The DeFi Review invites original and thought-provoking submissions that contribute to the ongoing discourse surrounding the legal, regulatory, and academic dimensions of decentralized finance (DeFi), blockchain technology, fintech, and related fields. As an interdisciplinary platform for serious analysis of DeFi, blockchain, and fintech (grounded in law and policy but informed by technology, markets, and practice), we seek papers, articles, and essays that address pressing issues, emerging trends, and novel insights in these transformative sectors. TDR is published by and for scholars, practitioners, and innovators in the blockchain ecosystem.

The DeFi Review seeks to encourage any form of innovation in the emerging tech space, and will consider for publication any submission.

Our core editorial philosophy is simple: quality and substance over length and form. If you have quality analysis or opinion-work to share you believe is relevant and timely – please submit it.

For some additional direction where helpful:

Scope of Submissions:

We welcome contributions that engage with, but are not limited to, the following themes:

  • Legal & Regulatory Frameworks: The impact of existing and evolving regulations on DeFi protocols, blockchain startups, and financial services; challenges in enforcement and jurisdiction; compliance, anti-money laundering (AML), and know-your-customer (KYC) standards in decentralized environments.
  • Blockchain & Financial Innovation: Cutting-edge research on decentralized applications (dApps), smart contracts, consensus mechanisms, and tokenization; the future of digital assets, including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and security tokens.
  • DeFi Governance: Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), governance models, and the role of token holders in decision-making processes; issues of governance, accountability, and transparency.
  • Intellectual Property & Contract Law: Novel approaches to copyright, patent, and trademark law in the context of blockchain; smart contracts and enforceability; intellectual property management in decentralized systems.
  • Risk, Security & Ethics: Cybersecurity concerns in blockchain networks; privacy issues, data protection, and the ethical implications of decentralized finance; financial inclusion and the potential for DeFi to disrupt traditional banking systems.
  • Industry Perspectives: Case studies, white papers, and research from industry leaders and professionals; analysis of emerging trends, market behavior, and the socio-economic impacts of DeFi and blockchain technology.

Submission Guidelines:

We are intentionally flexible on form and length. We welcome:

  • Types of Submissions: We welcome articles, essays, case studies, legal and technical writing, and white papers. For online publication of content in posts, please submit a post. For articles of length or other pieces intended for print publication, submit an article. Content may also be submitted by email to [email protected].
  • Procedure: All work should be original and capable of being published. Please indicate with your submission if you’d like to be considered for both print and online publication.
  • Length: Submissions may be any length.
  • Format: Manuscripts should be submitted initially by PDF. Citations by bluebook are not necessary so long as the support for the citation can be easily found via the information provided (including hyperlink).
  • Authorship: Submissions should include full author information, including academic or professional title, institution or affiliation, and contact details. Content must be original.

Submission Process:

  1. Submission Portal: Manuscripts must be submitted by email to [email protected].
  2. Peer Review: All submissions will undergo a peer review process. Authors will receive feedback as soon as possible after submission.
  3. Deadline:
    • The deadline for submissions for print in Volume 1 will be May 1, 2026. Late submissions may be considered on a rolling basis for future editions.
    • Submissions intended only for online publication have no deadline and are considered on a rolling basis.
  4. Publication: Accepted submissions will be published in an upcoming issue of The DeFi Review and may be featured on our website, newsletters, and other media outlets.

Who should consider submitting?

Our intended audience includes:

  • Practicing attorneys and in‑house counsel;
  • Policy-makers and regulators;
  • Protocol designers, developers, and engineers;
  • Founders, entrepreneurs, investors, and advisors;
  • Industry professionals and analysts working in DeFi and fintech; and
  • All others engaged in the fields of blockchain technology, decentralized finance, fintech and related disciplines and practices.

If you are writing for a traditional law review, commercial audience, or the industry generally, The DeFi Review may be a natural home for your content.

For any questions regarding the submission process, or for further inquiries, please contact us at [email protected].

We look forward to your innovative and insightful contributions as we continue to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of decentralized finance and its related fields.

Sincerely,
The Editorial Team
The DeFi Review