Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov says DeFi, or decentralized finance, is closer to the mainstream than many realize, but real hurdles remain before it can scale to match traditional finance.

According to Nazarov, DeFi is about 30% of the way to broad adoption, and clearer rules could push that figure higher.

Reports have disclosed the sector has already seen rapid growth in lending protocols this year, with cumulative total value locked rising from $53 billion at the start of 2025 to more than $127 billion.

Nazarov Sees Progress, But Gaps Remain

Nazarov said that DeFi could hit 50% global adoption once regulation and law explain why these systems can be trusted. That is a big if.

Regulators still wrestle with questions about onchain features, the role of intermediaries, and how

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