# DeFi and Solana Overview DeFi, short for Decentralized Finance, represents a new wave of financial applications that operate without central authority. Unlike traditional banking systems where your funds are controlled by a centralized entity, DeFi allows you to maintain full control and ownership of your assets through your own wallet. This level of control means you can transact at any time, with transactions recorded on the blockchain for transparency. DeFi applications are essentially standalone programs or contracts running on a blockchain. They enable various financial functions such as borrowing, lending, trading, and more. These applications interact directly with your wallet, allowing you to initiate transactions securely. To engage with DeFi, you'll need a wallet to store your assets securely. Unlike traditional banking, where you can seek assistance in case of issues, you are solely responsible for the security of your digital wallet. It's essential to back up your wallet's recovery words to ensure access to your funds in case of emergencies. Solana, on the other hand, is a blockchain known for its high-speed and low-cost transactions. ChainPulse, a platform showcasing various DeFi applications, is built on the Solana blockchain. Solana's native currency is SOL, and it's recognized for its scalability and efficiency in handling a wide range of decentralized applications. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://chainpulse.gitbook.io/chainpulse/defi-and-solana-overview.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.