Lending, yield, savings, and trading without banks, brokers, or middlemen. Everything you need to know to participate intelligently in the financial system being rebuilt on the blockchain.
For the first time in modern history, the entire infrastructure of finance is being rebuilt from scratch in public, with open-source code, and without permission from any bank or government. That rebuilding is called DeFi (decentralized finance), and it represents both the largest opportunity and the most concentrated risk in crypto for women approaching this space. Done intelligently, DeFi lets you earn 4 to 8% on dollars, borrow against assets without selling them, trade without an intermediary, and access financial services that traditional banks would never offer you. Done carelessly, it can erase your principal overnight to a smart contract bug, an oracle exploit, or a protocol you should never have trusted.
This hub page is your starting point for everything DeFi at WICG. Below you will find our cornerstone articles, our risk-graded protocol recommendations, and the foundational concepts you need to participate without getting hurt. We are building this section out methodically over time, with new articles added every few weeks. Bookmark this page and come back as you grow into the category. Before depositing into any specific DeFi protocol, run it through Tokenized Report's vetting checklist, a 12-question framework for evaluating audit history, TVL, governance, and operational track record.
DeFi is financial services built on blockchain networks that operate without traditional intermediaries. Instead of a bank holding your savings and paying interest, a smart contract (self-executing code on the blockchain) holds your deposits and pays interest automatically. Instead of a brokerage matching buyers and sellers, a decentralized exchange uses pooled liquidity to enable trades. Instead of a lender approving your application, an algorithmic lending protocol lets you borrow against your crypto collateral instantly.
The major categories of DeFi you should know:
The DeFi articles we recommend reading first, in order. Together they form a complete foundation for participating safely.
The 15-minute walkthrough every woman should read before depositing into any DeFi protocol. Aave vs Compound vs Sky, how to connect your wallet, how to size your first position, and what to do when something goes wrong.
READ THE GUIDE →The plain-English explainer of decentralized finance. What it is, what it is not, what categories exist, and why women specifically should pay attention.
READ THE GUIDE →From 4% on Coinbase to 12% on aggressive DeFi protocols, what each tier actually means and how to size your exposure intelligently.
READ THE GUIDE →Every DeFi protocol carries some level of risk. We classify them into four tiers based on track record, audit history, total value locked, and historical incident rate. Use this as your default framework for sizing positions.
Aave V3, Compound V3, Sky Savings Rate. Multi-year track records, billions in TVL, multiple audits, survived multiple market cycles. The recommended starting place for anyone new to DeFi. Most women should keep the majority of their DeFi exposure here.
Morpho Blue, Uniswap V4 liquidity pools, Lido staking, Curve stable pools. Strong track records but more complex mechanisms. Appropriate for intermediate users who understand impermanent loss, liquidation risk, and basis trades.
Pendle, Ethena, Aerodrome, leveraged Aave loops. Higher yields reflect higher risk. Appropriate only for users who understand the specific mechanisms and have at least 6 to 12 months of DeFi experience.
New protocols, leveraged farming, exotic strategies, anything paying yields that look too good to be true. Often they are. Not recommended for any meaningful portion of a women-built DeFi portfolio.
More cornerstone articles in development. Subscribe to the newsletter to be notified when each one publishes.
Connect your wallet, deposit your first stablecoins, understand the dashboard, and earn yield safely. The complete Aave guide for women.
PUBLISHING JUNE 2026Lido, Rocket Pool, and the staking strategies that let you earn ETH yield without locking your assets.
PUBLISHING JUNE 2026How to size positions, diversify across protocols, monitor for warning signs, and exit when conditions change.
PUBLISHING JULY 2026Every Sunday morning. Three stories that matter, one chart worth watching, one tactic you can use. Written for women who want to participate in DeFi without getting hurt. Free, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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