The role of DeFi (Decentralized Finance) platforms in transforming crypto trading will always hold a special place in digital finance history. By 2025, buying, selling, lending, borrowing, and earning passive income with crypto assets will have become faster, simpler, and more secure—all thanks to DeFi platforms.
However, not all DeFi platforms offer the same features, security, or reliability. In this guide, we’ll explore the top 10 DeFi platforms of 2025, highlighting their strengths, drawbacks, and why they stand out as the safest and most profitable choices for crypto investors.
Top 10 DeFi Platforms In 2025: Make Crypto Trading Easier
This is the cornerstone section of the blog, in which we will explore the 10 largest DeFi platforms one by one. Know why they are worthy in 2025.
1. Aave(AAVE)
- Founded In September 2018 by Steni Kulechov
- Trading Volume: $218M+
- Service: Borrowing and Lending Cryptocurrencies
- Total Value Locked(TVL): $5.5B
For those crypto lovers who can’t purchase crypto coins and tokens due to their low budget, AAVE is an ideal choice. This innovative DeFi platform has been designed for borrowing and lending cryptocurrencies in a fully decentralized and transparent environment.
On this platform, you can lend your crypto coins and other assets to add liquidity to the market and earn passive income. Wanna know why this platform is worthy in 2025? Ok!
Below, we have pasted some of its pros and cons.
Pros:
- Non-custodial protocol that lets users maintain control over their assets
- Offers opportunities to earn passive income through lending
- No identity verification required
- User-friendly interface available on both desktop and mobile
- Assets are held securely in a decentralized environment
- Supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies
Cons:
- Limited token support on some networks
- Becomes expensive during bull markets
- Doesn’t support Bitcoin
- Higher risk of liquidation due to token volatility
2. Uniswap
- Founded: November 2018 by Hayden Adams.
- Trading volume: $168 million
- Service: Swapping tokens and coins
- Total Value Locked(TVL): $3.3B
When it comes to swapping tokens and coins from one to another, Uniswap stands out as the best platform. This is a decentralized exchange that allows users to trade cryptocurrencies using smart contracts and their wallets without relying on a third-party intermediary.
Let’s uncover its pros and cons to know why this part of DeFi is attention-grabbing.
Pros:
- Provides high liquidity for the crypto market
- Allows permissionless trading without identity verification
- Supports both Layer-1 and Layer-2 networks
- Private and secure trading experience
- Integrates easily with Oracle
- Available as a mobile application
Cons:
- High gas fees on the mainnet
- Slower transaction speeds
- Permissionless nature allows potential scam tokens
3. Lido
- Founded: December 2020 by Konstantin Lomashuk
- Trading volume: $108.3 million
- Service: Staking of Ethereum
- Total Value Locked(TVL): $16B
In this list, Lido has secured the third rank. Lido is an online platform where you can easily stake Ethereum and other tokens and earn passive income. If your wallet has even 1 ETH, you can come across this exchange and start staking.
Now, you may ask, when multiple other platforms support staking, why choose Lido? Undoubtedly a good question. Below are some of its pros that explore the uniqueness of this DeFi platform.
Pros:
- Allows staking with even small amounts of Ethereum
- Provides stETH tokens for use in other activities
- No technical setup required
- High security through node distribution
- Enables earning rewards without long-term lockup periods
Cons:
- The 10% gas fee on transactions is relatively high
- Risk of slashing if validators fail their duties
- Withdrawals can take up to five days
To learn how Lido works, read our blog: How to Stake ETH on Lido?
4. Yearn (YFI)
- Founded: February 2020 by Andre Cronje
- Trading volume: $200 million+
- Service: Yield aggregator
- Total Value Locked(TVL): $5.2B
Crypto investors who want to optimize their returns and simply farm the yield, there’s no better option than Yearn for them. It stands out as one of the top choices when it comes to earning passive income and rewards through yield farming.
Additionally, this protocol optimizes the interest rates and provides investors with automated strategies to shift their assets between multiple liquidity platforms. Below are some of its advantages and disadvantages.
Pros:
- Optimizes interest rates automatically for users
- Simplifies yield farming and earning passive income
- Operates through non-custodial smart contracts
- Constantly updated by an active development team
Cons:
- Complex for beginners to navigate
- Requires higher Ethereum gas fees
- Smart contracts can be targets for cyberattacks
5. Chainlink (LINK)
- Founded In 2017 by Sergey Nazarov and Steve Ellis
- Trading volume: $250 million
- Service: Oracle network
- Total Value Locked(TVL): $6.5B
As the name hints, this DeFi protocol links a smart contract with real-world data. With the help of Chainlink, smart contracts easily interact with APIs and off-chain data. This protocol, due to its decentralized nature, makes it impossible for anyone to inaccurately alter the real-world data. Let’s unveil its pros and cons below.
Pros:
- Decentralized oracle network ensuring secure data exchange
- Delivers reliable real-world data to smart contracts
- Partnerships with major institutions like SWIFT and Mastercard
- Enables token staking for additional rewards
- Provides trustworthy data feeds
Cons:
- Subject to price volatility
- Running a Chainlink node can be technically challenging
- Limited accessibility in some regions
6. Compound (COMP)
- Founded: September 2017 by Robert Lashner
- Trading volume: $32M
- Service: Borrowing and Lending
- Total Value Locked(TVL): $2B
Compound is a DeFi platform that has earned a huge reputation in the crypto landscape. It offers the same lending and borrowing services just like AAVE. It’s often compared with AAVE, and according to many users, this protocol stands out.
This attractive DeFi exchange promises attractive interest rates to users. In 2025, it is solidifying its position as one of the top 10 DeFi platforms. It’s time to explore the pros and cons.
Pros:
- Decentralized and transparent borrowing and lending system
- COMP token holders can participate in governance decisions
- Offers long-term earning potential
- No limits on borrowing or lending amounts
- Free to use with no trading fees
Cons:
- Supports a limited selection of tokens
- Requires basic crypto knowledge to operate efficiently
7. MakerDAO (MKR)
- Founded: In 2014 by Rune Christensen
- Trading volume: $75M+
- Service: Borrowing and Lending
- Total Value Locked(TVL): $5B+
Another Ethereum-based DeFi platform that is used for borrowing and lending crypto coins and tokens is called MakerDAO. Another purpose of using this protocol is to ensure that the value of a stablecoin is accurately pegged with the value of USD (ratio of 1:1). Below, we have pasted some reasons why MakerDAO is an ideal choice.
Pros:
- Allows access to liquidity without selling ETH holdings
- Maintains stablecoin value pegged to USD
- Tokens are distributed across multiple nodes for decentralization
- Enables permissionless borrowing and lending
- Provides secure blockchain-based transactions
Cons:
- High gas fees due to reliance on Ethereum
- Faces regulatory challenges over USD-backed assets
- Requires equal ETH collateral to generate DAI
8. Curve Finance
- Founded: In 2020 by Michael Egorov
- Trading volume: $64M+
- Service: Stablecoin trading
- Total Value Locked(TVL): At least $2B
Curve Finance is an Automated Market Maker(AMM) that has been designed for stablecoin trading. This protocol ensures seamless and secure transactions for someone who wants to exchange stablecoins to provide liquidity.
Pros:
- Designed for stablecoin trading with minimal slippage
- Supports yield farming opportunities
- Rewards liquidity providers with CRV tokens
- Ensures efficient and low-fee transactions
Cons:
- Relies heavily on the Ethereum blockchain
- Not available as a mobile app
- Interface can be difficult for beginners
9. Convex (CVX)
- Founded: May 2021 by Michael Egorov
- Trading volume: At least $28M.
- Service: Assets and staking rewards.
- Total Value Locked(TVL): $5B
This decentralized DeFi platform is an ideal choice for CRV stakers and liquidity providers who can deposit their LP tokens to earn rewards and passive income. This protocol optimizes yield farming to maximize staking rewards and CRV token incentives, making it a higher profitable platform for crypto lovers. A few pros and cons of Convex are listed below.
Pros:
- Enhances CRV rewards for liquidity providers
- CVX tokens are used for governance and voting
- Low performance and zero withdrawal fees
- Lower token supply supports stronger price action
- Strong Total Value Locked (TVL) performance
Cons:
- Highly competitive staking environment
- Dependent on the volatile price of CRV tokens
10. Balancer (BAL)
- Founded: March 2020 by Fernando Martinelli.
- Trading volume: $150M
- Service: Portfolio manager
- Total Value Locked(TVL): $577M
Balancer is an innovative decentralized platform that performs two specific functions.
1. It is mainly known as one of the best portfolio managers.
2. Creates and manages a liquidity pool that consists of various types of tokens.
Below, we have pasted some of its pros and cons. Read them one after one.
Pros:
- Acts as both a portfolio manager and liquidity provider
- Automated Market Maker optimizes trading fees
- Liquidity providers earn BAL tokens as rewards
- Token holders can participate in platform governance
Cons:
- Complex interface for new users
- Expensive hardware requirements for load balancing
Final Thoughts
The DeFi revolution continues to redefine how people trade, lend, borrow, and earn through cryptocurrencies. In 2025, platforms like Aave, Uniswap, and MakerDAO lead the charge with advanced security, transparency, and accessibility.
Each DeFi platform offers unique benefits tailored to different user needs, from staking and yield farming to decentralized exchanges. As innovation accelerates, these platforms will remain at the core of the crypto ecosystem—empowering users and shaping a more open, profitable, and decentralized financial future.
