DeFi is not dead, it’s going mainstream with AI agents, crypto executives agree
Crypto executives at Consensus Miami 2026 argue that DeFi is evolving into the mainstream, driven by AI agents and institutional adoption.Summary
During a panel at Consensus Miami 2026, crypto executives including Yoni Assia of eToro, Hunger Horsley of Bitwise Asset Management, and Guy Wuollet of a16z Crypto rejected claims that Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is dying. They asserted that DeFi is an "inevitable future" with a technology stack that has already been battle-tested at scale, despite recent security exploits causing significant losses.
A primary driver for this growth is the emergence of AI agents. The panelists argued that autonomous AI systems will require DeFi-like financial rails to operate as economic actors, enabling them to independently manage wallets and execute transactions. Furthermore, the executives noted a shift in institutional sentiment, with regulated fintech firms and large financial corporations seeking blockchain infrastructure to improve operational efficiency and replace legacy backend ledgers.
(Source：CoinDesk)