# Overview

The Decentralized Finance (DeFi) market growth in 2020 demonstrated the true potential of blockchain technology and decentralized systems that allow us to control our privacy and finances. As this shift from centralized markets involves more and more people, new challenges and opportunities arise.

* According to DeFi Pulse, the Total Value Locked (USD) in DeFi has been hitting all-time highs almost daily since the Q2 of 2020. This proves that people starting to trust DeFi structures that have been based on value-driven foundations: decentralization, immutability, and absence of overpowered third parties.It accounted for over **95% of dApp volume in 2020**, equalling to **$270 billion**.
* Uniswap, providing a decentralized Ethereum based protocol that allows users to exchange ERC-20 tokens safely, has reached **$4 billion** in total value locked, surpassed **250,000 unique addresses**, and supported over **$100 billion** worth of trades.
* Several DeFi lending platforms - MakerDAO, Compound, Aave - enjoyed relative success, having each locked north of **$5 billion** to date.I

And yet, the DeFi market is still at the infancy stage with plenty of things to introduce, change, and improve.