Here’s why decentralized finance is actually very centralized
Despite crypto’s repeated claims of decentralized finance, most protocols are quite centralized. Most decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols are technically controlled by a small number of smart contracts whose keys are held by one person or a tiny group of insiders. These insiders usually decide which issues are put up for community vote; they also implement the smart contract changes that result from votes. The vast majority of utility for most ostensibly decentralized protocols relies on stablecoins, most of which are controlled by corporate executives. Proponents of DeFi often claim that they operate in a permissionless, decentralized manner. However, most haven’t progressed much beyond centralized management. Likewise, most would lose their value if their primary stablecoin de-pegged from $1. As an obvious example, most stablecoins’ issuers can — and do — freeze certain tokens at law enforcement’s request. Basically, there’s nothing permissionless nor d...