Meetup Recap – Hanoi Cardano Meetup Series #6: Building DeFi on Cardano
Cardano Vietnam x Sky3Team
Hanoi | February 1st, 2026
The sixth event of the Hanoi Cardano Meetup Series was held in Hanoi, hosted by Cardano Vietnam and Sky3 Team.
Following previous sessions on Privacy, Wallets, DeFi Adoption, and Decentralized Governance, Meetup #6 moved the conversation toward a more builder-focused direction:
Building DeFi on Cardano — understanding how decentralized finance works in practice, what differentiates Cardano’s DeFi architecture, and how newcomers can begin learning and building today.
Key Highlights
- Attendance / Registrations: 54/ 79
- Audience: Students, early builders, developers, and Cardano community members
- Registration link: Hanoi Cardano Meetup Series #6: Building DeFi on Cardano · Luma
- Primary focus: DeFi fundamentals, Cardano DeFi architecture, and entry paths for new builders
- Key insight: Cardano DeFi prioritizes correctness, security, and long-term sustainability over short-term experimentation and hype
1. Check-in & Community Networking
The meetup began with a relaxed check-in and networking session, allowing participants to introduce themselves, share backgrounds, and discuss their interests in DeFi, smart contracts, and Web3 careers.
A large portion of attendees were students and first-time participants, reflecting growing interest in Cardano DeFi as a learning and building environment among Vietnam’s younger tech community.
2. Opening Remarks
The organizing team from Sky3Team opened the session by outlining the purpose of Meetup #6:
to help participants understand DeFi from first principles, and to view Cardano as a practical ecosystem for learning, experimentation, and long-term development.
The session was intentionally designed to be approachable, even for those new to DeFi or blockchain development.
3. Talk 1 — DeFi 101: How Decentralized Finance Works
The first talk introduced core DeFi concepts, including:
- What DeFi is and how it differs from traditional finance
- How smart contracts replace intermediaries
- Core DeFi primitives such as DEXs, lending and borrowing, liquidity pools, and stablecoins
- The importance of self-custody and on-chain transparency
Using everyday analogies and real-world examples, the session helped attendees — especially newcomers — build a clear and practical mental model of how DeFi operates.
4. Tea Break & Networking
During the tea break, conversations continued around DeFi use cases, learning resources, and career paths in Web3.
This informal segment played an important role in connecting students with developers and community contributors already active within the Cardano ecosystem.
5. Talk 2 — DeFi on Cardano: What Makes It Different
The second talk focused specifically on DeFi within the Cardano ecosystem, highlighting:
- Cardano’s UTXO-based architecture and its implications for DeFi design
- The emphasis on formal methods, security, and predictable execution
- Key differences between Cardano DeFi and EVM-based DeFi systems
- Why Cardano prioritizes long-term sustainability over rapid experimentation
Participants gained a clearer understanding of why Cardano DeFi may progress more deliberately, while aiming to be robust, reliable, and sustainable over time.
6. Open Discussion — Getting Started with Cardano DeFi
An interactive open discussion addressed practical questions from attendees, including:
- Where beginners should start when learning Cardano DeFi
- Whether to focus first on smart contracts, frontend development, or ecosystem knowledge
- Common mistakes newcomers make when entering DeFi development
- How students can move from learning to contributing
The discussion helped demystify the learning curve and reinforced the idea that starting small and building consistently is the most effective path forward.
7. Community Networking & Exchanges
The final networking session allowed participants to continue one-on-one discussions, exchange contacts, and explore potential collaborations.
Many conversations focused on next learning steps, community support, and ways to stay engaged after the meetup.
Closing Reflection
Hanoi Cardano Meetup Series #6 marked an important shift in the community conversation — from “what is DeFi?” to “how do we build DeFi responsibly?”
By combining foundational knowledge with ecosystem-specific insights, the meetup encouraged participants to see themselves not only as users, but as future builders and contributors within the Cardano DeFi ecosystem.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Cardano Foundation and Project Catalyst for their continued support of community-led meetups like this one.
Beyond resources, their encouragement and long-term commitment to education and grassroots participation make it possible for local communities to learn, discuss, and grow together at their own pace. This support plays an important role in helping builders and newcomers engage with Cardano in a thoughtful and sustainable way.
Stay Connected
- Cardano Vietnam Community (Telegram): https://t.me/CardanoVNCommunity
- Cardano Vietnam Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/VietnamCardano
Cardano Ambassadors in Vietnam:
– Ha Nguyen: https://x.com/Hahero7
– Mie Tran: https://x.com/mietran0407
See you at the next Hanoi Cardano Meetup. 
On behalf of the organizing committee,
Ha Nguyen
Cardano Ambassador
Cardano Vietnam Community
Presentation
Photos
Video