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DeFi

Interoperability by design can help catalyze DeFi growth

FinCrypto Staff

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DeFi

Decentralized finance has enormous potential to accelerate access to financial services, but for all its promise, it faces a major limitation in terms of interoperability. Today, most DeFi platforms are effectively “walled gardens,” limited to the blockchain network on which they were built. For DeFi to reach its disruptive potential, seamless interoperability is required.

By removing barriers between blockchains, we can exponentially increase the utility of DeFi, allowing the sector to grow from the fragmented and limited capital pools that characterize the current ecosystem. Interoperability between DeFi protocols will create a more fluid, connected and global alternative financial system that benefits all users.

Why is interoperability critical for DeFi?

Cross-chain interoperability is essential for DeFi because it leads to compounded network effects, multiplying collective value across chains through synergies between specialized protocols. Users will have access to a more diverse range of digital assets and applications, while leveraging the unique performance characteristics of each blockchain, while benefiting from reduced costs.

Interoperability will also help reduce competition and duplication of platforms, as new projects will need to innovate more and work together rather than simply copying the functionality of protocols present on other chains. Additionally, it will improve liquidity, as assets can move more freely between networks.

Finally, interoperability will help DeFi become more resilient to outages, as problems on one blockchain will have no impact on other networks.

If DeFi lacks interoperability, DeFi ecosystems will remain fragmented, limiting users’ access to liquidity and preventing them from interacting with a more diverse range of crypto assets and functionalities.

Connecting fragmented ecosystems

Blockchain Bridges are the most common method of interoperability and can be constructed in several ways. For example, many bridges use atomic swaps, which can be thought of as a decentralized repository that allows value to flow between chains in a peer-to-peer manner, without the need for third parties. To move assets across the chain, parties create a smart contract with time constraints attached. Transaction parties can deposit their tokens into this smart contract, which is programmed to execute only when predetermined conditions are met. Atomic swaps rely on the Hashed Time Lock Contract (HTLC) technique, which guarantees that if the specified conditions of the contract are not met, the assets will be returned to those who deposited them.

Another way to link funds across chains is through wrapped assets, which are 1:1 representations of assets hosted on other chains. For example, wBTC is a wrapped Bitcoin that resides on the Ethereum blockchain. Since Bitcoin is not compatible with Ethereum, users cannot simply transfer BTC to an ETH wallet. But they can deposit their BTC with a custodian who locks them into a smart contract, providing the user with wBTC in a 1:1 ratio to the amount of BTC deposited. wBTC assets are an ERC-20 token that resides on the Ethereum chain and provide a way to use BTC in various dApps built on that network.

Bridge Safety Compromise

Although cross-chain bridges have been somewhat adopted by DeFi protocols, their use is not without risks. For one, many bridges introduce centralization by relying on third-party custodians, who hold funds locked in smart contracts on behalf of users.

Not all bridges are centralized and not all rely on deposits. For example, some bridges secure cross-chain value transfers using collateral from miners and stakers, but these models have shown that attracting sufficient liquidity is difficult. Other blockchain bridges attempt to increase performance by relying on a more limited set of validators, but this increases the opportunity for malicious actors to compromise their protocols.

Other issues with blockchain bridges include vulnerabilities written into their underlying code and a relatively low level of maturity, with many being young products that have yet to demonstrate their robustness.

While blockchain bridges broaden the horizons of DeFi users, they also require rigorous testing and validation to ensure their security, and even then, many of the most trusted bridges still fall victim to hackers — the $325 million hack the Wormhole Bridge in 2022 is a great example.

Interoperability by design

The alternative to bridging assets across chains is to use specialized blockchain infrastructures designed with interoperability in mind. These blockchains introduce architectures that enable the creation of interoperable, yet independent chains with flexible sovereignty that operate in parallel to the main foundational chain.

One of the best-known examples is Cosmos, an autonomous blockchain ecosystem that uses the Inter-blockchain communication protocol to facilitate cross-chain interactions across the network.

The IBC protocol allows compatible blockchains to send and receive messages from each other, similar to how the Internet allows instant messaging through WhatsApp, Messenger and other services. IBC is a blockchain-agnostic standard, meaning no entity controls it and it relies on multiple consensus mechanisms, ensuring each blockchain can maintain diversity while talking to others.

Nolus provides a good example of how IBC works. Nolus is a DeFi protocol that aims to eliminate the oversizing requirements of traditional DeFi dApps via its concept of “DeFi Leases”, increasing capital efficiency while providing better terms for borrowers.

He uses IBC for operate various liquidity centers in the Cosmos ecosystem, avoiding the asset fragmentation that persists across chains. It can swap multiple assets from different Cosmos chains on the fly, using any DEX platform it supports.

Nolus aims to eliminate the over-collateralization requirements of traditional DeFi dApps through its concept of “DeFi Leases,” improving capital efficiency while offering better terms to borrowers.

With its unique level of interoperability, Nolus can source capital from multiple liquidity sources without causing asset fragmentation across different networks. It is able to lend and swap assets from any DEX integrated with its platform. This streamlines the lending process for users by eliminating the need for multiple liquidity pools for different assets.

Interoperability will catalyze DeFi

DeFi’s interoperability will be a catalyst for greater adoption. In some ways, this can be compared to how individual countries gain strength by joining forces with other nations to collectively overcome challenges that would be insurmountable if attempted alone.

By uniting blockchains in the same way, DeFi will increase its resilience and be able to overcome larger obstacles than any single dApp could overcome alone. Interoperability provides a platform for greater cooperation and more innovation, fostering a more inclusive and fairer digital economy that harnesses the enormous potential of DeFi.

The subject matter and content of this article are solely those of the author. FinanceFeeds takes no legal responsibility for the contents of this article and they do not reflect the views of FinanceFeeds or its editorial staff.

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We are the editorial team of FinCrypto, where seriousness meets clarity in cryptocurrency analysis. With a robust team of finance and blockchain technology experts, we are dedicated to meticulously exploring complex crypto markets with detailed assessments and an unbiased approach. Our mission is to democratize access to knowledge of emerging financial technologies, ensuring they are understandable and accessible to all. In every article on FinCrypto, we strive to provide content that not only educates, but also empowers our readers, facilitating their integration into the financial digital age.

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DeFi

Is Zypto Wallet a Reliable Choice for DeFi Users?

FinCrypto Staff

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Is Zypto Wallet a Reliable Choice for DeFi Users?

Zypto wallet is a newcomer in the crypto landscape and has already made waves for its exclusive benefits and security features.

In this article, we will take a look at the Zypto crypto wallet and how it can help users securely manage their digital assets, interact with Web3 applications, and explore the world of Challenge.

What is Zypto Wallet?

Zypto App is a newly launched versatile crypto wallet that supports a wide range of coins and tokens, along with seamless access to Web3 applications, token exchanges, virtual crypto cards, a gift card marketplace, and a payment gateway.

What are the pros and cons of Zypto Wallet?

Benefits

  • User-friendly: Zypto’s user interface is very intuitive with a simple setup process.
  • Multi-Chain DEX Swaps: Zypto facilitates trading between thousands of cryptocurrencies, thanks to its versatile multi-chain token swap feature.
  • Built-in dApp Browser: You can access Web3 applications directly in your wallet using the in-app dApp browser.
  • Live Customer Support: The wallet has an in-app live customer support team that responds quickly to all your queries.
  • Rewards Program: Zypto has a loyalty program that allows you to earn rewards, improving the overall user experience.
  • Virtual crypto cards: The wallet makes it easy and reliable to use digital currencies for everyday transactions through its range of virtual cryptocurrency cards.

The inconvenients

  • Limited analysis tools: Zypto offers advanced charting features and limited technical analysis tools that might not appeal to experienced cryptocurrency traders.

What DeFi products and services does Zypto Wallet offer?

Zypto allows you to securely manage a wide range of cryptocurrencies across multiple blockchains, acting as a user-friendly entry point into the Web3 ecosystem.

Multi-Chain Wallet

As a multi-chain wallet, Zypto supports hundreds of thousands of digital assets across different blockchains. Zypto is also committed to adding support for more chains in the coming months, expanding its universe of explorable assets.

Multi-Chain Exchange Functionality

Instead of the tedious process of selling one token on one exchange and buying another of the same type hosted on a different blockchain, Zypto offers a cross-chain swap feature.

DApp Browser

Another easy-to-use feature is the in-app dApp browser. Simply bring up the browser from the small globe icon at the bottom of your screen and it will first take you to the Zypto homepage.

The browser provides all the features under one application so you don’t miss anything that warrants opening a separate browser.

Zypto DeFi Wallet Review

User experience

Zypto’s ease of use is one of its main advantages. Once the app is downloaded, you can view your wallet from the home screen. Other buttons at the bottom of your screen will take you to prepaid virtual cards, an Explore Zypto page, where you can send, receive, exchange, buy and sell tokens, or access the dApp browser and your contact list.

Zypto requires KYC information before processing cards, as it is part of regulatory compliance. Contacts are another benefit: instead of tediously copying and pasting long addresses, simply save them under a contact name.

How to set up your Zypto wallet?

To start using Zypto, simply download the app. Once installed, you’re ready to go.

You can create a new wallet by pressing the Create Wallet button or import an existing wallet by writing (or pasting) your passphrase to verify your identity. You can also import it in read-only mode, in which case you only need the wallet name and address.

Conclusion: The Verdict

Zypto is relatively new in the DeFi space, but it’s already gaining popularity among different types of users. Those who prefer everything neatly organized in one place will find the app appealing, as will those who prefer its rich features and integration with fiat payment methods over on- and off-ramp cryptocurrencies.

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DeFi

Switchboard Revolutionizes DeFi with New Oracle Aggregator

FinCrypto Staff

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Switchboard Revolutionizes DeFi with New Oracle Aggregator

Switchboard, a leading oracle network known for its permissionless and fully customizable features, has launched a revolutionary oracle aggregator. This new tool enables seamless integration of data across multiple oracle networks, including household names like Chainlink and Pyth Network. In doing so, it provides users with access to a wide range of data sources, improving the versatility and reliability of decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.

Addressing security and cost challenges in DeFi

The Oracle Aggregator is designed to address significant security and cost challenges in the DeFi sector. In 2023, the Web3 industry saw losses exceeding $500 million due to price manipulation attacks, a notable increase from $403.2 million in 2022. These attacks accounted for 33% of the total value lost due to hacks. By expanding the diversity and volume of data sources, Switchboard aims to strengthen the resilience of data streams against such malicious activities, thereby improving the overall security of DeFi platforms.

Empowering developers with customizable data streams

Switchboard’s new Oracle Aggregator allows developers to design custom data feeds that draw from a wide range of sources, both within and outside of the Switchboard platform. This flexibility allows developers to create tailored feeds that meet their specific needs, moving away from rigid templates. The platform’s permissionless nature and lack of gatekeepers ensure developers have complete control over the data feeds they create.

Switchboard CEO Chris Hermida noted that the company’s philosophy has always been to empower developers rather than constrain them. By launching Oracle Aggregator, Switchboard allows developers to use data from a variety of sources, including Pyth and Chainlink, enabling innovation and customization of their projects. Hermida noted that this new capability allows developers to break away from traditional models and take a more personalized approach to data integration.

Plug-and-Play approach for enhanced security

Switchboard’s Oracle Aggregator offers a plug-and-play approach that allows users to leverage multiple Oracle networks, enhancing data security and reliability. By aggregating data from multiple sources, developers can improve the scalability and redundancy of their data feeds, setting a new industry standard as the first generalized Oracle aggregator. This scalability ensures that projects can mitigate risks associated with data manipulation and other vulnerabilities.

One of the most notable features of Oracle Aggregator is its customizable nature. Developers can selectively choose trusted data sources, eliminating those that do not meet their standards. This level of control is crucial for projects that aim to protect their operations from potential threats.

Innovative use of secure execution environments

Switchboard uses Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) to ensure that data aggregation occurs entirely off-chain. This innovative approach minimizes gas costs associated with on-chain operations while preserving data integrity. Aggregated data is then shared with users in a single on-chain transaction, simplifying the process and reducing operational expenses.

Mitch Gildenberg, Switchboard’s CTO, highlighted the platform’s developer-centric design. He noted that the platform is designed to put developers in control, allowing them to fine-tune each data flow to their specific needs. This approach reflects Switchboard’s commitment to understanding and meeting developer needs.

Expansion and impact on the industry

Since its launch in 2021, Switchboard has seen significant growth, amassing over 180,000 users and achieving a total valuation of $1.6 billion. The company’s commitment to user autonomy and inclusion has been a driving force behind its rapid expansion in the Web3 ecosystem. Earlier this year, Switchboard raised $7.5 million in a Series A funding round co-led by Tribe Capital and RockawayX, with additional support from leading investors including the Solana Foundation, Aptos Labs, Mysten Labs, Subzero Ventures, and Starkware.

Conclusion

As the DeFi industry continues to evolve, tools like Switchboard’s Oracle Aggregator will play a crucial role in building robust and secure decentralized applications. By giving developers the ability to integrate and customize data feeds from multiple sources, Switchboard is setting new industry standards, driving innovation, and improving the overall security of the Web3 ecosystem.

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Bitcoin is the solution to inevitable hyperfinancialization

FinCrypto Staff

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Bitcoin is the solution to inevitable hyperfinancialization

Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of the crypto.news editorial team.

If there is one thing that is becoming clear, it is that hyperfinancialization is inevitable, and our best chance of achieving it successfully is through Bitcoin (Bitcoin). This decentralized cryptocurrency, known for its fixed supply and robust security, offers a unique solution to the coming problem of wealth inequality and concentrated power. By embracing Bitcoin, we can create a more transparent and resilient financial future, or we risk losing our financial sovereignty to a handful of corporations.

The hyper-financialization of the world has already begun, with the financial sector becoming a relatively larger part of the economy, in terms of size and importance. Financial structures are also expanding rapidly in other sectors.

For example, in 2023, Americans spent more than $100 billion on state-run lotteries, according to According to The Economist, the poorest citizens spent huge amounts on tickets. In addition, the online sports betting market, valued at more than $100 billion, is projected to generate nearly $46 billion in revenue this year, with a user penetration rate of 3.9%.

Moreover, Robin HoodRobinhood, a commission-free investment platform popular with retail investors, saw its funded customers climb to 23.9 million and its assets under custody soar to $129.6 billion, another prime example of the hyper-financialization trend. Robinhood began to gain traction during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and the hyper-financialization trend was exacerbated. For people stuck at home, the online world became their primary means of entertainment and social interaction.

Governments then injected billions of dollars into the market, encouraging people to bet their money on the markets. The subsequent surge in inflation and the weakness of the global economy further intensified this trend, with people having to bear the burden of survival.

This has led to an increased proliferation of financial structures in different spheres of life, meaning that both manufacturers and consumers are taking this route.

As we can see, cryptocurrency has grown from less than $150 billion in March 2020 to $2.7 trillion today. This explosive growth not only accelerates the trend towards the hyperfinancialization of finance with yield farming, resttaking, points, rewards and meme coins, but also that of art via NFTs, social dynamics via social tokens and platforms like Friendtech, game with play-to-win conceptsand physical assets through tokenization.

There are also prediction markets that allow people to bet on all sorts of events. These range from the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election to whether Bitcoin will hit $100,000 by the end of the year, whether Drake’s verse in “Wah Gwan Delilah” is an AI, what the opening weekend box office of “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” will be, or whether the Fed will raise rates this year.

This growing trend towards hyper-financialization is detrimental to society because it widens already large wealth gaps by increasing wealth concentration and contributing to economic inequality. Not to mention that it will lead to even larger asset bubbles, a focus on the short term at the expense of the long term, and an increased interest in speculative investments.

Here, cryptography can help find a better way to address hyperfinancialization. After all, the wealth is in the middlemen, and using blockchain technology removes this third party from the equation, bringing reliability, traceability, and immutability to the market. Blockchain actually allows hyperfinancialization to be fair and transparent.

Before the advent of cryptocurrencies, not everyone was allowed to participate in markets. But through disintermediation and permissionlessness, cryptocurrencies have made markets more efficient and accessible. Not to mention, everyone gains full control over their data, mitigating the risk of data manipulation and privacy violations.

This is where Bitcoin offers the perfect solution. This decentralized peer-to-peer network enables financial inclusion and censorship resistance, which is critically important in today’s world where organizations and governments are encroaching on people’s rights. This network has a decade-and-a-half-old history behind it, providing a robust and secure platform for people to achieve financial sovereignty.

This trillion-dollar asset class also serves as a hedge against inflation, allowing holders to preserve their wealth over time. Unlike fiat currencies, which are devalued by politicians, Bitcoin’s fixed supply and decentralization protect it from such pressures, making it the perfect asset to own in a world where everyone is competing to extract value.

The largest crypto network is now also seeing experimentation, as developers and investors use it as a foundation to build a truly decentralized future of finance and value.

For so long, Bitcoin has been a low-activity blockchain, with its key role being to store value. While Bitcoin has played a passive role in the blockchain world for all these years, it has finally changed with Taproot Upgrade which brought NFTs into the Bitcoin world. Then there was a growing interest in tokenization, also from institutions like Blackrock.

This drive to expand Bitcoin’s utility has sparked a wave of innovation, and the day is not far when BTC could dethrone Ethereum as the go-to blockchain for decentralized finance. Several aspects, including Bitcoin’s robust security framework, widespread acceptance, and institutional interest, position Bitcoin at the forefront of defi innovation.

So, with these developments, Bitcoin is now evolving to begin its new era of utility and innovation after realizing its original vision of being a peer-to-peer electronic currency system.

As everything becomes a financial asset and tradable, attention, which is a scarce resource, will become even more crucial. Bitcoin has already cemented its position in the attention economy, and the newfound interest in regulatory complaints and widespread adoption of BTC to boost productivity will allow it to lead the future of digital economies. This portends a world where crypto leads the charge towards hyperfinancialization, with BTC in the driver’s seat.

So, to conclude, the resilient Bitcoin network that has spectacularly survived the test of time may have started as a means to facilitate the seamless flow of monetary value, but today, it has become a foundation of hope not only to protect against a future that is going to be super fixated on the financial aspect, but also to take advantage of it to create wealth and prosper.

Jeroen Develter

Jeroen Develter is the Chief Operating Officer at Persistence Labs and a seasoned professional in financial and tech startup environments. With a decade of international consulting, management, entrepreneurship and leadership experience, Jeroen excels at analyzing complex business cases, establishing streamlined operations and creating scalable processes. With Persistence, Jeroen oversees all product and engineering efforts and is deeply passionate about improving the adoption of Bitcoin defi, or BTCfi, and using intents to develop scalable, fast, secure and user-friendly solutions. His work at Persistence Labs addresses the significant interoperability challenges between Bitcoin L2s. In addition, Jeroen is also a co-host of the Stacked Podcast, a platform to gain knowledge about Bitcoin and cryptography from prominent Bitcoin creators.

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DeFi

Haust Network Partners with Gateway to Connect to AggLayer

FinCrypto Staff

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Haust Network Partners with Gateway to Connect to AggLayer

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, August 1, 2024, Chainwire

Consumer adoption of cryptocurrencies is a snowball that is accelerating by the day. More and more people around the world are clamoring for access to DeFi. However, the user interface and user experience of cryptocurrencies still lag behind their fundamental utility, and users lack the simple and secure access they need to truly on-chain products.

Haust Network is a network and suite of products focused on changing this paradigm and bringing DeFi to the masses. To achieve this goal, Haust Network has announced its far-reaching partnership with bridgeseasoned veterans in rapidly delivering revolutionary blockchain utilities for projects. The Gateway team empowers blockchain developers to build DAOs, NFT platforms, payment services, and more. They drive adoption of crypto primitives for individuals and institutions around the world by helping everyone build their on-chain presence.

Gateway specializes in connecting sovereign blockchains to the Aggregation Layer (AggLayer). The AggLayer is a single unified contract that powers the Ethereum bridge of many disparate blockchains, allowing them all to connect to a single unified liquidity pool. The AggLayer abstracts away the complexities of cross-chain DeFi, making tedious multi-chain transactions as easy for the end user as a single click. It’s all about creating access to DeFi, and with Polygon’s technology and the help of Gateways, Haust is doing just that.

As part of their partnership, Gateway will build an advanced zkEVM blockchain for Haust Network, leveraging its extensive experience to deploy ultra-fast sovereign applications with unmatched security, and enabling Haust Network to deliver its products to its audience.

The recently announced launch of the Haust Wallet is a Telegram mini-app that provides users with access to DeFi directly through the Telegram interface. Users who deposit funds into the wallet will have access to all standard send/receive services and generate an automatic yield on their funds. The yield is generated by Haust Network’s interconnected network of smart contracts, Haustoria, which provides automated and passive DeFi yielding.

As part of this partnership, the Haust Network development team will work closely with Gateway developers to launch Haust Network. Gateway is an implementation provider for Polygon CDK and zkEVM technology, which the Haust wallet will leverage to deliver advanced DeFi tools directly to the wallet users’ fingertips. Haust’s partnership with Gateway comes shortly after the announcement of a high-profile alliance with the Polygon community. Together, the three will work to build Haust Network and connect its products to the AggLayer.

About Haust Network

Haust Network is an application-based absolute liquidity network and will be built to be compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Haust aims to provide native yield to all users’ assets. In Telegram’s Haust Wallet, users can spend and collect their cryptocurrencies in one easy place, at the same time. Haust operates its network of self-balancing smart contracts that interact across multiple blockchains and then efficiently funnel what has been generated to Haust users.

About Gateway

bridge is a leading white-label blockchain provider that offers no-code protocol deployment. Users can launch custom blockchains in just ten minutes. They are an implementation provider for Polygon CDK and have already helped projects like Wirex, Gnosis Pay, and PalmNFT bring new utility to the crypto landscape.

About Polygon Labs

Polygon Laboratories Polygon Labs is a software development company building and developing a network of aggregated blockchains via the AggLayer, secured by Ethereum. As a public infrastructure, the AggLayer will aggregate the user bases and liquidity of any connected chain, and leverage Ethereum as the settlement layer. Polygon Labs has also contributed to the core development of several widely adopted scaling protocols and tools for launching blockchains, including Polygon PoS, Polygon zkEVM, and Polygon Miden, which is currently under development, as well as the Polygon CDK.

Contact

Lana Kovalski
haustnetwork@gmail.com

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