DeFi Punk Scoring Handbook

A quick reference guide to evaluate if a DeFi protocol is truly punk.

Score each principle from 0–2 and total your score out of 16.

Scoring Scale

• 0 = fails the principle
  
• 1 = partial / mixed
  
• 2 = true DeFi Punk
  
  

8 DeFi Punk Principles

1. Permissionless Access
   Anyone, anywhere can use it no gatekeepers, no KYC.
   
   
2. Self-Custody
   Users hold their own keys by default not custodians.
   
   
3. Open Source
   Code and UI are open-source, transparent, and auditable.
   
   
4. Privacy by Default
   User privacy is protected automatically, not optional.
   
   
5. Open Development
   Transparent governance and upgrade process.
   
   
6. Trustless Core Logic
   Immutable, cryptographic, minimal reliance on admins/oracles.
   
   
7. Strong Security
   Audited, verified, transparent bug handling.
   
   
8. Distributed UIs
   Multiple/self-hostable frontends no single point of failure.
   
   

Interpreting Your Score

• 14–16 = DeFi Punk Superstar
  
• 8–13 = On the path, with tradeoffs
  
• 0–7 = CeFi in disguise

Practice: Score your favorite protocol using the 8 principles.
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