Please join us and help make that dream come true. Sounds utopian, right? I do think that Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is building an amazing bridge to making that possible reality. Perhaps most fundamentally, it’s doing so brick by brick with the communities consistently passed over.

As a public artist I’ve spent my career promoting inclusivity, breaking barriers to provide a platform for the marginalized. When I first discovered DeFi, I felt it in my bones. It’s not just another tech industry buzzword. It’s a potential wrecking ball to the walls of financial exclusion.

Access Denied? DeFi Opens Doors

For billions more across the world, access to the financial system means gaining entry to a closed safe. No credit history? No collateral? Kiss goodbye the idea of getting a loan to launch your business. You can’t even trust one to get your children to school or help put food on the table! These are the people that Big Finance just dismisses out of hand. It’s an outrage.

DeFi, created on the expansive framework of blockchain itself, unlocks that vault. Consider it a global, permissionless, capitalistic playground. But now, access to lending, borrowing, and investment isn’t left up to a bank manager’s discretion. Rather, it executes and enforces through transparent, auditable smart contracts! This isn’t only about who has access; it’s about who has control. You, the person, are finally in the driver’s seat.

Consider, for instance, a farmer in rural Kenya. Put simply, under current law they’re at the mercy of predatory lenders, charging up to 500% in interest. With DeFi platforms, people can get microloans in an instant by simply collateralizing their crypto assets. Through these creative solutions, they are able to completely circumvent the formal banking system. Platforms such as Aave and MakerDAO are at the forefront. That access could be the difference between a successful, sustainable small business and an understory of a debt trap.

Cutting Out the Middleman Matters

We all hate being nickel-and-dimed by our banks. Fees for everything! It’s infuriating, especially when you're already struggling. DeFi slashes those fees, dramatically.

Take remittances, the money that migrant workers send home. With traditional remittance companies, those services will take a big chunk, often as much as 10%! That is money that should be going right to families’ doors, not into the corporate coffers. DeFi enabled blockchain-based remittance services can cut those fees down to almost nothing, sending more money to the people who need it the most. It’s not only the money they save – about $2,000 annually in transit costs – that matters, it’s their dignity. It’s about honoring the blood, tireless sweat, and tears of those who have worked and are working to provide for those they love.

Ethereum's gas fees, the cost of processing transactions, can be a barrier. Solutions are emerging! Layer-2 scaling solutions such as Optimism and Arbitrum, as well as alternative chains such as Binance Smart Chain, provide much cheaper alternatives. The evolution is happening in real-time.

Risk Is Real, But So Is Opportunity

I'm not going to sugarcoat it. DeFi isn't a risk-free paradise. There are real dangers. Smart contract bugs, hacks and impermanent loss are just some of the dangers to be found. We know from our own experience that the volatility of crypto assets can be visceral and stomach-churning.

Here's where unexpected connections come into play: remember the early days of the internet? It was the Wild West! Scams were everywhere, and security was a sham. Yet, we persisted—we learned, we adapted, we innovated a safer, more user-friendly internet. DeFi is at that same stage. We do require education, oversight, sensitive regulation, and a healthy dose of skepticism.

Start small. Practice on other platforms, such as MetaMask, but only with money that you are willing to lose entirely. Do your research. Use a third party to verify a project’s audit history on sites such as RugDoc. Pay attention to community sentiment on X. And never, ever, store your private keys online – always use a hardware wallet such as Ledger to keep your assets secure. Tip 3 — Diversify your holdings Don’t put all your eggs in one basket or with one underwriter.

The possible benefits are greater than the dangers, especially for people who have been historically marginalized from conventional finance.

What If We Get It Right?

Imagine a world where DeFi truly works for all of us. In this inclusive world, everyone—no matter their background—can easily access the financial tools they need to start building a better life. It's a future where financial inclusion isn't just a buzzword, but a reality.

This isn’t some pipe dream. It’s a future we can build, together. Engage with and support DeFi projects that prioritize financial inclusion. Support new platforms that are already working to empower these underserved communities. Work to ensure that Federal and state regulators engage in smart policy-making to encourage innovation in the nascent DeFi industry.

This is our opportunity—perhaps our only opportunity—to make the financial system more just and equitable for all. We’re ready to help turn up the volume of those who haven’t been heard in ages. Together, let’s make sure that financial freedom is not only the privilege of a few—but achieved by all. Let's get to work!