A mother of four gets approved for a $2,500 credit card with a jaw-dropping 57% annual interest rate. This is the traditional financial system at work—institutions profiting from the most vulnerable. At that rate, the real cost spirals out of control fast. When legacy banking operates like this, it's no wonder people explore alternative financial solutions. Decentralized finance and crypto assets offer different mechanisms, though they come with their own risks. Still, it highlights why financial innovation matters.