> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://hestiaex.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://hestiaex.gitbook.io/docs/master.md).
# INTRODUCTION
**In** [**HestiaExchange.com**](https://hestiaexchange.com/) **we believes cryptocurrency is the future of money, and that building a robust, trusted, and accessible crypto economy will create a more equitable and open financial system around the world. An open financial system is one that is not controlled by any one country or company … TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR MONEY . We think this way to bring about more economic freedom, innovation, efficiency, and equality of opportunity in the world.**
**In Hestia, people from different countries can exchange their local currency for digital assets using the** [Binance Smart Chain (BSC)](https://academy.binance.com/en/articles/an-introduction-to-binance-smart-chain-bsc) **blockchain**. **We allow users to create advertisements where they can choose the payment method and exchange rate to buy and sell cryptocurrencies to other users and allow the global economy to be accessible in all corners of the world through commerce.**
**In addition to buying and selling cryptocurrencies, we offer our users the possibility of investing their coins in a transparent and decentralized way in the DeFi ecosystem** [**(What is DeFi?)**](https://academy.binance.com/en/articles/the-complete-beginners-guide-to-decentralized-finance-defi) **And thus obtain higher returns on their investment.**
## **CENTRALISATION HYBRID**
[**HestiaExchange.com**](https://hestiaexchange.com/) **is not a completely decentralised system. Instead, it is a combination of centralized and decentralized components to allow a perfect balance between security, usability and simplicity. Hestiaexchange.com is end-to-end encrypted, our long-term goal is to decentralise many services as the** [Binance Smart Chain (BSC)](https://academy.binance.com/en/articles/an-introduction-to-binance-smart-chain-bsc) **community and ecosystem moves forward.**
**In general, our design is divided into three main components that are:**
**- Centralised Layer.**
**- Cryptography Layer**
**- Blockchain layer**
\
**CENTRALISED LAYER**
**Also known as "the API" it is used primarily to store and transport encrypted metadata and payloads. The centralized layer is made up of our API, servers, and databases. It is important to note that** [**HestiaExchange.com**](https://hestiaexchange.com/) **is carefully designed so that no sensitive information is disclosed to the centralised layer**
**CRYPTOGRAPHY LAYER**
**It is used to protect and verify all types of confidential information. This includes, for example, signing and encrypting messages between users, creating digital signatures for various purposes, unlocking encrypted wallets, and signing binance smart chain transactions. These calculations are performed off-chain in the web browser using the web crypto API.**
**BLOCKCHAIN CAPE**
**It involves anything that has to do with the blockchain. This includes any interaction with our smart contracts. In the first version,** [**HestiaExchange.com** ](https://hestiaexchange.com/)**only uses the public blockchain binance smart chain.**
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