Key Drivers of Future DeFi Industry Growth
Date: 2025-11-06 Author: Oliver Abernathy Categories: BUSINESS
The decentralized finance (DeFi) market is approaching a new stage of large-scale development. Analysts predict that by 2026, the total value locked (TVL) in DeFi projects could exceed $500 billion, and investment in the industry will grow from the current $20 billion to $40 billion.
According to experts, the emergence of a hybrid financial model, combining traditional institutions and decentralized mechanisms, will play a key role in the next stage of market evolution. Banks and large corporations will begin actively using DeFi smart contracts for settlements and yield generation, which, according to analysts, will be one of the most important factors in the widespread adoption of DeFi in the global economy.
Experts note that the number of platforms involving banking institutions in the ecosystem could double over the next two years. This will be facilitated by improved regulatory frameworks, particularly in the US, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.
According to estimates by Next Generation NGPES, the number of DeFi wallets could exceed 12 million by October 2026. However, only a third of these will be used by active users, with the remainder being tied to short-term yield schemes such as farming or automated trading. Analysts emphasize that this reflects the specific nature of the market, where the share of real investors and long-term participants is still relatively small.
At the same time, Next Generation experts believe that DeFi is gradually emerging from its experimental phase and entering a mature stage. They describe the ongoing changes as "the stabilization of the industry in a more analytical and practical form," indicating the formation of a sustainable infrastructure and increased trust among major players.
Growing interest from corporate entities will provide additional impetus to the sector. Ethereum co-founder and ConsenSys CEO Joseph Lubin previously noted that many Wall Street firms will soon begin actively exploring the possibility of integrating decentralized tools into their operations.
Thus, the DeFi industry is entering a new phase, where traditional financial institutions are becoming partners rather than competitors, and smart contracts and blockchain technologies are beginning to serve as a bridge between the old and new economies.
