DeFi dApps: What They Are, How They Work, and What You Can Do With Them

When you hear DeFi dApps, decentralized applications built on blockchain networks that replace traditional financial services without banks or middlemen. Also known as decentralized finance apps, they let you lend, borrow, trade, and earn interest—directly from your wallet. No sign-ups. No KYC. Just code running on public blockchains like Ethereum, Avalanche, or Base.

These apps don’t sit on a server owned by a company. They’re run by smart contracts, self-executing programs stored on the blockchain that automatically follow rules without human control. If you deposit ETH into a DeFi dApp to earn interest, the contract handles everything: locking your funds, calculating rewards, and sending payouts. No one can change the rules after it’s deployed. That’s the whole point. And because they’re open-source, anyone can check the code, audit it, or even build on top of it.

That’s why you’ll see so many of these apps in the posts below—like Apertum DEX, Bored Candy City, and AstroSwap. They’re all decentralized exchanges, platforms where you swap crypto directly with other users, not through a central company. Some focus on low fees. Others mix trading with gaming or NFTs. Then there are projects like MYX Finance and Stride Staked DYDX, which show how DeFi dApps are evolving beyond simple swaps into complex lending, staking, and derivatives tools. You’ll also find guides on tokenomics and security, because using these apps means you’re responsible for your own safety. No customer support line when something goes wrong.

What ties all these together? Real people using crypto to do real things—trading fan tokens on Kayen, earning yield on staked assets, tracking whale movements to time their trades. The tools are open. The rules are clear. But the risks? Those are on you. That’s why this collection doesn’t just list apps—it shows you how to use them safely, spot scams, and understand what’s behind the hype.

Below, you’ll find reviews, breakdowns, and warnings from real users and analysts. Whether you’re new to DeFi or trying to figure out which chain or exchange actually works, this is the practical stuff you won’t get from a whitepaper.