Philip De Smedt

Philip De Smedt is a prominent figure in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, serving as a Core Team member and co-founder of Arkadiko Finance. Arkadiko is recognized for its innovative approach to lending, particularly through its unique offering of self-repaying loans on the Stacks blockchain, which is designed to leverage Bitcoin's security. This platform allows users to borrow against their crypto assets while using the yield generated from their collateral to gradually repay the loans.12

Background and Career

Philip has a background as an entrepreneur and Bitcoin enthusiast. Before founding Arkadiko, he was the co-founder and CTO of Intuo, a company that was acquired by Unit4 in early 2019.23 His journey into the crypto space began with a desire to find efficient ways to borrow against personal assets, which led him to explore the capabilities of Stacks 2.0—a blockchain that enables smart contracts to settle on Bitcoin.2

Contributions to Arkadiko

At Arkadiko, Philip focuses on developing financial tools that simplify access to liquidity for users. The platform's flagship product, the USDA stablecoin, allows collateralized loans where the collateral itself earns yield, enhancing the borrowing experience for users.23 Under his leadership, Arkadiko has gained traction within the DeFi community and has been recognized for its potential in the evolving Bitcoin economy.

Vision and Impact

Philip De Smedt advocates for a decentralized approach to finance, emphasizing community governance through token holder participation. This aligns with the broader goals of Arkadiko, which aims to empower users by providing innovative financial solutions while maintaining a commitment to decentralization.12 His work continues to contribute significantly to the growth and development of DeFi on the Stacks blockchain.