Traditional Finance

Definition ∞ Traditional finance refers to the established global financial system, encompassing commercial banks, investment firms, stock exchanges, and regulatory bodies, all operating within conventional legal and economic frameworks. It represents the long-standing structure of financial services.
Context ∞ This system is often contrasted with decentralized finance (DeFi) and the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem. News frequently reports on the evolving relationship between these two domains, including regulatory efforts to bridge their operational gaps or integrate digital assets into conventional financial products and services.