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Here are some wild stats 👉 Africa will drive over 50% of global population growth by 2050. Yet they're still paying 8% just to move their own money. That means sending $500 home costs $40 in fees. That's a week of groceries lost to geriatric systems. Blockchain powers PayFi, making it easier and cheaper to send money. That’s why it’s time to build #BetterOnStellar.

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Will you be in Lagos this weekend? Join us for a practical discussion on “Exiting legacy Systems”, learn about the logos network and how you can contribute towards shaping meaningful, locally driven projects. Register: luma.com/ukr8vrht

How secure is your crypto? 🔐 The February 2025 Bybit hack alone resulted in $1.46 billion stolen, which accounted for 44% of all crypto theft last year, demonstrating that even top-tier platforms aren't immune to sophisticated attacks. With $3.4 billion stolen in crypto theft throughout 2025 and compromised individual wallets surging to 158,000 incidents, better security is non-negotiable. What matters now is understanding which features deliver real protection versus which ones just sound good. The solution isn't just one wallet but a layered approach, and at CipherBC, we've seen firsthand how these layered security architectures protect assets across every risk level - from hot wallets for daily operations to cold storage for long-term holdings, unified under intelligent workflow management. Don't become another statistic in next year's crypto theft report. Check out our comprehensive guide, where we've broken down the fundamentals of wallet security. 👇🏻 cipherbc.com/blogs/how-to-c… #CryptoSecurity #Web3Infrastructure #DigitalAssets #BlockchainSecurity #CryptoWallets #CipherBC #Crypto #Blockchain #MPC

Are digital assets entering a new phase? We see stablecoins as a new part of the future of finance #MegaForce, with U.S. legislation cementing their role in digital payments. Read more here 👉 1blk.co/46v23oK

Alright, class, DeFi time! 🦞💸 ​ Today, we're diving into lending and borrowing on @StellarOrg , how to make your crypto work for you while you sleep. ​ Forget banks and paperwork, smart contracts handle everything. ​ Notebooks open, let's make money moves! 📖👇 1️⃣ What is Lending & Borrowing? ​ Think of it like a digital bank, but without the bank. ​ • Lending: You deposit crypto into a pool. Borrowers pay interest. You earn yield. ​ • Borrowing: You lock collateral (like XLM) and borrow other assets (like USDC). Pay interest, get your collateral back. ​ The magic? It's all automated by smart contracts. No credit checks, no approval process, just math. ​ Example: You have 10,000 XLM but need USDC. Instead of selling, you deposit XLM as collateral and borrow USDC. Use it, pay back later, keep your XLM. 🦞🤤 Matt: Wait, why would I borrow if I already have crypto? ​ 🦞🤓 Jake: And who decides the interest rates? ​ Great questions! Matt, borrowing lets you access liquidity without selling. ​ Maybe you're bullish on XLM but need cash now. Borrow instead of selling. ​ Jake, interest rates are automatic: More demand = higher rates. Less demand = lower rates. ​ 2️⃣ Why Lending & Borrowing Matters ​ DeFi lending unlocks massive opportunities: ​ • Earn passive income: Deposit stablecoins, earn 12-18% APY on Blend. Way better than your bank's 0.5%. ​ • Access liquidity without selling: Need cash but don't want to sell your XLM? Borrow against it. ​ • Leverage trading: Borrow to increase your position size. Higher risk, higher reward. ​ • Capital efficiency: Your assets work for you instead of sitting idle. ​ On Stellar, Blend Protocol grew 7.8x in 2025, from $10M to nearly $80M TVL. Why? Because rates are competitive and fees are tiny. ​ Compare: Aave on Ethereum offers 2-7% APY on USDC. Blend offers 12-18%. Stellar wins. ​ 🦞😈 Ozzy: So I can leverage my whole portfolio and go full degen? ​ 🦞🤤 Matt: Is this safer than keeping crypto on an exchange? ​ Ozzy, you can, but leverage is risky. If your collateral drops too much, you get liquidated. Be careful. ​ Matt, yes! Blend is non-custodial. You control your keys. No exchange can freeze your funds. ​ 3️⃣ How Blend Protocol Works ​ @blend_capital is the main lending protocol on Stellar, built on Soroban smart contracts and completely decentralized. ​ For Lenders: ​ 1. Deposit assets (USDC, XLM, EURC, AQUA) into a lending pool 2. Earn interest from borrowers automatically 3. Withdraw anytime (if pool has liquidity) 4. Optionally earn BLND token rewards ​ For Borrowers: ​ 1. Deposit collateral (must exceed loan value) 2. Borrow up to your limit 3. Pay interest over time 4. Repay the loan + interest to unlock collateral ​ Key concept: Overcollateralization ​ You can't borrow $100 with $100 collateral. You need more, usually 150%+. ​ Why? If your collateral drops in value, the protocol needs a buffer to protect lenders. ​ 🦞🤓 Jake: What happens if my collateral value crashes? ​ If your collateral falls below the required ratio, you get liquidated. The protocol sells your collateral to repay the loan. You lose some, lenders stay safe. ​ That's why you monitor your health factors. Stay above the danger zone. ​ 4️⃣ Risks to Know ​ DeFi lending isn't risk-free. Here's what to watch: ​ Liquidation Risk: If the collateral value drops, you will be liquidated. Monitor your health factor and don't over-leverage. ​ Smart Contract Risk: Bugs can happen. Blend has been audited, but no code is 100% safe. Don't put your life savings. ​ Oracle Risk: Blend uses price oracles to check collateral values. If an oracle fails, bad things can happen. Blend has protections, but risk exists. ​ Liquidity Risk: If too many people borrow, lenders may need to wait to withdraw their funds. Interest rates spike to fix this automatically. ​ Not FDIC Insured: This isn't a bank, and there's no government protection. You're your own bank. ​ 🦞🤓 Jake: How does Blend protect against these risks? ​ 🦞😈 Ozzy: Has Blend ever been hacked? ​ Jake, Blend has a backstop module, an emergency fund that covers losses if liquidations fail. It's extra protection for lenders. ​ Ozzy, no major hacks reported. But always DYOR and only risk what you can afford to lose. ​ 5️⃣ To Conclude ​ Quick recap! What did we learn? ​ 🦞🤓 Jake: Lending earns passive yield, borrowing gives liquidity without selling, and Blend is the main protocol on Stellar. ​ 🦞🤤 Matt: USDC on Blend earns 12-18% APY, way better than my bank. And it's non-custodial! ​ 🦞😈 Ozzy: Overcollateralize or get liquidated. Monitor your health factor and don't go full degen. ​ Perfect! Blend brings real DeFi to Stellar with $78M TVL and competitive rates. ​ Start small, learn how it works, and your crypto doesn't have to sit idle anymore. ​ Class dismissed, dear LOBSTRS! See you next time! 🦞