Low-Risk DeFi: Vitalik's Vision to Make Ethereum the Google of Global Finance - AInvest

Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum's co-founder, advocates for low-risk decentralized finance (DeFi) as the platform's potential "killer app" that could serve as a foundational revenue driver similar to Google's search business.

Buterin argues that Ethereum should pivot away from speculative ventures like meme coins and NFTs toward stable DeFi protocols including lending platforms, stablecoin yield mechanisms, and insurance services. He emphasizes that low-risk DeFi aligns with Ethereum's original mission of providing open access to finance while generating sustainable revenue. The vision is supported by growing institutional adoption, with DeFi's total value locked surpassing $170 billion in late 2025, and improving regulatory frameworks that could attract mainstream users seeking stable yields.

• Low-risk DeFi protocols like Aave and Compound have demonstrated resilience across market cycles with stable lending rates • Regulatory developments and institutional migration could create supply pressure on ETH while reducing price volatility
• The approach prioritizes financial infrastructure that balances profitability with Ethereum's decentralization principles • Critics point to revenue challenges, but proponents see this as a transition toward scalable, fee-efficient infrastructure