DeFi is a term used to describe decentralised applications that provide financial services using blockchain technology. DeFi leverages on technologies such as smart contracts and open-source protocols to execute peer-to-peer transactions without the use of any centralised party. Given the increasing prevalence and receptiveness towards DeFi, stakeholders in the financial industry should possess some basic understanding of this new alternative to the traditional financial system. This article outlines the distinctive characteristics, underlying benefits and risks of DeFi applications, and the regulatory approaches towards regulating such applications.