r/defi: rules, audience and how brands can post there
201,688 members. Self-promotion allowed? Limited: 10%, with risks and a recent audit.
r/defi is a community of about 202,000 members for decentralised finance protocols on any blockchain. Of the subs in this set, it has the most detailed self-promotion rule: put the protocol name in the title, state the risks, link a recent audit and leave out social links.
Paste your draft on the next page. We flag likely self-promotion and rule problems before you post.
- Members
- 201,688
- Self-promotion
- Limited: 10%, with risks and a recent audit
- Created
- 2018
- Checked
- November 7, 2026
What r/defi is
News, articles and discussions about decentralized financial protocols on any blockchain
Audited DeFi protocols that can follow a strict disclosure format. Anything token-adjacent is a poor fit.
Can a brand post in r/defi?
Rule 3 requires the protocol name in the title. Content marketing posts that mention it only in the body are not allowed. You have to include the risks and link a recent audit, and unaudited protocols are not allowed at all. Discord, Telegram, Twitter and website links are also banned. Rule 5 caps protocol and project promotion at 10% of your posts and comments, and it bans ICO talk. Referral links, giveaways, ICO, IDO and fundraising posts, email signups, third-party surveys and vote manipulation are all banned. Rule 7 repeats that self-promotion and promoting specific coins count as spam. Only audited protocols can use this narrow route.
What works
- Putting the protocol name in the post title, with its risks and a recent audit
- Keeping promotion under 10% of your posts and comments
- Discussing development, news, project ideas and support in DeFi, as rule 4 asks
- Joining the discussions the top posts are actually about (taxes, cards and experience), not announcements
What gets removed
- Unaudited protocols, and posts without risks or an audit link
- Discord, Telegram, Twitter or website links in a promotional post
- Referral links, giveaways and ICO, IDO or fundraising posts
- Vote manipulation, bots and forks
The rules, summarised
- 1. No malicious content
Linking to malware, phishing or scam sites will result in your account being banned without warning.
- 2. No forks
We welcome discussion and overviews of innovative protocols, but do not allow posts about prootocols that have simply forked another protocol.
- 3. Self-promo rules
The protocol name must be in the title, risks must be included, a recent audit must be linked and unaudited protocols are banned. No Discord, Telegram, Twitter or website links, and bots for engagement lead to removal.
- 4. Keep Discussions On Topic
Keep discussions about development, news, project ideas, events, questions, and support about DeFi Keep discussions constructive and on topic.
- 5. No shilling
No ICO talk, and no more than 10% of your posts and comments can promote protocols and projects.
- 6. No attacks or slurs
No personal attacks against another person Treat others like you'd like to be treated.
- 7. No Spam
No self promotion or promoting specific coins or projects. Anyone caught spamming will be immediately banned.
- 8. No giveaways
Giveaways and promotions are not allowed.
- 9. No referral links
Referral links to decentralized protocols or centralized applications are not allowed.
- 10. No vote manipulation
Posts and comments pushed to the top uusing botted or purchased upvotes will be removed and posters will be banned.
- 11. No email signups or 3rd party surveys
The rule has a title only, with no further text on Reddit.
- 12. No ICO, IDO or fundraising posts
The rule has a title only, with no further text on Reddit.
Source: the community's own rules page, read on November 7, 2026. Rules change, so check the page before you post. See also the 9:1 rule.
Frequently asked questions
Can I promote my DeFi protocol on r/defi?
Only under rule 3: name in the title, risks included, a recent audit linked, and no social or website links. Unaudited protocols are not allowed.
Are referral links allowed on r/defi?
No. Rule 9 says referral links to decentralised protocols or centralised applications are not allowed.
Want help earning a place in r/defi?
30-minute intro call with a partner. If we're not the fit, we'll tell you in the first five minutes.
We take on 3 new engagements per quarter. Serious teams only.