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Marcel Kaiser

Publications and source records attributed to Marcel Kaiser.

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A Recursive Domain- and Objective-Adaptive Frank-Wolfe Algorithm

We investigate a recursive variant of the classical Frank-Wolfe algorithm for minimizing a convex differentiable function over a convex compact domain. Unlike the traditional setting, we assume that both the problem domain and the objective function are initially unknown and must be learned from data. To address this, we integrate estimators into the optimization process, allowing the algorithm to iteratively refine approximations of the problem domain and the objective function. Our approach maintains the projection-free nature of the classical Frank-Wolfe algorithm while adapting to the uncertainty inherent in data-driven settings. We establish convergence guarantees for the recursive method, showing that the optimization error scales with the accuracy of the learned estimators. Two experiments support our theoretical findings, demonstrating that the proposed method achieves convergence behavior comparable to that of the classical Frank-Wolfe algorithm under exact knowledge of the problem domain and objective function, while offering significant computational savings.

math.OC

DeFi-ning DeFi: Challenges & Pathway

The decentralized and trustless nature of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology leads to a shift in the digital world. The possibility to execute small programs, called smart contracts, on cryptocurrencies like Ethereum opened doors to countless new applications. One particular exciting use case is decentralized finance (DeFi), which aims to revolutionize traditional financial services by founding them on a decentralized infrastructure. We show the potential of DeFi by analyzing its advantages compared to traditional finance. Additionally, we survey the state-of-the-art of DeFi products and categorize existing services. Since DeFi is still in its infancy, there are countless hurdles for mass adoption. We discuss the most prominent challenges and point out possible solutions. Finally, we analyze the economics behind DeFi products. By carefully analyzing the state-of-the-art and discussing current challenges, we give a perspective on how the DeFi space might develop in the near future.

cs.CR