Key Takeaways
- Luke Youngblood is the founder of Moonwell Finance and co-founder of Lunar Labs, with 20+ years of experience in tech and DeFi.
- Youngblood advocates for the use of Layer 2 technology to improve DeFi by offering faster, cheaper transactions.
- Luke has also worked on blockchain projects like Harbinger, a price oracle for Tezos, and other governance, staking, and cloud tech projects.
Who Is Luke Youngblood?
Luke Youngblood founded Moonwell Finance, a decentralized platform that allows people to borrow and lend digital assets. He is also the co-founder of Lunar Labs, the team behind Moonwell.
With over 20 years of tech experience, Luke has worked in cloud computing, blockchain, and decentralized finance at top companies like Coinbase and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Luke studied Computer Science at Utah Valley University from 1992 to 1994, building a strong foundation for his successful career in technology and finance.
Early Career
Building Cloud Solutions for McKesson
Luke Youngblood started his career as a systems and network engineer. In the mid-2000s, he built a large private cloud for McKesson, a US, Canadian, and European healthcare company. He created tools that helped thousands of developers quickly launch their applications.
Joining AWS
In 2016, he joined Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he worked on the backend for iCloud and improved AWS’s S3 storage. He helped big clients move their apps to the cloud and focused on making cloud systems reliable and scalable.
Coinbase Staking and Management Leadership
After AWS, Youngblood moved into blockchain and fintech by joining Coinbase. He helped develop the company’s staking and governance systems and led the creation of Coinbase Staking Rewards, which allowed crypto holders to earn rewards on their assets.
The Creation of Moonwell Finance
In 2021, Youngblood founded Moonwell Finance, a decentralized platform for lending and borrowing digital assets built on blockchain networks like Base and Moonbeam. Through Moonwell, he helps people manage decentralized financial transactions. He has also worked on other blockchain projects, including Harbinger, a price oracle for Tezos, and efforts focused on governance, staking, and cloud technologies.
Enabling DeFi on Coinbase’s Layer 2
On July 24, 2024, Luke Youngblood was interviewed on Arrington Capital’s YouTube channel about Moonwell’s role in decentralized finance on Coinbase’s Layer 2 network, Base. He explained that Moonwell lets users lend and borrow digital assets, using Layer 2 for faster and cheaper transactions.
Youngblood pointed out Moonwell’s focus on making finance accessible, especially in underbanked areas, with user-friendly tools like Coinbase’s smart wallet. He also explained Moonwell’s commitment to security, using multiple audits and Web 2.0 security standards to protect users.
Layer 2 Technology and Its Impact
Layer 2 solutions help make decentralized finance (DeFi) more straightforward and faster. They build on existing blockchains like Ethereum, improving the system’s ability to handle more transactions, lowering fees, and speeding up transactions. Youngblood’s work with Layer 2 in Moonwell lets users participate in DeFi without the delays and high costs that come with Ethereum’s leading network (Layer 1).
Developments in Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
Youngblood believes Decentralized Finance (DeFi) can change banking by removing intermediaries and giving users complete control over their money. With blockchain’s transparent and secure system, DeFi builds trust and lowers the risk of fraud. Platforms like Moonwell are helping DeFi grow, offering services that work across blockchains, making it easier to use and improving the user experience.
Future Goals and Vision
Youngblood wants to grow Moonwell’s services by adding more Layer 2 and multi-chain solutions to reach more people. He believes decentralized finance (DeFi) will be an essential part of the future of global finance and is committed to making it safer and easier for people everywhere to use.
Final Thoughts
Luke Youngblood is an experienced tech and finance professional with over 20 years in the industry. He is the founder of Moonwell Finance and co-founder of Lunar Labs, where he has helped create platforms that make decentralized finance (DeFi) more manageable for everyone. His work with Layer 2 technology helps improve speed and lower costs in DeFi transactions.
Luke is dedicated to making DeFi more accessible, especially in areas with limited banking options. With plans to grow Moonwell and offer more services, Luke is focused on shaping the future of finance in a more straightforward, safer way.
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