utilizing smart contracts. There are different approaches to disperse interests to financial investors; subsequently, it is recommended and worth taking out time to research to learn about your interest type. It is similar for borrowers, too, as each pool will carry a different methodology on the best way to borrow.

To get a loan, the borrower needs to offer something more important than the loan sum. Smart contracts are utilized to store this amount of currency of equivalent value to the sum of the loan. Collaterals are accessible in wide assortments; any crypto token can be used to trade borrowed cryptocurrency. For instance, if a client needs to get one bitcoin, he’d need to store the cost of one bitcoin in DAI.

Moreover, the costs of Bitcoins continue to swing remarkably. A case may emerge when the collateral cost dips under the cost of the loan. 

What are the benefits that DeFi Lending provides to its users?

  • Improved speed of loan procedure

Digital lending measures acquire the benefit of quick processing speed. DeFi lending platforms are supported by cloud-based assistance, analytics for fraud detection, and AI computations for ideal loan terms and risk factors. Every one of these advances helps to speed up the process. When the loan is validated, lenders send offers through e-contracts.

  • Greater consistency in lending decisions

Consistency in lending decisions is ensured by the rules clarifying credit policies. Differences in analyzing applicant details and structuring contracts by underwriters are removed.

  • Compliance with local, state, and federal regulations

Decision rules keep a report of who, when, and where these rules were employed and which of them were in effect. This acts as evidence and guarantees that the lender complies with local, state, and federal regulations.

  • Permissionless

DeFi lending enables permissionless access. This means any person with a crypto wallet has access to DeFi applications created on Blockchain, regardless of their location and without any requirements of the minimum amount of funds.

  • Transparency

The public Blockchain reports each transaction on the system and is analyzed by each user on the blockchain network. This transparency level regarding transactions authorizes productive data analysis and guarantees verified access to each user on the system.

  • Interoperability

The interconnected software stack guarantees that decentralized finance procedures and applications blend and fill out one another.

  • Self-custody

The application of Web3 wallets allows  Defi market participants to maintain strong custody over their assets and regulate their data.

Closing Thoughts

This thorough discussion exhibits that DeFi lending has an impressive capacity to reshape the whole financial system. It strives to decentralize the foundation of traditional finance services. DeFi lending, along with the captivating technology, truly can revolutionize the global economic landscape.

Get yourself enrolled for the best blockchain courses and learn blockchain technology in detail at BLOCKCHAIN COUNCIL.

How lending and borrowing take place in Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ?

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Texas house passes crypto-friendly bill, now goes to senate

Members of the Texas House of Representatives have passed a bill which aims to recognize cryptocurrencies under commercial law in the state.

In a session of the 87th Texas Legislature today, lawmakers passed a proposed amendment to the state’s Uniform Commercial Code, or UCC, aimed at better adapting commercial law to blockchain innovation and digital asset regulations. First introduced by Representative Tan Parker in March, House Bill 4474 will reportedly help define cryptocurrencies in the UCC. 

The bill will now go to the Texas Senate for any proposed amendments and potentially a final vote. Should the crypto legislation pass the senate, Texas Governor Greg Abbott can sign the bill into law. Abbott has already said he is a “crypto law proposal supporter” — specifically referencing HB 4474 — and seemed to encourage Bitcoin (BTC) mining firms to set up shop in the state.

Lee Bratcher, president of the Texas Blockchain Council, told Cointelegraph in March that the bill could bring Texas closer to being a crypto-friendly state like Wyoming. One of the only states in the country to clarify the definition of virtual currencies for businesses, Wyoming has attracted major firms including Ripple. Last year, the Wyoming State Banking Board granted crypto exchange Kraken a charter to operate as a crypto-friendly bank and gave Avanti the green light to receive and custody crypto in a similar fashion.

Texas is already home to crypto mining firms including BlockCap and Riot Blockchain. Both companies  have said they are planning to expand their mining ventures in the state with the purchase of new facilities and equipment.

Texas house passes crypto-friendly bill, now goes to senate

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Citigroup Launches Crypto Trading and Custody Services

Citigroup, a banking giant, is launching a crypto trading and custody service. The new service aims to meet the growing demand for crypto assets.

Itay Tuchman, the global head of forex for Citigroup, has confirmed that the bank had witnessed a rapid accumulation in Bitcoin (BTC) interest from institutional clients. Tuchman announced the move in a report published in Financial Times.

According to Tuchman, banks could venture into crypto through proprietary trading, where they use their resources to make profits. “There are different options from our perspective, and we are considering where we can to best service clients. This is not going to be a prop-trading effort,” said Tuchman.

Not happening any time soon

However, Citigroup has confirmed that it is taking its time to launch crypto services. Tuchman stated that the bank would only jump into the crypto space when it was sure that its clients could benefit. It would also consult with regulators to build something robust and compliant.

“I don’t have any FOMO [fear of missing out] because I believe that crypto is here to stay and that we are just at the very beginning of the market. This isn’t a space race. There is room for more than just one flag.” Tuchman said.

In March this year, the bank released a report saying that Bitcoin could become a global trading currency after evolving. The report indicated that people’s perceptions about Bitcoin were changing. This would create a new opportunity and make the token more mainstream.

Citigroup Launch Crypto Trading and Custody Services
BTC/USD 1 day chart, Binance, 7 May 2021. Courtesy TradingView

Citi’s interest in Bitcoin

Citigroup analysts have written a paper on Bitcoin titled, “Bitcoin: At the Tipping Point’. The report indicated that BTC would change from a nascent form of payment to a store of value. Also, if there’s a boost in Bitcoin’s global reach, the crypto asset could easily become an international currency. This can be achieved through Bitcoin’s attributes such as decentralisation and borderless design.

Citi’s report on the currency shows that BTC may come in handy to exporters and importers. It would simplify international trading and may even be preferred to fiat currencies. Bitcoin lacks forex risk exposure. It is also fast, traceable, and guarantees the security of online payments.

Citigroup is not the only Wall Street bank to venture into the crypto space. Top banking institutions that have ventured into crypto include Bank of New York, Goldman Sachs, Mellon, and Morgan Stanley. This latest move comes amidst increased retail and institutional demand for crypto assets.

Citigroup Launches Crypto Trading and Custody Services

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Where to buy Gold-Backed Cryptocurrencies in 2021

If you want to get involved in the gold-backed cryptocurrency space, you’re probably debating on where the best place to buy them is. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll go over the best places to buy such assets.

Gold Backed Crypto Exchange

A gold-backed crypto exchange is pretty much the best place to invest in such assets. For one, these are the platforms that generate stablecoins. They offer the most value for your investment, often providing quality-of-life trading features and wallets for storage. Some also enable you to invest anonymously.

Not only this, but these exchanges often allow you to redeem your digital gold for physical bullion. Of course, you may have to reveal your identity for this, so they can provide it to the right person.

Such platforms generally audit their holdings and make the results publicly available for trust’s sake. Some are even available 24/7 for the ultimate ability to check their legitimacy.

Specific exchanges allow you to invest in fractional amounts of gold, too, increasing the asset’s accessibility. You can put in as little or as much as you’d like – an option not possible on traditional exchanges.

Binance

Binance is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world regarding market cap. It offers support for thousands of cryptocurrencies, many of which being gold-backed stablecoins.

On Binance, you can fund your account with a bank or other crypto and convert nearly any asset into a stablecoin. It’s all up to you, assuming the asset is listed. The platform offers various trading features as well, making it ideal for both beginner and expert traders.

If you’re a big investor, you can earn BNB, the platform’s stablecoin, which helps cover some trading fees. Saving you money, a dedicated stablecoin works wonders for many traders.

If you’re interested in branching off from stablecoins, Binance has tons of detailed documentation on the crypto industry for you to consume. Finally, this exchange has a wallet for you to store your assets within as well. While Binance isn’t a dedicated gold-backed cryptocurrency exchange, it’s definitely a decent alternative.

Coinbase

Based in San Francisco, Coinbase is a popular mainstream cryptocurrency exchange. Because of this, it’s much more selective in its offerings. Still, the underlying support makes it a great space to buy gold backed cryptocurrencies.

Like Binance, Coinbase has a wallet for online storage. It also contains a ton of documentation for learning about stablecoins and other crypto industry staples. If you live in the UK, there’s even a physical debit card, Coinbase Card, for spending on the go.

Beginner traders have more than enough features to make an educated purchase. However, if you’ve been in the space for a while, Coinbase has a pro exchange with more information than Binance. Just note that Coinbase has more expensive trading fees than most other exchanges. It’s a reliable platform, however, which is what you’re paying for.

Gemini

Gemini is a cryptocurrency exchange founded by the Winklevoss Twins of Facebook fame. The project is regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services. It’s often undergoing bank exams and audits as well. These regulations make it a great platform for trading gold-backed cryptocurrencies.

They’re the first crypto platform to hold the SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 compliance certificates as well. Gemini even offers hardware keys and insurance coverage for all assets stored on the platform.

Gemini offers various products such as its mobile app, a custody platform, an earn space, and even its own stablecoin. That stablecoin, the Gemini Dollar, is tied to the value of USD. It can be used to trade with gold-backed stablecoins, among other assets, similar to Binance’s BNB asset.

Otherwise, signing up on Gemini is relatively easy, though it does require you to verify your identity, among other things. If you’re looking for anonymity, this isn’t the platform for you. It does list a fair amount of gold-backed cryptocurrencies, however.

Finally, just like Binance and Coinbase, Gemini has its own offering of learning documents to educate yourself further on the cryptocurrency industry.

Where to buy Gold-Backed Cryptocurrencies in 2021

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Crypto-collateralized loans may soon bring new investors to space

Institutional investors will soon be able to receive Bitcoin-collateralized U.S. dollar loans through Silvergate Capital Corporation — the holding company of pro-crypto institution, Silvergate Bank.

According to an announcement from Silvergate, Coinbase Custody will be the custodian for loans funded through the bank’s Silvergate Exchange Network, or SEN. The network will provide access to capital through U.S. dollar loans collateralized by Bitcoin (BTC) while Coinbase holds the crypto in cold storage.

“Traditional lending services generally do not exist in the digital currency industry, which means there aren’t many lenders for investors to choose from,” said Jon Melton, Silvergate director of digital asset lending. “Our relationship with Coinbase Custody offers institutional investors increased access to capital efficiency so they can take advantage of market opportunities in the digital currency industry.”

Silvergate will offer loans starting at $5 million with an initial 12-month term. Such loans could augment or replace traditional funding rounds for firms looking to enter the crypto space.

Since first announcing it would explore offering crypto-collateralized loans in 2019, Silvergate’s annual revenue has more than tripled, from $30 million to $91.5 million. The bank said at the time that its clients had significant interest for Silvergate “to be involved in the custody and transfer of digital assets between customers.”

In the fourth quarter of 2020, CEO Alan Lane said the bank would be expecting “increased demand” for these loans in 2021. Though the number of digital currency deposits grew by $2.9 billion over the same period, the price of Silvergate Capital Corporation stock has been volatile in the first quarter of 2021, reaching an all-time high of $176.27 on Feb. 16 but falling 40% within three weeks. At the time of publication, NYSE:SI is valued at $148.90.

Crypto-collateralized loans may soon bring new investors to space

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