DeFi or Decentralized Finance, sounds fancy, right?
If you break it down: “de” means not, and “centralized” means controlled in one place. Put them together and you get: not controlled in one place. Easy enough.
But then there’s “finance.” And honestly? Finance was never my thing. I’m an arts major, and like most people my age, nobody really sat us down to explain why financial education mattered. Numbers, stocks, banking systems? Boring. I’d rather be drawing, writing, or doing literally anything else.
Still, here I am. Because crypto doesn’t let you run away from finance. It forces you to face it!
My “Fake It Till You Make It” Moment
Last week, I went to a BASE event here in the Philippines. It was a two-hour ride from where I live, and honestly, the only guarantee was there’d be food and drinks. LOL.
The vibe at the event was amazing. Everyone was passionate about Web3. I started chatting with a group, sharing what I do and what the company I work for is building. Then, out of nowhere, someone goes:
“Oh, so your company is in DeFi?”
Cue my blank stare. My brain whispered: Uh… maybe? But my mouth confidently blurted:
“Yeah, yeah… you can trade inside our platform so yes, we are DeFi.”
Their faces lit up. Suddenly, they connected me with this whole identity: “You’re from [company name]!” (I’ll save that for another post.)
But the truth? I was faking it. I’d heard “DeFi” a hundred times before, but I never really understood it. I only had this vague idea: “no one controls it, it’s your money, your rules.” Which isn’t totally wrong, but it felt shallow.
That night, I promised myself: No more bluffing. I need to really understand this.
The Aha! Realization
Here’s what I found out:
DeFi is simply money without middlemen.
Normally, if you want to borrow, save, send, or invest, you go through a bank or some financial institution. With DeFi, you don’t. Instead, everything runs on blockchain (think of it as a public digital record book that anyone can check but no one can secretly change) using smart contracts (self-running code that carries out the rules automatically, like a vending machine for money).
✨ No lines at the bank.
✨ No paperwork.
✨ No “Sorry, we’re closed on weekends.”
Just you, your wallet, and the internet.
***Don’t worry if blockchain and smart contracts still sound a bit fuzzy, we’ll break them down more in the next posts.
Why it matters?
DeFi is about freedom and access. It’s about giving people the power to control their money without gatekeepers.
For someone like me, who honestly never cared about finance, this is the first time it feels less intimidating.
So yeah, last week I was a “faker” in front of that group. But today? I get it.
And now… you do too.
If I could turn back time and join that conversation again, instead of fumbling, I’d say:
“Yes, our platform has a DeFi side. You can swap tokens and soon stake them. But what sets us apart is we also give smart analytics, AI-driven insights, and easy access to DeFi tools, all in one platform.”
Not the blunt answer like “Yeah yeah, we’re in DeFi…”
Nope. This time, I can say it with clarity and confidence.
And honestly? I can feel the confidence in me rising and it’s only Day 2, guys. Hahaha.
Tomorrow, for Day 3, I’m not locking myself into strict topics. I want this 100-day journey to feel free and honest, like a diary of my own learning. Whatever clicks, whatever feels useful, that’s what I’ll write about. Think of it as me learning out loud, one day at a time.
See you again tomorrow!
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