21-9-2025 – Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has suggested that revenue from low-risk decentralized finance protocols could provide the network with lasting economic stability, akin to how search advertising sustains Google. In a blog post published Saturday, Buterin argued that low-risk DeFi could resolve ongoing community tensions between revenue-generating applications—such as NFTs, memecoins, and speculative trading—and those embodying Ethereum’s core cultural and ethical values, which often fail to produce significant fees.
He highlighted examples like stablecoin lending on Aave, where yields reach around 5% for established tokens like USDT and USDC, and exceed 10% for riskier options, positioning these as reliable fee generators without compromising principles. Drawing parallels to Google, Buterin noted that while the tech giant funds innovative projects like browsers and AI models through search revenue, its advertising model has led to ethical conflicts, such as excessive data collection. Ethereum’s decentralized nature, he said, offers a superior framework where financial success aligns more harmoniously with positive outcomes.
He also advocated for innovations like basket currencies and flatcoins tied to consumer price indices to further support the ecosystem, especially for users in high-inflation regions. This comes as Ethereum’s DeFi total value locked has surpassed $100 billion for the first time since early 2022, fueled by regulatory progress including the proposed Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. A recent DeFi Education Fund survey indicates over 40% of Americans are receptive to DeFi with enhanced legal protections. Market watchers will observe whether Buterin’s ideas spur shifts in protocol development as DeFi gains traction.
