DeFi Scholar: Decentralized Finance study and research notes

The Journey#

I started this project out of interest in Finance as a future college major. DeFi seemed to be much more accessible, yet there was a lot to learn. As a high schooler myself, I wanted to create a resource that would make DeFi easier to understand for other high schoolers. Thus, DeFi Scholar was born.

The Project#

To stay practical, I decided to create (code) an actual DeFi application, centered on Uniswap V3 protocol. This site contains the notes I took along the way, organized into the sections below. The next step will be the actual research, followed by the implementation of the app.

• Introduction: What, Why, and How#

  Summary: DeFi (Decentralized Finance) represents the programmable future of money where traditional financial barriers are replaced by transparent, efficient, and open systems. For aspiring finance majors, understanding this shift is essential as the industry moves away from central authorities toward peer-to-peer networks.

• Currencies and Trust#

  Summary: Explore the three types of digital value: Fiat-issued currencies, stablecoins pegged to traditional money, and unbacked cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Understand why Bitcoin is often called “digital gold” due to its limited supply and the shift from trusting governments to trusting math and code.

• Basic Terminology & Networks#

  Summary: At its core, DeFi relies on blockchain technology—a decentralized network of “nodes” (computers or people) that operate without a central authority. This section introduces key concepts like tokens (Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins), P2P (peer-to-peer) interactions, and the cryptographic algorithms that make these systems secure.

• Blockchain: step by step#

  Summary: A deep dive into how transactions actually move through a distributed, immutable ledger. Learn about the role of miners who verify transactions, the “Proof of Work” puzzles that prevent cheating, and how the network reaches consensus to ensure every digital dollar is accounted for without a bank…

• Blockchain networks#

  Summary: Not all blockchains are the same. This section compares the “Top 15” foundational L1 networks, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. It breaks down their differences in speed (TPS), security models, and “Total Value Locked” (TVL)—the metric that shows where the most business is actually happening.

• Smart contracts#

  Summary: Smart contracts are self-executing programs that automatically move tokens when specific conditions are met, requiring no middleman or manual oversight. Examples include fantasy football pools and prediction markets like Polymarket, where code guarantees payouts based on real-world data.