DeFi Talents - Ahmet Ekmel Karaman

Nationality: Turkish

Residence: Turkey

Field of study: Finance & FinTechs

University: Koç University

Work experience:  Waceo, Turkish Presidency, Figopara

Current affiliation: Figopara

Current position: CEO's Office

Why is DeFi interesting? Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is interesting because it disrupts traditional financial systems and democratizes access to financial services. Its innovative use of blockchain technology eliminates the need for intermediaries, leading to more efficient and cost-effective transactions. With DeFi's ability to tokenize various assets, including alternative commodities and data, it offers new investment opportunities, hence, democratizing wealth creation. This tokenization process turns data into an exchangeable commodity, creating a marketplace for data trading that previously didn't exist in such a direct form. Lastly, DeFi's inherently transparent and secure nature, fostered by smart contracts, promotes trust and accessibility, making it a game-changing development in the finance world.

Your touchpoints with DeFi so far: Throughout my engagement with Decentralized Finance (DeFi), I've interacted with various key elements that are shaping this revolutionary field. I have delved into Automated Market Makers (AMMs), which offer a unique approach to liquidity provision and price determination, transforming the traditional trading landscape. I've explored the complexities and implications of custody solutions in a decentralized context, focusing on the risks and safeguards associated with self-custody of digital assets. My research into zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs and zk-STARKs) has demonstrated their potential for enhancing privacy and scalability in blockchain transactions. I've studied the mechanisms and potential impact of decentralized derivatives, noting how they can broaden financial access and hedge risks. Lastly, I've focused heavily on tokenization, particularly the innovative capacity for it to democratize trading of non-traditional assets, including data, enhancing accessibility and fostering novel investment opportunities.