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Decentralized Finance or DeFi for short, refers to financial actions that take place outside traditional means that require a third-party institution. Having been a feasible idea for at least fifteen years, to say that <a href="https://finage.co.uk/blog/unlocking-the-potential-of-decentralized-finance-defi-with-finages-blockchain-integration--650dad8a0d6747a52719c01a">DeFi has had an influence in the world in 2024</a> would be quite an understatement. So, exactly how has DeFi impacted the world of finance?
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To best answer that question, we need to go through the timeline and see how this niche has evolved. Once we're done with that, we'll be able to comprehend why things in 2024 are as they are, as well as gauge what potential there is.
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<h2>Contents:</h2>
- A look at the timeline
- Dynamics and insights: understanding Transformation
- Where things stand in 2024
- Bridging traditional finance with blockchain
- Final thoughts 
<h2>A look at the timeline</h2>
For many, the origins of DeFi can be traced back to Bitcoin's creation in 2009, which was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin">responsible for the crypto revolution</a> we see today, as well as bringing forth trustless peer-to-peer transactions that don't need a traditional intermediary. That said, DeFi as it is today wouldn't exist without Bitcoin's rival Ethereum, which was launched in 2015.
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This blockchain platform was responsible for a lot of the technology and applications that made decentralization even more of a reality. This is due to it allowing for more activity, thus creating a fuller financial space. The following are a few things that Ethereum contributed to DeFi:
- Smart contracts allow for the execution of actions provided that the right conditions are met
- DeFi protocols, which are a set of codes that manage the use of assets on blockchain networks, thus allowing actions such as lending and borrowing
- Such protocols included the decentralized exchanges, automated market maker and the Maker DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization), which while developed in 2014, was launched in 2017 along with the earliest versions of the other protocols
- Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), which allow for the raising of money to fund crypto projects and while existing as far back as over a decade ago, exploded in popularity in 2017, leading to the creation of significant protocols despite the presence of bad actors 
<h3>Dynamics and insights: understanding Transformation</h3>
In 2020, a lot happened in the world of DeFi and the <a href="https://www.globaldata.com/data-insights/financial-services/ethereums-price-history">2020 price dip of Ether was one of them</a>. It's significant because as a result, the aforementioned Maker had to create and auction additional native tokens, as a response to the great rise in liquidations and gas fees.
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This stress test, once seen through, saw a great boost in DeFi in the same year, which included the Ethereum Network's Compound protocol, which allowed for the creation of the COMP token, which allowed for the following:
- The creation of yield farming which is the practice in decentralized finance where users provide liquidity to a protocol in exchange for rewards
- The token's ability to give users voting rights as it pertained to the governance of the protocol
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Since then, a lot has happened in the DeFi space. In fact, over the past few years protocols have continued to be built, as well as having additions brought to them. An example of this is the evolution of smart contracts, which will see more security and interoperability, among other things as time goes on.
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<h2>Where things stand in 2024</h2>
With <a href="https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/decentralized-finance-market">statistics regarding</a> the billions of dollars the space is worth showing that interest in the space is ever-growing, it's fair to say that DeFi in 2024 is pretty active. The amount of interest has meant that traditional finance has been threatened somewhat. The transparency, security, immutability of transactions and accessibility to anyone with an Internet connection are things that give DeFi users power that they wouldn't have in traditional finance.
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<h3>Bridging traditional finance with blockchain</h3>
This has meant that over time elements of DeFi have been adopted by traditional finance, with things such as blockchain technology and tokenized assets being the most notable. This is done for them to avoid the risk of being left behind, the more DeFi is adopted by the world. Having said that, universal adoption is still a ways away due to the volatility and regulatory issues among a host of other problems.
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As 2024 rolls on, several things are expected to be seen in the space. Among these are the following:
- Further adoption by traditional finance institutions
- Simplification of protocols, which while popular, aren't always user-friendly
- The addressing of several things of concern including regulations
- The tokenization of things including real-world assets 
<h2>Final thoughts</h2>
The hope for DeFi since the early days of its development was always to put the power in the hands of regular people without dealing with the issues of centralized entities. Throughout the years, it's fair to say that a lot has come of the technology developed, which has seen mainstream reactions, especially in the crypto realm. Companies like Finage, as it is a financial data provider, contribute to the decentralized finance ecosystem by offering decentralized solutions like aggregated DEX feeds.
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For example, Finage can <a href="https://finage.co.uk/product/dex">provide accurate and real-time pricing data from various decentralized exchanges (DEXs)</a>. This data is crucial for DeFi protocols to determine asset prices, execute trades and manage liquidity effectively.
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While the development and fine-tuning of DeFi is still occurring in 2024, which means that full adoption isn't already a reality there's no doubt that excitement persists. Said excitement is best seen in the growing market size, as well as the adoption of key components of DeFi by traditional institutions.
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DeFi in 2024: Exploring the Growth & Impact on Traditional Financial Services