Part 2/8:
Throughout the cryptocurrency journey, many users have utilized centralized exchanges like Coinbase or Binance, often unaware that they do not truly own the digital assets they purchase. Centralized exchanges hold the private keys, leaving users at risk if the platform encounters issues like insolvency or hacking. Thorchain disrupts this model by enabling users to perform native asset swaps through a decentralized exchange (DEX), allowing them to trade assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum without relinquishing custody of their funds.