Introduction
Blockchain, cryptocurrencies, the World Wide Web, and the DeFi space are the next step in the evolution of the financial system. Learning the many facets of DeFi and CeFi is essential for any investor.
Since the dawn of civilization, people have needed a variety of financial services. At first, people only bartered with one another, trading one good for another. The use of paper currency increased under democratic governments after they replaced the use of coinage issued by monarchs.
What is Centralized Finance?
All of the financial operations and institutions that fall under the purview of a government agency are collectively referred to as “centralized finance.” What this means is that all monetary transactions on the CeFi platform are subject to third-party monitoring and verification.
It’s important to keep in mind that while all financial activities have become centralized, not all centralized financial activities fall under the umbrella of “traditional finance.”
Just how does CeFi Function, Anyway?
If you’re looking for the next logical step after the barter system, look no further than the complementary financial system, or CeFi. For example, a farmer who grows wheat could exchange some of his crop for clothing from a cobbler.
However, there were many problems with this system because it did not accurately reflect the worth of a good or service in relation to the time and effort invested in producing it.
Assigning a legal tender like coins, beans, cowries, etc., helped people quantify the market value of goods and services in the form of a new unit of measurement. By becoming the final arbiter of the value of goods in circulation, governments or monarchs were able to exert greater control over their subjects.
CeFi and TradFi
Before DeFi, it was not possible to tell TradFi or Traditional Finance apart from CeFi, or Contemporary Finance. Mt. Gox was one of the first cryptocurrency exchange markets to open after the introduction of cryptocurrency trading. Markets for trading securities and stocks, among other TradFi products, predated the development of exchanges like NASDAQ and NYSE, etc.
A lack of regulatory clarity or any legal groundwork available also caused many problems for the first cryptocurrency exchanges. The rise of centralized cryptocurrency exchanges like Coinbase is a direct result of this trend.
Centralized cryptocurrency exchanges have made it easy to see the differences between decentralized finance (DeFi), traditional finance (TradFi), and conventional finance (CeFi). Exchange platforms that facilitate the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies and other financial products are now collectively referred to as “CeFi.”
CeFi, on the other hand, is independent from TradFi, which is where you’ll find things like stock trading, commodity exchanges, real estate business, derivatives, and Forex commerce.
The separation between CeFi and DeFi, where users are not subject to governmental financial laws or a user verification process, is another way in which CeFi has evolved.
The Benefits of CeFi
Rapid Transactions
Due to the lengthy user verification and documentation processes, TradFi transaction times are typically longer. However, DeFi’s reliance on PoW mining means that even a single transaction confirmation can take a long time.
The verification procedures for users and transactions on CeFi networks are also the most streamlined. A combination of TradFi and Point-of-Sale (PoS) systems ensures the authenticity of all users and the reliability of all transactions.
An escalation in the level of trading activity
Numerous financial institutions entered the cryptocurrency exchange market after it became centralized. Because of the lack of oversight, most banks and other financial institutions have avoided adding cryptocurrency trading.
Therefore, the growth in trading volume was made possible by the proliferation of CEX platforms. It meant that more money was flowing into the cryptocurrency market, and that investment opportunities were expanding steadily alongside it.
Chain-to-Chain Assistance
It’s a major development for CeFi investors that their tokens can be used on other chains. Investment portfolios had to be split between two different platforms for managing TradFi and DeFi products before the advent of CeFi. However, investors could trade stocks and cryptocurrencies on CeFi platforms like Robinhood, eToro, Webull, and others.
Parachain protocols, developed by DeFi’s team, interconnected CeFi with other blockchains.
Department of Service to Customers
The investors cannot hire anyone in case of an emergency, which is a major drawback for users of DeFi. Both a centralized authority and technical support in the form of Customer Service are absent.
Because of this, CeFi platforms were able to bridge the gap in interaction between service providers and end users. Customers who need assistance on CeFi can usually reach the service’s support team at any time.
The Ease of Use
There is a high level of technical expertise required for both DeFi and TradFi investments. To counter this, CeFi platforms offer a la carte access to vital resources like technical analysis and consultants.
Consumers can start with a modest amount and gradually increase it as they gain knowledge and experience.
Limitations of CeFi
Inflation in Transaction Fees
CeFi transaction fees are notoriously prone to skyrocketing price increases. Investors are prompted to offer higher gas fee rewards because miners can take a long time to verify transactions, which is the primary cause of free inflation.
In addition, as trading volume on a blockchain grows, inflation fees for investors using that blockchain may rise.
Difficulties in Accumulating Sufficient Capital
CeFi features largely one-sided flows of capital. Once money is transferred to another digital wallet account, the transfer cannot be undone.
Most CeFi marketplaces don’t provide a safe place for users to hold funds pending confirmation of a transaction. Moreover, because no governing bodies are present in CeFi, all trades are final and cannot be undone.
Statistics About Yourself
CeFi accounts, in contrast to DeFi platforms, call for users’ actual names and email addresses. This means that users are required to provide their full, legal names, physical addresses, and valid email addresses as part of the Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) authentication process.
That means the verification process is slower than on DeFi platforms, but fraudsters can’t set up phony accounts to trick users.
Traceability
CeFi platforms typically include a traceability feature. The government has access to most users’ account details and transaction histories in DeFi and TradFi platforms.
Users in DeFi, however, have a variety of methods at their disposal for covering their digital footprints. With CeFi, however, all user data is shared with the government.
Just what is DeFi, exactly?
Decentralized Finance, or DeFi for short, is a newer subset of the financial ecosystem that was kickstarted by blockchain technology. There can be no Decentralized Finance without the use of cryptocurrencies and DEXs.
By eliminating the need for a central authority to oversee financial transactions, DeFi has made it possible for people all over the world to do business with one another. This means that neither the government nor any other financial regulator is necessary for the people exchanging money on the network.
Most people cannot fathom the idea of transferring funds through a system that is not regulated by any government or financial institution. The advent of DeFi, however, has changed that.
How Does DeFi Function?
In the same way that CeFi advanced the barter system, DeFi is viewed as CeFi’s successor. With CeFi, customers could conduct business with a reduced risk of being a victim of fraud. But with CeFi, governments have access to users’ private data and information.
Accordingly, those who don’t follow the rules set forth by the government risk having their access to the financial system severed and being subjected to severe punishments. Some fascist laws could be passed by even the most democratic of governments. But with DeFi, people can bypass the traditional monetary system altogether.
On the other hand, DeFi undermines the state’s monopoly on the economy. Corruption at the highest levels of government often leads to the passing of laws that benefit a small elite at the expense of the majority of the population.
As a result, acceptance of DeFi has grown as a means of exchange that can liberate its users from the control of the state. The difference between DeFi and CeFi is that DeFi is a global financial system while CeFi operates only within a single nation or region.
Advantages of DeFi
Discretion
One significant benefit of DeFi systems is that user privacy is protected. Anyone, at any time, can view all the available transaction history data on a DeFi network, and no identifying information is required to do so.
Pseudonymous profiles are an option for users on DeFi. That means anybody can sign up for a brand new account using an assumed name or a different identifier. Furthermore, users are free to make as many accounts as they like.
Credible Connections
Since DeFi platforms are established networks, no external monetary authority is required to transact business on them. A trusted third party verification service is crucial in TradFi financial channels. However, miners, smart contracts, and other automated protocols can verify DeFi networks’ internal transactions.
Transparency
DeFi networks are lauded for many reasons, but one of the best is their openness. That means that anyone who uses the blockchain can view and verify every transaction that has ever taken place on the network. However, with DeFi, this means that users’ private transaction information must be exposed.
All the accounts are made up using fictitious names, so it’s very difficult to pin the dealings on any one person. Any user data obtained by a DeFi platform from governments or other financial institutions is subject to retention.
Global Commerce
A DeFi network is a global marketplace for all kinds of goods and services. One can only make purchases inside of the country using legal tender. Anyone with access to the internet and a compatible operating system, however, can join DeFi networks from any country in the world.
The Downsides of DeFi
Failure to Establish Cross-Chain Relationships
In the DeFi ecosystem, cross-chain platforms are scarce. Due to the anonymity provided by DeFi networks, they may host a sizable number of users using aliases. So, most consolidated financial networks don’t incorporate these channels. It can lead to hackers traversing between systems in search of vulnerabilities and unauthorized access points.
Complicated
If you’re just getting started with investing, a DeFi platform is probably not for you. As a result, the risk management expertise of a seasoned investor is ideally suited to these platforms.
However, a DeFi network is frequently bustling with hackers and programmers, and a user with limited technical savvy may fall victim to scams and hack attempts.
Key Differences Between CeFi and DeFi
Public Verification
CeFi users must go through Public Verification before using the platform. When using CeFi platforms, users must follow the necessary KYC and AML verification procedures. Users of DeFi, however, need not disclose any personally identifiable information in order to open a trading account.
Transaction Blocks
Since DeFi supports transaction blocks, all of the transactions on a given blockchain can be verified or rejected as a group. Atomicity is a unique protocol implemented on the DeFi that improves its authentication rate.
CeFi platforms, on the other hand, can conduct single transactions with no input from the users.
Undisclosed Deployment
DeFi protocol often has a covert deployment and development gathering. Take Bitcoin’s blockchain as an example; it was the first decentralized ledger introduced by an anonymous creator going by the name Satoshi Nakamoto. In contrast, CeFi networks are built and managed by legitimate businesses who have passed extensive background checks.
Custodial Services
Since DeFi’s custodial services are unaffiliated, users have complete authority over their accounts. This also means that users of DeFi are solely responsible for securing their accounts against illegal access, theft, and tampering.
However, the CeFi platforms typically hold the network’s private key. These services also take on the duty of ensuring the safety of user accounts and the custody of any funds stored there.
Crypto Trading
Like the TradFi networks, the CEX or CeFi platform makes use of off-chain order books. Instead, DeFi makes use of Automated Market Makers to pair users based on their transaction needs. In addition, these AMMs use market fundamentals like liquidity, demand, supply, trading volume, etc. to set cryptocurrency prices.
Scalability
On DeFi platforms, execution orders are broadcast to all peers and stakeholders in the system. This way, any peer who is able to help finish the transaction cycle can be alerted and invited to participate.
Incomplete transactions on DeFi platforms can now be executed at a larger scale, which has led to financial fraud and manipulative trading strategies.
As a counterpoint, CeFi networks are guaranteed to be secure because they follow regulations issued by the government.
Charges for Gasoline
Compared to DeFi, gas costs are typically lower on CeFi networks. Platforms supporting DeFi should implement transaction fees to ensure user sustainability and deter spam transactions.
Cyber security experts on CeFi platforms, on the other hand, keep fake profiles from signing up and make sure users can choose between charging nothing for gas or a tiny percentage.
time of business
Due to high volumes of user activity, CeFi platforms frequently experience timing issues surrounding service interruptions. While this is happening, DeFi can keep working around the clock with just the occasional exploit.
Privacy
DeFi platforms place a premium on user anonymity and privacy, but they offer no such protections for past financial dealings. Transaction data on a permissionless network can be viewed by anyone using the system.
However, on CeFi, users’ identities must be verified under legal cover, while access to transaction details is restricted to a select group of administrators.
Trade Arbitrage
In arbitrage, a trader purchases goods at a low price in one market and resells them at a higher price in another. The risk of arbitrage is greater on CeFi platforms.
Atomicity protocols are typically not available on CeFi platforms. However, most DeFi platforms have atomicity protocols that will hold the arbitrage transaction if it is not profitable for the user.
Devaluation
Compared to DeFi networks, the value of cryptocurrencies depreciates less on CeFi. Since DeFi currencies have more inherent trading risks, their prices tend to fluctuate more than those of centralized tokens.
Fiat Conversion
Traditional CeFi platforms often take weeks or months to add new cryptocurrencies. Companies and individuals in the spotlight using these platforms understandably want to keep their products’ reputations intact.
DeFi protocols, on the other hand, are implemented in secret, placing all of the onus for portfolio security on the shoulders of the users themselves. Thus, DEX can accept a wider variety of cryptocurrencies and provide more exchange rates.
Conclusion
Academics have consistently introduced novel approaches to the problem of improving the speed and accuracy of monetary transactions throughout history. In order of their historical development, financial networks can be thought of as Barter, TradFi, DeFi, and CeFi. While DeFi and CeFi each have their benefits, there is still room for development in both. Investors can improve their trading prowess by educating themselves about the various financial systems available.
