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Consensys founder Joseph Lubin has said traditional finance is prepared to integrate Ethereum and DeFi
Lubin has described regulatory momentum as shifting in favor of blockchain-based systems
Consensys is ramping up efforts to onboard institutional players to Ethereum tools

Joseph Lubin, founder of Consensys and Ethereum co-founder, has stated that Wall Street is “on the brink” of integrating Ethereum-based infrastructure into its financial systems. Lubin believes recent regulatory clarity and technological maturity have set the stage for widespread institutional adoption of decentralized finance (DeFi) and suggested that a convergence between traditional finance and blockchain is now inevitable. Lubin’s opinion is backed by the news this week that U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs hit a record $10 billion in assets under management.

Wall Street Turning Toward Ethereum

Lubin made his comments at an industry event this week, emphasizing that major financial institutions are no longer dismissing blockchain as a passing trend. “We’re witnessing a clear change in tone,” Lubin said, adding, “The largest banks and asset managers are actively exploring how to plug into Ethereum.” According to the Consensys founder, the recent resolution of several regulatory uncertainties, including the apparent SEC stance that Ethereum is not a security, has removed key barriers that previously held firms back.

Consensys, known for tools like MetaMask and Infura, is positioning itself as the bridge between crypto-native technology and legacy finance. Lubin revealed that the firm is working directly with banks and custodians to integrate Ethereum’s settlement capabilities and smart contract features into existing systems, although he noted that the goal was not replace Wall Street but to “upgrade its plumbing.”

Institutions Warming to DeFi Rails

Institutional appetite for DeFi infrastructure has grown in recent months, with firms showing interest in on-chain settlements, tokenized assets, and automated lending. In addition to this, Wall Street has been buying up more ETH through ETFs, with a record $10 billion worth now under management. Lubin noted that programmable finance is particularly attractive to back-office operations, offering efficiencies that traditional rails can’t match, claiming that Ethereum’s upcoming protocol upgrades, like those improving scalability and privacy, will further encourage adoption.

Among the catalysts for this shift in attitude has been that of the U.S. regulatory environment, with Lubin noting, “The cloud of uncertainty around Ethereum appears to be lifting, and that’s giving institutions the confidence to move.” Lubin stressed that while challenges remain, the alignment between blockchain innovation and Wall Street goals is stronger than ever, and will continue to develop over time.

The post Consensys Founder: Wall Street Ready to Embrace DeFi and Ethereum appeared first on FullyCrypto.

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Filed under: Bitcoin - @ June 18, 2025 7:26 am