As decentralized finance (DeFi) continues to revolutionize the traditional financial space, the Hedera Network steps in with the aim of offering a robust platform for building and deploying DeFi applications. The technology used by the DeFi to build financial applications is blockchain technology, mainly utilizing smart contracts. As a result of smart contracts, DeFi no longer requires the services of intermediaries to execute.
In this blog post, we deep dive into the exciting world of DeFi on the Hedera Node, exploring the unique benefits it brings to the table, the challenges it faces, and use cases.
What is Hedera Network?
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Hedera Network is a decentralized public ledger and open-source platform that offers a secure and scalable infrastructure for developers to create decentralized applications (dApps). To enhance its performance and sustainability, it employs an asynchronous Byzantine Fault Tolerance (aBFT) consensus algorithm called Hashgraph instead of trying traditional proof-of-work (PoW) mechanism.
It is based on a specific algorithm, which means it has increased throughput and efficiency, enabling Hedera to perform large numbers of transactions without sacrificing speed.
Additionally, Hedera Network nurtures its developers with smart contracts, data storage, crypto exchange, and APIs through which they can host their applications.
Benefits of DeFi on the Hedera Network
This is the next generation of finance powering its users with advanced benefits. Here you can check some of these:
Low Gas Fees
By offering low transaction fees, Hedera Network makes it cost-effective for DeFi users. This is especially important in DeFi, where frequent transactions and interactions with smart contracts can accumulate significant costs. The efficiency of the Hedera Network makes DeFi transactions affordable, expanding accessibility and encouraging broader participation.
Highly Scalable Transactions
Hedera Network’s architecture unlocks high throughput and low-latency transactions, making it the first choice for DeFi applications that require fast and efficient processing. As we mentioned above, it has the capacity to handle a large volume of transactions per second, allowing DeFi protocols to scale and adjust accordingly with increased user demand.
EVM-Based Smart Contracts
By incorporating EVM-based smart contracts, the Hedera Network gains compatibility with existing Ethereum applications. More than this, it expands its developer ecosystem and enables the seamless shift of decentralized applications from Ethereum to Hedera, benefiting from faster transaction speed, lower fees, and increased security. Also, it leverages the power of popular programming languages like Solidity and Vyper to construct and launch EVM-based smart contracts on Hedera.
Immediate Settlement
Immediate settlement is another key benefit of the Hedera Network, enabling the transfer of HBAR, supported stablecoins, and other fungible tokens at a rapid rate of 10,000 transactions per second. This level of efficiency is comparable to the VISA network, making Hedera a viable platform for payment and micropayment use cases with seamless and swift transaction finality.
Governance
Hedera Network follows a decentralized governance model with the Hedera Governing Council, consisting of prominent organizations from different industries. This ensures that decisions about the network’s development and upgrades are made collectively and transparently. It allows stakeholders to actively participate in revolutionizing the direction of DeFi protocols on the network.
Everyone can leverage these features whether you are application developer, Web3 user, or even HBAR Enthusiast.
Challenges of DeFi on the Hedera Network
No doubt, DeFi is gaining popularity day by day. But due to its increased popularity, there are some challenges DeFi needs to be address:
Impermanent loss
Losses that are not permanent are a common problem in the DeFi market, often faced by users. Users who supply liquidity add two distinct resources to the pool. The ratios of assets within the pool fluctuate as tokens are exchanged, affecting each asset’s value. If the asset ratio shifts too far away from the expected value, the user may suffer from impermanent loss. This is caused by the difference in gains and losses between the two assets.
Additionally, it is important for users to understand the risks associated with each protocol and ensure that their assets are adequately protected.
Human Error
The DeFi industry is currently in its development and can be complicated, which could result in significant losses. Unfamiliar users run the risk of losing their crypto assets, frequently without the malicious attacks. In contrast to traditional banking, they frequently lack customer service, making even a small error like delivering funds to the incorrect user incredibly expensive. Retrieving those funds can be challenging, as there may be no way to locate or contact the recipient associated with the incorrect address.
Smart Contracts Limitations
One of the main risks in DeFi is the vulnerability of faulty smart contracts, which can be utilized by malicious actors aiming to steal users’ funds. Such vulnerabilities can arise due to coding errors, security loopholes, or incomplete auditing. When these weaknesses are utilized, funds can be drained from the affected contracts, resulting in significant financial losses for users. Hence, it is crucial for developers and auditors to conduct thorough testing and auditing processes to identify any potential vulnerabilities before deploying smart contracts in the DeFi space.
Regulatory Challenges
Government regulatory agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), hold significant power to shape the landscape of DeFi platforms. A recent instance involving LBRY, a blockchain-based company facilitating digital asset sharing and tipping, faced allegations of operating without proper registration as a security. DeFi cryptocurrencies could be exposed to similar regulatory scrutiny in the future, presenting a substantial threat to the growth of this industry.
Use Cases of Hedera Network
Asset Tokenization
The consensus algorithm of Hedera Hashgraph provides a reliable and efficient platform for tokenization and exchange of both interchangeable and unique assets on the public Hedera network. Asset tokenization is a prominent use case for Hedera, showcasing its authority as a trusted solution in this domain. This technology allows transfer of custom tokens at a low gas fess with increased processing speed and security.
User Authentication and Authorization
Powered by Hedera Network, open DID integration is seamless, empowering businesses to effectively manage identity credentials while prioritizing security, privacy, and adherence to standards. In addition to securing government-issued IDs, biometric data, and personal details, Hedera ensures stability and diminishes the risk of identity fraud.
Decentralized Web3 Applications
Due to its increased speed of performance, high-level security, and smart contract features, Hedera may be able to host and deploy Web3 dApps in the future. The consensus mechanism of Hedera Network enables rapid transaction speeds and minimal latency, perfectly catering to decentralized applications (dApps) that rely on instant communication and timely data synchronization.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, Hedera Hashgraph stands out as an innovative distributed ledger technology, nurturing DeFi space with advanced benefits to revolutionize its future. It offers benefits such as low gas fees, highly scalable transactions, and decentralized governance, making it an excellent option for developers looking to create and launch their DeFi applications. Additionally, its improved consensus protocol and high security offer an enhanced level of trust for investors and Web3 developers.
