Finance is broken but DeFi isn't the solution (opens in new tab)

(codeofhonor.substack.com)

11 pointsthe_jesus_villa3y ago9 comments

9 comments

7 comments · 4 top-level

koyanisqatsi3y ago· 2 in thread

What exactly is broken about finance? Is it the fact that it has become completely disconnected from real world value or is it something else?

the_jesus_villaOP3y ago

>fact that it has become completely disconnected from real world value

Yes, but in this post I really mean "banking". As someone born in a rural area in a 3rd world country, I've seen how people struggle to interact successfully with the banking system. To this day, my documents are a mess but are finally in order enough.

I would love for the promises of DeFi to happen. Cheaply send remittances to my relatives? No more navigating KYC laws that always want the particular document I don't have, and not worry about PayPal just randomly shutting off my account and taking my money?

But DeFi doesn't really do this imo. As I put it in the post, it's like trying to solve loneliness with Omegle. It makes sense kinda but just isn't the right path forward.

koyanisqatsi3y ago

That makes sense. I'm not familiar with PayPal policies, when do they shut down accounts for sending remittances? Is the policy listed somewhere?

1 more reply

the_jesus_villaOP3y ago· 1 in thread

I really, really wanted to like DeFi. Banking has been a huge hassle and hurdle for my family throughout my entire life (for lots of personal reasons I can share privately if you're curious).

Yet DeFi doesn't really help at all imo. I wish all this energy went into making the system we have better, instead of trying to replace it with DeFi.

ETH_start3y ago

Why would you want a centralized authority forcing you to do KYC so it can spy on you, and multiple layers of centralized intermediaries, over a better developed DeFi system, where no one controls you?

mattdesl3y ago

> That’s my gripe, man - when you login to a site with your Ethereum wallet instead of the Github login button, why? Because it’s easier? As if.

I do this on sites that support it. Spinning up a burner wallet for a site is easier than spinning up a burner gmail or temporary account.

woojoo6663y ago

> web3 evangelists tend to argue why the user should accept a sacrifice in quality for moral benefits like privacy or freedom

Is privacy really just a moral benefit? Though I admit that it definitely isn't a benefit that the mainstream cares about, which is unfortunate

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