Vitalik Buterin Draws the Line: Ethereum Will Not Back ‘Just Any’ DeFi Project

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The Ethereum Foundation has had enough of the token-and-dashboard party, folks. This week, they made it crystal clear: not every DeFi project is worthy of their love and support. So, if you were thinking of launching a DeFi with a cute logo and some sparkly charts… well, maybe try again.

In a series of dramatic, yet very important, posts, the Foundation expressed its desire to see decentralized finance thrive-but only if it meets Ethereum’s lofty standards. One brave soul even said it out loud: “DeFi isn’t just some niche inside crypto. It’s a revolution-or at least, it better be.”

“DeFi isn’t a speculative bet on the future. It’s the inevitable evolution of finance,” said the Ethereum oracle, adding with a touch of flair, “financial autonomy is a right, not a privilege.” Well, that’s one way to make sure we don’t forget the mission.

Vitalik Buterin, in his usual wisdom and no-nonsense tone, doubled down on the message.

“DeFi is a central part of the value that Ethereum provides,” Buterin wrote, possibly while wearing a turtleneck for extra emphasis. “Financial empowerment is a central part of what it means to have agency and freedom in our current world.” He went on to remind us that while Ethereum does more than finance, it’s still pretty darn good at the whole “finance thing,” specifically providing permissionless access to savings, risk management, and payments. It’s all part of the grand Ethereum vision. We get it, Vitalik. You’re basically the Gandalf of crypto.

Not All Onchain Finance Makes the Cut

Buterin didn’t mince words. The line is drawn, and it’s not for everyone. Ethereum’s Foundation isn’t interested in supporting any old “on-chain finance” project that pops up. Nope. It wants “permissionless, open-source, private, security-first global finance,” something that maximizes control over assets and minimizes those pesky centralized chokepoints (basically, less bureaucracy, more freedom). Basically, if you’re a centralized mess with a DeFi label, you’re out.

He also introduced the “walkaway test” concept. Basically, if the founding team takes a vacation… or goes rogue, the protocol should still keep chugging along. Nice to know Ethereum is into financial survival, even without the original creators. Talk about long-term thinking.

Remember, Ethereum is permissionless. You can deploy whatever you want-but the Foundation is not going to back your “dopamine-maximizing gambleslop” (I mean, how rude of them to not support random hype). So, yeah, be sure you’re doing something worthwhile.

A Return to DeFi’s Era

And in a bold call for nostalgia, Buterin asked for a return to the early days of DeFi. “Ethereum’s early DeFi era was great because it dared to dream and innovate,” he said, while possibly reminiscing about the good ol’ days when automated market makers were just a glint in everyone’s eye.

Instead of just “building a better stablecoin” (yawn), Vitalik asked developers to dig into real problems like risk management and hedging future expenses. Oh, and if you’re not creating something that traditional finance can’t even dream of replicating-well, maybe just take a seat. Ethereum wants the impossible, not the “me-too” solutions.

Ethereum’s vision for DeFi? Something that couldn’t exist without Ethereum, of course. Not just another blockchain copy of traditional finance, but something actually groundbreaking. So, are you up for the challenge, or are you going to keep building copy-paste projects?

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FAQs

What is the Ethereum Foundation’s stance on DeFi projects?

The Ethereum Foundation supports DeFi that is permissionless, open-source, secure, and minimizes centralized control. If you’re running a speculative or overly centralized project, don’t even bother.

Why doesn’t Ethereum support all on-chain finance projects?

Because Ethereum cares about reducing middlemen and protecting users. If your project is a speculative dumpster fire or relies on central control, it’s probably not making the cut.

How does Ethereum want DeFi to evolve?

Ethereum wants DeFi that tackles real problems like risk management and hedging, not just flashy stablecoins. We’re talking solutions that traditional finance can’t even begin to replicate. No pressure.

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2026-02-25 08:23