Several key milestones shaped DeFi’s rise. Ethereum launched smart contracts in 2015, enabling decentralized apps. MakerDAO introduced the DAI stablecoin in 2017, while Uniswap pioneered automated market makers in 2018. Compound brought yield farming in 2020, and total value locked surpassed $1 billion by 2020 Decentralized Finance (DeFi) & The Future of Fintech. Decentralized exchanges overtook centralized trading volumes in 2021, cross-chain protocols emerged, and institutional interest grew from 2022. Enhanced security frameworks now strengthen the ecosystem for users worldwide.