Latest DeFi News

Latest DeFi news, web3 and AI, find out what’s dominating this market trend. This article is updated once a month.

Latest DeFi News – what we can’t ignore, what has been and will be crucial for decentralized finance.

Latest DeFi News – April 2025:

Institutional Breakthroughs, Tech Innovations & Regulatory Pressure

April 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for decentralized finance (DeFi), as the space sees a convergence of growing institutional adoption, major technological advancements, and increasing regulatory scrutiny.

Surging Institutional Adoption

A joint study by Coinbase and EY-Parthenon reveals that 75% of surveyed financial institutions plan to invest in DeFi in 2025 — a significant increase compared to previous years. This trend is echoed by predictions from VanEck, which expects decentralized exchange (DEX) volumes to soar to $4 trillion this year, accounting for 20% of the spot trading volume traditionally handled by centralized exchanges (CEXs).

These figures highlight a growing appetite among institutions to explore more transparent, efficient, and programmable financial infrastructure through DeFi protocols.

Major Technological Breakthroughs

The DeFi ecosystem is also experiencing noteworthy innovation. Sonic Labs recently launched its new consensus protocol, SonicCS 2.0, which doubles consensus speed while reducing memory usage by 68%. This upgrade aims to make DeFi infrastructure faster and more scalable — essential traits as the sector continues to expand.

Meanwhile, Ethereum is preparing to roll out EIP-7702 in its upcoming PECTRA upgrade. This proposal will allow externally owned accounts (EOAs) to execute smart contract code, easing the transition toward full smart account adoption — a major step forward in user experience and security.

Another notable trend is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into DeFi. Analysts project that by the end of 2025, 20% of on-chain trading volumes will be executed by AI-driven autonomous agents. These agents will handle tasks such as portfolio management, automated trading, and real-time risk optimization, reshaping the way DeFi services are delivered.

A Wave of Mergers and Acquisitions

DeFi is also undergoing a wave of consolidation. Traditional finance and crypto firms are increasingly merging to bridge the gap between legacy systems and the decentralized world.

Notable acquisitions — like Stripe’s purchase of Bridge and Robinhood’s acquisition of Bitstamp — underscore this trend. These moves aim to enhance custodial and risk management services tailored for institutional clients, helping DeFi evolve into a more robust and compliant ecosystem.

Rising Regulatory Tensions

Despite these advancements, the DeFi space continues to face intense regulatory pressure, particularly in the United States. The Biden administration has ramped up scrutiny, with the SEC issuing warnings to Uniswap Labs and ConsenSys (the developer behind MetaMask). At the same time, the IRS is pushing to expand the definition of « broker, » which could significantly impact decentralized platforms.

These regulatory moves have sparked concerns about the future of self-custody and decentralized access to finance. Critics warn that overly aggressive regulations could stifle innovation and push DeFi development offshore.

Looking Ahead

As DeFi moves forward, striking a balance between innovation, institutional adoption, and regulatory compliance will be crucial. Emerging technologies such as AI integration and advanced consensus protocols present major opportunities to enhance the sector’s performance and resilience.

But to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth, proactive collaboration between DeFi developers and regulators will be essential. The next few months may very well determine how deeply DeFi integrates into the global financial system.

In summary, April 2025 marks a defining chapter in the evolution of decentralized finance. With record-breaking institutional interest, game-changing innovations, and mounting political attention, DeFi is no longer a niche experiment — it’s a growing force at the heart of the financial revolution.