Editorial Standards

Our Editorial Mission

ThinkDeFi exists to help leaders see beyond technology—to the institutions, incentives, governance, and human judgment that determine whether new financial systems can earn trust and endure.

Core Principles

Independence

Editorial decisions are guided by our research mission rather than commercial or political pressure.

Evidence

Analysis should be grounded in credible sources, clearly reasoned, and proportionate to the available evidence.

Transparency

Relevant sponsorships, funding relationships, methodological limitations, and conflicts of interest should be disclosed.

Intellectual integrity

We distinguish fact from interpretation, acknowledge uncertainty, represent competing perspectives fairly, and revise conclusions when evidence changes.

Institutional relevance

Research should illuminate material questions facing financial institutions, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and the public.

Research Selection

Topics are selected according to institutional significance, timeliness, alignment with ThinkDeFi research areas, potential public value, and the opportunity to improve understanding of the human and governance dimensions of financial innovation.

Research and Review Process

• Define the research question and intended audience
• Identify primary and credible secondary sources
• Evaluate evidence, assumptions, and competing interpretations
• Draft with clear distinctions among findings, analysis, and opinion
• Review for accuracy, coherence, sourcing, disclosures, and legal or reputational risk where relevant
• Publish with author attribution, date, references, and revision information as appropriate

Sources and Citations

We prioritize primary documents, official data, legislation and regulation, academic literature, direct interviews, and reputable industry sources. Material factual claims should be attributed where practical. Anonymous sources are used sparingly and only when the information is important, credible, and cannot reasonably be obtained on the record.

Sponsorship and Commissioned Research

ThinkDeFi may accept sponsorship or commissions consistent with its mission. Commercial support does not guarantee favorable coverage or predetermined conclusions. Sponsored, underwritten, commissioned, or partner-produced work will be identified, and the nature of the relationship disclosed when relevant.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors, fellows, reviewers, and contributors are expected to disclose financial, professional, governance, or personal interests that could reasonably be perceived as influencing their work. ThinkDeFi may add disclosures, require mitigation, assign additional review, or decline publication.

Corrections and Revisions

Material factual errors will be corrected promptly and transparently. Significant changes may include a correction, editor’s note, updated date, or revision history. Minor typographical or formatting changes may be made without a formal notice.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence tools may support research administration, discovery, organization, transcription, analysis, or drafting. Human authors and editors remain accountable for source verification, reasoning, originality, disclosure, and the final published work. Confidential or sensitive information should not be entered into unapproved systems.

Salon Dialogue and Chatham House Rule

ThinkDeFi salons are designed to support candid institutional dialogue. When a salon is convened under the Chatham House Rule or another confidentiality framework, participants may use the information received but may not reveal the identity or affiliation of speakers or other participants, except with permission.

Questions and Concerns

Questions about sourcing, disclosures, corrections, or editorial practices may be directed to contact@thinkdefi.org. Substantive concerns will be reviewed by the appropriate member of the ThinkDeFi Executive Office or research leadership.