What is r/defi for?
The public description says the community is for news, articles, and discussions about decentralized financial protocols on any blockchain.
Subreddit guides
r/defi rules, stats, and what to post
A source-backed Rankhog guide to r/defi: public rules, community context, posting fit, and startup-promotion risk before you publish.
By Anthony Riera, founder and operator of Rankhog.
Subreddit guides combine public Reddit source URLs, captured rules, visible verification dates, and Rankhog's account-safety workflow.
Current public stats
- Members
- 198,318
- Verified
- September 18, 2026
- Category
- Technical product and developer communities
Rules can change, so Rankhog keeps verification dates and the original public Reddit sources visible.
Rule summary
- No malicious content: Linking to malware, phishing or scam sites will result in your account being banned without warning.
- No forks: We welcome discussion and overviews of innovative protocols, but do not allow posts about prootocols that have simply forked another protocol
- Self-promo rules: - The name of the protocol MUST be included in the title. Content marketing posts that only mention the protocol in the body are not allowed. - The risks associated with the protocol MUST be included somewhere in the post - MUST include a link to a recent audit. Unaudited protocols are not allowed - NO Discord, Telegram, Twitter links or links to websites - Using bots to drive engagement with upvotes and comments will result in the removal of the post
- Keep Discussions On Topic: - Keep discussions about development, news, project ideas, events, questions, and support about DeFi - Keep discussions constructive and on topic.
- No shilling: - No talking about ICOs, when/if they will happen, etc. - No more than 10% of your posts & comments can promote protocols & projects
- No attacks or slurs: - No personal attacks against another person - Treat others like you'd like to be treated
- No Spam: - No self promotion or promoting specific coins or projects. - Anyone caught spamming will be immediately banned
- No giveaways: Giveaways and promotions are not allowed
- No referral links: Referral links to decentralized protocols or centralized applications are not allowed.
- No vote manipulation: Posts and comments pushed to the top uusing botted or purchased upvotes will be removed and posters will be banned.
- No email signups or 3rd party surveys: No email signups or 3rd party surveys
- No ICO, IDO or fundraising posts: No ICO, IDO or fundraising posts
Works well
- A technical post that explains how your protocol works, names the protocol in the title, lists its risks in the body, and links to a recent audit.
- A discussion post about DeFi development, news, or project ideas that does not promote a specific protocol.
- A question or support post about a DeFi protocol that invites constructive community discussion.
- A post that shares an innovative protocol overview without linking to Discord, Telegram, Twitter, or a website.
Avoid
- Do not post about a protocol that is just a fork of another protocol, as the "No forks" rule forbids it.
- Do not leave the protocol name out of the title, because the "Self-promo rules" require it there.
- Do not forget to list the risks of the protocol somewhere in your post, as the "Self-promo rules" demand it.
- Do not skip linking to a recent audit, since the "Self-promo rules" say unaudited protocols are not allowed.
- Do not include Discord, Telegram, Twitter, or website links in a self promotion post, because the "Self-promo rules" ban them.
- Do not use bots or bought upvotes, as the "No vote manipulation" rule will get you banned.
What r/defi Is For
This community is for news, articles, and discussions about decentralized financial protocols on any blockchain. The rules say to keep discussions about development, news, project ideas, events, questions, and support about DeFi. People here want to talk about real protocols and their technical or financial details, not get pitched on a fork or a token sale.
Rules That Matter Before Posting
The rule called "No forks" means you cannot post about a protocol that simply copied another one. The "Self-promo rules" are the core of what makes a marketing post survive. The "No shilling" rule limits how much you can promote across your whole account. The "No Spam" rule and the "No referral links" rule both block common marketing habits. The "No giveaways" rule and the "No ICO, IDO or fundraising posts" rule block entire campaign types. The "No vote manipulation" rule bans botting or buying upvotes. The "No email signups or 3rd party surveys" rule blocks lead capture. The "No malicious content" rule bans links to malware or scams. The "No attacks or slurs" rule keeps the tone civil. The "Keep Discussions On Topic" rule keeps posts about DeFi development, news, ideas, events, questions, and support.
What To Post
A good post for a founder here is a clear, technical overview of an innovative DeFi protocol that is not a fork. If you are promoting your own protocol, the title must include the protocol name, the body must list the risks, and you must link to a recent audit. You cannot link to Discord, Telegram, Twitter, or your website, so the post has to stand on its own text and the audit link. Keep your promotional posts and comments under 10 percent of your total activity, and spend the rest of your time joining real discussions about DeFi development, news, or questions.
What To Avoid
Avoid posting about simple forks, as the "No forks" rule forbids that. Avoid any self promotion that leaves out the protocol name in the title, skips the risks, or fails to link a recent audit, because the "Self-promo rules" require all three. Avoid putting Discord, Telegram, Twitter, or website links in a self promotion post, since those are banned under the same rule. Avoid shilling, which the "No shilling" rule defines as talking about ICOs or letting promotional posts exceed 10 percent of your total activity. Avoid spam, giveaways, referral links, vote manipulation, email signups, third party surveys, and any fundraising posts, as each has its own banning rule. Avoid malicious links and personal attacks.
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Common questions about r/defi
Can I promote my DeFi protocol here?
Yes, but the "Self-promo rules" require the protocol name in the title, a list of risks, a link to a recent audit, and no Discord, Telegram, Twitter, or website links.
Can I post about my fork of an existing protocol?
No. The "No forks" rule says posts about protocols that have simply forked another protocol are not allowed.
How much can I promote my project?
The "No shilling" rule says no more than 10 percent of your posts and comments can promote protocols and projects.
Are referral links allowed?
No. The "No referral links" rule bans referral links to decentralized protocols or centralized applications.
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