Goldfinch is a decentralized credit protocol that strives to democratize the lending process by eliminating the need for crypto collateral. It operates on the Ethereum blockchain and is governed by the GFI token. Goldfinch's unique approach aims to allow a broader range of borrowers to participate, expanding the potential capital providers who can gain exposure. The protocol is designed to generate sustainable, high-quality stablecoin yields from real-world economic activity, providing a buffer against the volatility often associated with DeFi. Goldfinch aims to make DeFi lending more accessible by enabling loans that can utilize both on and off chain collateral.

Goldfinch operates through a system of four core participants: Borrowers, Backers, Liquidity Providers, and Auditors. Borrowers propose Borrower Pools with specific terms such as interest rate and repayment schedule. Backers assess these pools and decide whether to supply first-loss capital. Once Backers supply capital, Borrowers can borrow and repay through the Borrower Pool. Liquidity Providers supply capital to the Senior Pool to earn passive yield. The Senior Pool then uses a Leverage Model to automatically allocate capital to the Borrower Pools, based on the number of Backers participating in them. Auditors, who are randomly selected by the protocol, vote to approve Borrowers, providing a human-level check against fraudulent activity.

Goldfinch seeks to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the DeFi space by enabling loans without crypto collateral. This opens up a wide range of potential use cases. For instance, businesses worldwide can access financing through the protocol, expanding their opportunities for growth. Investors can also earn yields by supplying capital to the Senior Pool or directly to attractive Borrower Pools. Furthermore, the protocol's unique entity check and governance system aim to provide a level of security and trust, making it a viable option for those looking to participate in the DeFi space without the typical risks associated with crypto collateral.

Goldfinch was launched with the aim of changing the global credit marketplace by creating a single platform where everyone, from startups to institutions, can borrow from the same capital markets. The protocol's design is based on the principle of "trust through consensus", which relies on the collective assessment of participants rather than their crypto assets. This approach aims to expand access to capital and contribute to the DeFi space. The protocol has deployed funds in active loan value and continues its operations, with its native GFI token playing a role in its governance.