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Decentralized finance research and developments around the World

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  • Ozili, Peterson K

Abstract

Decentralized finance is financial services offered on a public blockchain over the internet. This paper reviews the decentralized finance (DeFi) research and development around the world. The findings of the literature review are that decentralized finance offers many benefits such as broadening financial inclusion; encouraging permission-less innovation; eliminating the need for intermediaries; ensuring the immutability of transactions; censorship resistance and making cross-border transactions cheaper. The associated risks include execution risk in smart contracts, legal liability risk, data theft risk, interconnectedness risk, external data risk, and greater propensity for illicit activity using DeFi applications. The review of existing DeFi research show that there are few studies on DeFi, and a large number of DeFi research studies are non-empirical studies. Most studies hold a positive view about DeFi. They emphasize the benefits of DeFi in great depth but the challenges of DeFi were not analysed in great depth, and there are no critical studies on DeFi. Observations on DeFi developments from around the world show that there is growing interest in decentralized finance in Europe, U.S., Asia and Oceania. There are concerns that regulating decentralized finance can impede growth in decentralized finance markets in Asia. There are also concerns that banning crypto assets can hinder the growth of decentralized finance in African countries where regulators do not fully permit blockchain-enabled cryptocurrencies. Several policy issues associated with DeFi are discussed. Areas for further research are provided to advance the literature on decentralized finance.

Suggested Citation

  • Ozili, Peterson K, 2022. "Decentralized finance research and developments around the World," MPRA Paper 114338, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:114338
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chen, Yan & Bellavitis, Cristiano, 2020. "Blockchain disruption and decentralized finance: The rise of decentralized business models," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 13(C).
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    Cited by:

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    2. Gunay, Samet & Goodell, John W. & Muhammed, Shahnawaz & Kirimhan, Destan, 2023. "Frequency connectedness between FinTech, NFT and DeFi: Considering linkages to investor sentiment," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    3. Muhammad, Sulaman & Hoffmann, Christin, 2024. "From investment to impact: The role of green finance and technological innovation on German energy transition," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PB).
    4. Ritu Singhal & Varun Sharma & Ishita Singhal & Vikas Bansal, 2024. "Blockchain-enabled auction for cloud resource provisioning: a survey on trust and economy," International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, Springer;The Society for Reliability, Engineering Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM),India, and Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden, vol. 15(7), pages 2787-2807, July.
    5. Maria V. Sigova & Igor K. Klyuchnikov & Oleg I. Klyuchnikov, 2024. "Sustainability and Security of Green Finance from the Multi-agent Games Perspective," Finansovyj žhurnal — Financial Journal, Financial Research Institute, Moscow 125375, Russia, issue 1, pages 78-95, February.
    6. Remy Oben & Fezile Özdamlı, 2024. "Decentralized Finance (DeFi): Benefits, Risks, and RiskMitigation Strategies," Istanbul Business Research, Istanbul University Business School, vol. 53(3), pages 455-475, December.
    7. Zhanxue Wang & Lei Yu & Li Zhou, 2025. "Navigating the Blockchain-Driven Transformation in Industry 4.0: Opportunities and Challenges for Economic and Management Innovations," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(1), pages 3507-3549, March.
    8. Yamin Li & Guo Wu, 2025. "The green advantage: mapping the profit power of green credit in commercial banks," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 1-29, April.
    9. Le Tran Ha Trang & Nguyen Thi Dieu Chi & Cao Thi Y Nhi & Dang Thi Thuy Hong, 2024. "Impact of green finance and environmental tax on sustainable development: Evidence from Vietnam," Environmental & Socio-economic Studies, Sciendo, vol. 12(3), pages 1-10.
    10. Wilfreda Indira Chawarura & Mabutho Sibanda & Kuziva Mamvura, 2025. "An Assessment of the Roles of the Government, Regulators, and Investors in ESG Implementation in South Africa: A Scoping Review," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-27, June.
    11. Mohamed Nihal Saleem & Yianni Doumenis & Epameinondas Katsikas & Javad Izadi & Dimitrios Koufopoulos, 2024. "Decrypting Cryptocurrencies: An Exploration of the Impact on Financial Stability," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-21, April.
    12. Meng, Ying & Zhao, Lei, 2025. "Online public opinion attention and corporate green finance development," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    13. Jaroonchokanan, Nawee & Sinha, Amit & Suwanna, Sujin, 2025. "Dynamics of network structure in cryptocurrency markets during abrupt changes in Bitcoin price," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 661(C).
    14. Yuqi Chen & Yifan Li & Kyrie Zhixuan Zhou & Xiaokang Fu & Lingbo Liu & Shuming Bao & Daniel Sui & Luyao Zhang, 2024. "Global Public Sentiment on Decentralized Finance: A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Geo-tagged Tweets from 150 Countries," Papers 2409.00843, arXiv.org, revised Feb 2025.
    15. Li, Shuangyan & Chen, Zehua & Diao, Yu & Chen, Zeming, 2025. "The impact of green finance on debt financing costs from the perspective of strategic corporate signaling behavior—Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    16. Bakhtiar, Tiam & Luo, Xiaojun & Adelopo, Ismail, 2023. "Network effects and store-of-value features in the cryptocurrency market," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    17. Ghaemi Asl, Mahdi & Ben Jabeur, Sami, 2024. "Tail connectedness of DeFi and CeFi with accessible banking pillars: Unveiling novel insights through wavelet and quantile cross-spectral coherence analyses," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PB).
    18. Jodi Tommerdahl, 2025. "Understanding the Future of Money: The Struggle Between Government Control and Decentralization," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-17, February.

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    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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