Vitalik Buterin just dropped a truth bomb. Low-risk DeFi might turn Ethereum into a cash cow like Google’s search engine did for the tech giant.
It’s not the flashiest idea, but it’s the kind of steady revenue that could cement Ethereum’s future without losing its soul.
Ethereum’s culture
Ethereum’s co-founder took to his blog, offering a roadmap where the money-making side of DeFi doesn’t clash with the values that built Ethereum’s community.
It turns out, this isn’t just wishful thinking. There’s tension brewing between the hype-fueled nonsense, think NFTs, memecoins, and speculative trading, and the serious apps that truly embody Ethereum’s culture but don’t pull in enough fees to keep the lights on.
Vitalik points to the magic of low-risk DeFi, like lending stablecoins on protocols such as Aave.
Deposit rates on blue-chip stablecoins like USDC and Tether flirt with 5%, and some riskier stablecoins rattle above 10%.
That kind of yield quietly supports the ecosystem, much like Google’s ad-fueled search engine bankrolls all its other fancy projects, Chromium browsers, Pixel phones, even its AI adventures, none of which come close to generating its main moolah.
40% of Americans are curious about DeFi
Ethereum saw its DeFi TVL jump past $100 billion for the first time since 2022.
Bear markets had pummeled this number big time, and it mostly lagged behind the shiny top-layer-1 tokens during the current bull run.
If you want to educate yourself on Ethereum and the future of $ETH, go read Vitalik’s new blog post.
Low-risk DeFi should definitely be a part of Ethereum. We’re nowhere near where we want to be, and this is just another showcase of where we’re heading. https://t.co/1lhYoohtCk pic.twitter.com/OS2rfXqpkR
— Djani (@DjaniWhaleSkul) September 20, 2025
But as regulators mull over new laws like the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, DeFi adoption is poised to rocket.
Analysts shared that a new survey showed over 40% of Americans are curious about trying DeFi if it’s wrapped in a stronger legal framework. This could be the neccesary wind beneath Ethereum’s wings.
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Revenue streams that are ethical
Vitalik’s got grander ideas, too. Ethereum, thanks to its decentralized architecture, might outshine Google, not by hoarding user data or drowning in ads, but by aligning making money with doing good.
The goal? Revenue streams that are ethical and not embarrassing, unlike Google’s advertising model that some might say sold its soul to data mining.
Buterin also dreams of basket currencies and flatcoins, as he says, crypto assets pegged to an assortment of global currencies or consumer price indices, offering reliable financial tools for people in inflation-wracked or low-income countries.
So, Ethereum’s story might not be about the flashiest DeFi dapps, but about stability wrapped in ethics.
It’s the kind of quiet development that could turn Ethereum into the Google Search of blockchain, only hopefully with less creepiness and more soul.
Disclosure:This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Kriptoworld.com accepts no liability for any errors in the articles or for any financial loss resulting from incorrect information.
Cryptocurrency and Web3 expert, founder of Kriptoworld
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With years of experience covering the blockchain space, András delivers insightful reporting on DeFi, tokenization, altcoins, and crypto regulations shaping the digital economy.
📅 Published: September 22, 2025 • 🕓 Last updated: September 22, 2025
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