Ethereum DeFi reset: EF tightens support to cypherpunk-grade protocols

ETH pivots DeFi support to permissionless, secure, privacy-first protocols, enforcing a walkaway test for long-term resilience.

Ethereum (ETH) co-founder Vitalik Buterin has outlined a renewed vision for decentralized finance on the Ethereum network, emphasizing permissionless access, privacy, and security as core priorities, according to statements released by the Ethereum Foundation.

The Ethereum Foundation announced it will support projects that align with these principles, focusing on user control, open systems, and reduced reliance on centralized actors.

Buterin stated that decentralized finance represents a core component of Ethereum’s value proposition. DeFi platforms offer savings, risk management, and wealth-building tools without permission requirements, operating globally without central gatekeepers, according to the announcement.

“Financial empowerment is a central part of what it means to have agency and freedom in our current world,” Buterin stated. “Finance is far from the only thing that Ethereum is good for, but it is an important thing.”

The Ethereum Foundation does not plan to support all blockchain-based finance projects, according to Buterin. Instead, the organization will back protocols that are open-source and prioritize security, maximizing user control while reducing reliance on trusted third parties.

Buterin introduced what he termed the “walkaway test” for DeFi protocols, stating that a protocol should continue functioning if the original development team disappears and remain operational even if founders become compromised or hostile.

Security remains a central concern for the Ethereum Foundation, according to the announcement. Buterin identified audits, shared standards, and wallet safeguards as key tools, while also highlighting AI-assisted formal verification as an emerging method to improve smart contract safety.

Oracle security requires urgent attention, Buterin stated, noting that oracles connect blockchains to external data sources and weak oracle systems can expose DeFi platforms to manipulation and financial loss. The co-founder called for stronger decentralization in oracle design, describing secure infrastructure as essential for sustainable DeFi growth.

Privacy represents another major focus in Ethereum’s DeFi roadmap, according to Buterin. Both payment systems and complex financial tools require stronger privacy features, with collateralized debt positions cited as one example requiring privacy-preserving solutions.

Buterin noted that enhanced privacy features could reduce liquidation risks but require advanced technical solutions. The co-founder encouraged deeper innovation in decentralized finance, urging developers to move beyond improving existing stablecoins and rethink core financial problems such as hedging future expenses.

Ethereum remains a permissionless network where anyone can deploy applications, according to the Foundation. However, the Ethereum Foundation will prioritize projects that support user agency and open access, with the stated goal of building a global financial system that is secure, private, and resilient.