ChainThink Interview with AEX's Aaron: The Convergence of CEX and DeFi in the Era of New DeFi Opportunities

Introduction

In this exclusive AMA session, ChainThink invites Aaron, the operations lead at veteran exchange AEX, to explore how centralized exchanges (CEXs) and decentralized finance (DeFi) can synergize to unlock greater value amid the current DeFi boom. Aaron highlights: "DeFi sustains the stability of the crypto asset market and may catalyze a blockchain financial revolution!"

Why Is DeFi So Popular?

Aaron's Perspective:
DeFi—short for decentralized or distributed finance—isn’t new. Emerging years ago, it has evolved into a mature ecosystem encompassing lending platforms, DEXs, stablecoins, derivatives, and more. The 2019 surge in collateralized lending marked blockchain’s leap into leveraged economies.

However, Aaron cautions:

• DeFi requires 10–20 years to mature fully.
• Current high yields from liquidity mining may normalize as markets stabilize.
• Technical hurdles and project risks (e.g., smart contract vulnerabilities) persist.

Shifting Investment Trends in the DeFi Era

Key Insights:

• Recent DeFi cooling reflects value rationalization.
• Innovations like NFT+DeFi models are gaining traction.
• DeFi remains the market’s "engine," driving new financial paradigms.

👉 Explore DeFi trends

How Traditional Exchanges Are Adapting to DeFi

AEX’s Approach:

• Barriers for Users: High gas fees, complexity, and project risks deter DeFi participation.

• Solution: AEX’s DeFi机枪池 (Machine Gun Pool) offers:

  • $3.7B+ in cumulative mining volume.
  • 58% APY, with gas fees covered by AEX.
  • 6,753+ investors earning $35M+.

CEX vs. DeFi:

• "No winner-takes-all—synergy is key."

User Priorities When Choosing CEX DeFi Products

Top 4 Factors:

1. Security: Audited projects + full user indemnification.

2. Professional Custody: AEX’s dedicated team vets projects via:

   • Code audits → risk assessments → yield optimization.
3. Accessibility: No private keys or chain wallets needed.
4. Yield: Competitive APYs with zero gas fees.

DeFi’s Impact on Blockchain Financial Derivatives

Aaron’s Analysis:

1. Market Stability:

   • Reduced volatility in BTC/ETH as DeFi absorbs speculative capital.
   • Liquidity mining locks supply (e.g., 100K+ WBTC on Uniswap).

2. Innovation Surge:

   • AMPL’s rebase机制, Uniswap’s AMM, and YFI’s fair launch model.
3. Institutional Influx: Traditional finance talent/capital entering DeFi.

👉 Discover DeFi innovations

The Future of Platform Tokens

Outlook:

• CEXs aggressively adopt DeFi strategies (mining, public chains).

• Platform tokens gain utility via:

  • Buybacks/burns (e.g., transaction fee revenue).
  • Expanded use cases (e.g., voting for listings).

Risks and Mitigation in DeFi

Major Risks:

• Project rug pulls (e.g., EOS-based EMD’s $2.5M exit scam).
• Macro factors (e.g., economic crises) threatening liquidity.

AEX’s Safeguards:

• 100% principal protection for users.
• Real-time monitoring + transparent收益分配 (profit distribution).

FAQ

Q1: Is DeFi just a hype cycle?
A: While speculative, its infrastructure innovations (e.g., AMMs) have lasting value.

Q2: How can beginners safely enter DeFi?
A: Use CEX-backed products like AEX’s机枪池 for托管挖矿 (custodial mining).

Q3: Will DEXs replace CEXs?
A: Unlikely—hybrid models (e.g., CEX-listed DeFi tokens) will dominate.

Q4: What’s next after liquidity mining?
A: Watch for DeFi 2.0: cross-chain integrations and insurance protocols.

Q5: How does AEX ensure APY sustainability?
A: Dynamic yield adjustments based on real-time market data.