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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All buying guides

Buy Raydium (RAY) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Raydium (RAY), you've come to the right place. Raydium is one of the most established decentralized exchanges in the Solana ecosystem, powering a significant chunk of...

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Buy Fluid (FLUID) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Fluid (FLUID), the governance and utility token behind one of DeFi's most powerful portfolio management platforms, you've come to the right place. Fluid powers Instadapp, a...

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Buy Compound (COMP) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Compound (COMP), you've come to the right place. COMP is the governance token behind Compound Finance, one of the most established decentralized lending protocols in the...

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Buy Lombard (BARD) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Lombard (BARD), you've landed in the right place. Lombard is one of the more interesting projects bridging Bitcoin and decentralized finance — making BTC a productive,...

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Buy Vision (VSN) — A simple guide

Looking to buy Vision (VSN), the native token powering Bitpanda's growing Web3 ecosystem? You've come to the right place. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to purchase VSN...

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Buy Flying Tulip (FT) — A simple guide

If you've been looking for a clear, no-nonsense guide on how to buy Flying Tulip (FT), you've landed in the right place. Flying Tulip is a DeFi project operating across multiple ecosystems including...

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Buy Ultima (ULTIMA) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Ultima (ULTIMA), you've come to the right place. ULTIMA is the native infrastructure token of the Ultima ecosystem, built on a fast, scalable blockchain designed for...

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Buy Pendle (PENDLE) — A simple guide

If you're looking to buy Pendle (PENDLE), you've come to the right place. Pendle is one of the more innovative DeFi protocols out there, letting users trade and tokenize future yield in ways that...

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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.