DeFi surpasses $7B in locked funds, but just six projects hold 90% of capital

The total value of capital locked in decentralized finance protocols has increased 271% in less than two months to surpass $7 billion for the first time, according to DeFi Pulse.

If the current rate of growth continues, DeFi will be worth more than $27 billion by the end of 2020.

Aave currently comprises the largest DeFi project, with $1.51 billion locked, followed by MakerDAO with $1.42 billion, Curve Finance with $1.15 billion, yEarn Finance with $845 million, Synthetic with $851 million and Compound representing $797 million.

Aave recently emerged as the top DeFi project after receiving an Electronic Money Institution license from the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, signaling the sector’s increasing legitimacy.

However, while DeFi’s aggressive growth trajectory has been fueled by the recent rise of lending protocols that have disrupted Maker’s long-standing dominance over the space, just six protocols represent more than 90% of locked capital in the sector, according to DeFi Pulse.

While numerous projects have quickly captured the imagination of the crypto community amid the 2020 DeFi bubble, few have been able to establish themselves as long-term leaders within the sector. 

The recent dramatic rise and fall of Yam Finance offers a precautionary tale illuminating the potential severity of contract risk, with more than $750,000 worth of crypto lost alongside the protocol’s collapse. DForce also suffered a multi-million dollar hack in April; however, the stolen funds were returned by the hacker and given back to investors.

Industry leaders have warned of over-exuberant bullishness in the DeFi sector, with Compound founder Robert Leshner recently tweeting:

If https://t.co/9Kn1cUvYq8 has $500 million less than 36 hours after launch, the industry needs to self-regulate and stop launching these meme farming games. https://t.co/IyJSw9zS43

— 🤖 Leshner (@rleshner) August 18, 2020

Earlier this month, Ethereum co-creator Vitalik Buterin also wrote, “You do not have to participate in ‘the latest hot defi thing’ to be in Ethereum. In fact, unless you *really* understand what’s going on, it’s likely best to sit out or participate only with very small amounts.”