#DeFiGetsGraded DeFi, short for Decentralized Finance, refers to financial services and systems that operate on blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. It's a rapidly evolving sector that aims to disrupt traditional finance by providing decentralized, permissionless, and transparent alternatives.

*Recent Trends and Updates:*

- *Tokenized Stocks:* Platforms like Bitrue and PancakeSwap are now offering tokenized stock trading, allowing users to invest in global tech brands like Apple, Amazon and Tesla.

- *Real-World Assets:* Aave founder Stani Kulechov believes that bringing traditional financial assets on-chain could be the biggest opportunity for DeFi.

- *Regulation:* The DeFi Education Fund has urged the US Senate Banking Committee to take a measured approach to DeFi regulation.

- *Security:* Recent hacks and exploits have resulted in significant losses, such as the $9.5 million zkLend hack and the $2 million Bedrock UniBTC insider attack ¹.

*Popular DeFi Platforms:*

- *PancakeSwap:* A decentralized exchange (DEX) with tokenized stock trading features.

- *Hyperliquid:* A decentralized trading platform with record trading volumes and a native token, HYPE.

- *Aave:* A decentralized lending protocol with a proposed V4 upgrade.

- *Venus:* A DeFi platform on BNB Chain with a native burn engine ² ¹.

*Resources:*

- *BeInCrypto:* A leading source for DeFi news, updates, and analysis.

- *Blockonomi:* A platform providing live DeFi news and updates.

- *Binance Square:* A community-driven platform for DeFi news and discussions ³