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

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Buy Infinex (INX) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Infinex (INX), you've come to the right place. Infinex is a decentralized trading platform aiming to bridge the gap between the usability of centralized exchanges and the...

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Buy Momentum (MMT) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Momentum (MMT), you've come to the right place. MMT is a DeFi token built on the Sui ecosystem that's been gaining attention after appearing in Binance HODLer Airdrops and a...

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Buy SMARDEX (SDEX) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy SMARDEX (SDEX), you've come to the right place. SMARDEX is one of the more technically interesting DeFi projects around — it's the first decentralized exchange designed to...

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Buy Sai (SAI) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Sai (SAI), the decentralized stablecoin built on Ethereum, you've come to the right place. SAI is part of the broader MakerDAO ecosystem and represents an early chapter in...

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Buy KernelDAO (KERNEL) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy KernelDAO (KERNEL), you've come to the right place. KERNEL is the governance token behind one of DeFi's most ambitious restaking ecosystems, combining liquid restaking,...

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Buy Liquity (LQTY) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Liquity (LQTY), you've come to the right place. LQTY is the native token of the Liquity Protocol — a decentralized borrowing platform that lets users take out interest-free...

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Buy HumidiFi (WET) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy HumidiFi (WET), you've come to the right place. HumidiFi is a decentralized exchange and automated market maker built on Solana, designed to bring MEV protection and...

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Buy Planet IX (AIX) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Planet IX (AIX), you've come to the right place. Planet IX is a sci-fi NFT strategy game built on the Base blockchain where players collect land tiles and work to restore a...

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Buy Osmosis (OSMO) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Osmosis (OSMO), you've come to the right place. OSMO is the native token of the Cosmos ecosystem's leading decentralized exchange, powering cross-chain DeFi across dozens of...

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Buy Sologenic (SOLO) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Sologenic (SOLO), you've come to the right place. Sologenic is a unique project operating at the intersection of decentralized finance and real-world asset tokenization,...

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Buy Bifrost (BFC) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Bifrost (BFC), you've come to the right place. BFC is the native utility token powering the Bifrost Multichain Ecosystem, used by developers to build and run decentralized...

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Buy Mey Network (MEY) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Mey Network (MEY), you've come to the right place. MEY is the native token of an emerging blockchain ecosystem focused on bringing real-world assets like real estate onto...

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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.