DeFi

Decentralized finance, or DeFi, uses blockchain applications to provide services such as swapping tokens, lending, borrowing and supplying liquidity. A wallet interacts with smart contracts that hold assets and apply the protocol’s rules.

DeFi decentralized finance illustrated with connected vaults and exchange arrows

Browse the buying guides

All buying guides

Buy R0AR Token (1R0R) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy R0AR Token (1R0R), you've come to the right place. R0AR is an Ethereum-based DeFi token that sits at the heart of a growing ecosystem covering governance, staking, yield...

read more

Buy SwissCheese (SWCH) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy SwissCheese (SWCH), you've come to the right place. SWCH is the native token of a decentralized finance platform built on the Polygon network, aiming to bring traditional...

read more

Buy Saros (SAROS) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Saros (SAROS), you've come to the right place. Saros is a growing project in the Solana ecosystem, built around a Super App experience that aims to make decentralized...

read more

Buy CateCoin (CATE) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy CateCoin (CATE), you've come to the right place. CATE is a deflationary meme coin built on BNB Chain that combines NFT creation, staking rewards, and a real-world platform...

read more

Buy MEZO (MEZO) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy MEZO (MEZO), the governance and utility token behind one of the most ambitious Bitcoin-native DeFi platforms out there, you've come to the right place. Mezo is building a...

read more

Buy TrustSwap (SWAP) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy TrustSwap (SWAP), you've come to the right place. SWAP is the native token of TrustSwap, a well-established Web3 launchpad and DeFi platform that has built a strong...

read more

Buy Hyperion (RION) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Hyperion (RION), you've come to the right place. Hyperion is building the foundational trading infrastructure on the Aptos blockchain, combining swap aggregation,...

read more

Buy Scallop (SCA) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Scallop (SCA), you've come to the right place. Scallop is a DeFi lending and borrowing protocol built on the Sui blockchain, designed to bring institutional-grade...

read more

Buy Rezor (RZR) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Rezor (RZR), you've come to the right place. Rezor is a fast-growing Layer Zero blockchain ecosystem with a live swap platform, wallet, and exchange on the way — making it...

read more

What are DeFi tokens?

Browse the buying guides

Access can be open, although websites, asset issuers and individual products may impose restrictions. DeFi describes the service, not a guarantee that every part of it is decentralized.

How it works

Tokens can represent a vote, a deposit, a debt position or a claim on a pool of assets. These roles are not interchangeable. A governance token may have no right to protocol revenue, while a liquidity-pool token exposes its holder to the assets and pricing of that pool. Returns can come from borrower interest, trading fees or newly issued incentives; unusually high rewards need a clear explanation. Smart-contract failures, price-oracle errors, liquidation and bridge dependencies can all affect a position.

Blockchain explained: connected blocks in a blockchain network
Cryptocurrency wallet and keys illustrating secure access and recovery

A little groundwork goes a long way

Before your next purchase or transfer, understand who controls access, where your crypto is going and what the trade will actually cost.

Protect access to your crypto

An exchange account and a self-custody wallet need different safeguards. Protect exchange logins with a unique password and strong two-factor authentication. For self-custody, your recovery backup is what lets you restore access.

Keep recovery words offline and private. A support agent or website asking for them is a reason to stop.

See a recovery example

Your phone breaks. An exchange may help you recover your account after identity checks. A self-custody wallet cannot reset your recovery phrase. Check your wallet’s official backup instructions before relying on it.

Choose the right transfer network

The asset, token version and network must be supported at the destination. A familiar ticker or a matching address format is not enough. Read the receiving platform’s deposit instructions before selecting a withdrawal network.

Check the address, any required memo or tag, fees and minimums. Consider a small test transfer first.

See a network example

Your destination accepts USDC on Ethereum. Selecting a cheaper network at the sending exchange does not make it an Ethereum transfer. Use a network both ends support; an ordinary withdrawal does not bridge tokens.

Understand the price you pay

Trading fees are only part of the cost. The spread, available liquidity and withdrawal charges also matter. A market order prioritizes execution; a limit order controls the price but may remain unfilled or fill only partly.

Check the order preview and the amount you will receive, then compare the full cost of your intended purchase and withdrawal.

Work through a cost example

Hypothetical example: a $200 trade with a 0.1% trading fee costs $0.20 in trading fees. A separate $5 withdrawal fee brings those charges to $5.20. Spread or slippage may add more; these are not quoted exchange rates.