Unite DeFi is a premier initiative from 1inch aimed at unifying builders, protocols, and liquidity in decentralized finance through shared infrastructure and interoperability. This program reflects 1inch’s commitment to making DeFi simpler, safer, and more interconnected—bridging the divide between on-chain innovation and the global financial landscape.
Earlier this month, 1inch hosted another edition of Unite DeFi during TOKEN2049 Singapore Week, held at the ArtScience Museum in partnership with Infinex, BOB, and Bitget Wallet. The one-day event featured prominent figures such as Stani Kulechov (Aave Labs) and Sandeep Nailwal (Polygon Foundation), along with 1inch co-founders Sergej Kunz and Anton Bukov.
BeInCrypto was present at the event, and here are the key insights from 1inch’s Unite DeFi Singapore.
RWAs: The $32B Bridge Between TradFi and DeFi
The morning session at Unite DeFi Singapore commenced with a focus on the real-world assets (RWA) sector. Aggregated data from rwa.xyz and additional on-chain dashboards estimate the total RWA market to be around $32 billion as of October 2025, with $25.3 billion focused on tokenized treasuries and private credit. This dominance overshadows commodities at $3.2 billion and equities at $400 million, illustrating investors’ shift toward yield-bearing stability.
Panelists, including Fredrik Haga, co-founder of Dune, and Kiln CEO Laszlo Szabo, concurred that RWAs have established themselves as DeFi’s institutional bridge.
“They [asset managers] essentially bypass some banking services and massively increase distribution,” Szabo stated.
Roberto Klein of Backed Finance contested the idea that DeFi’s expansion must occur at the expense of banks, labeling tokenization as “a generational shift.” He argued that this change is additive, with finance expanding onto open rails rather than one system superseding another.
With rate cuts drawing liquidity back on-chain, RWAs are now performing the same role for DeFi as sovereign bonds do for traditional portfolios by anchoring volatility and offering predictable returns through transparent, programmable debt.
As the dialogue shifted to liquidity infrastructure, there was widespread agreement on one fundamental element—stablecoins. They continue to serve as the connective tissue that links tokenized assets to everyday use, acting as the familiar medium that facilitates institutions’ entry into DeFi.
67% Hot Wallet Vulnerabilities Demand Hardware Shields
Data presented onstage revealed that 67% of hacks have their origins in hot wallets, with half resulting from social engineering tactics such as the sharing of seed recovery phrases (SRPs), as noted by Jeff of Ledger and Eowyn Chen of Trust Wallet. AI risk scanners have intercepted approximately $460 million in attempted scams. Nevertheless, it is estimated that about 70% of users still disregard warnings, prompting a debate about how far platforms should go in balancing safety and user autonomy.
Chen summarized the conundrum: “Balance censorship minimization with user protection.” The panel discussed frameworks distinguishing security “at rest” (secure storage) from “at use” (safe signing), highlighting how hardware wallets’ “trusted screens” act as verification checkpoints—the crypto equivalent of a bank’s fraud alert.
Amid various incidents, panelists agreed that education, rather than fear, remains DeFi’s strongest defense. Improved reputations and fewer rug pulls have already enhanced baseline security; expanding this awareness to billions of users will dictate whether DeFi’s renaissance can endure.
Interoperability Becomes DeFi’s Next Race for Scale
Interoperability emerged as a focal point in addressing DeFi’s silos. During discussions, panelists examined how intent-based swaps and cross-chain aggregation could create a DeFi experience as seamless as that of Web2 applications. Sergej Kunz, co-founder of 1inch, indicated that users increasingly “just want to make sure that they receive what they expect.” He asserted that abstraction is crucial for mainstream growth.
Additionally, Sandeep Nailwal, CEO of Polygon Labs, stated that “block space has become infinite,” pointing to Polygon’s upcoming scaling architecture, which will enable protocols to reserve and aggregate throughput across interconnected chains. He described this as a means of eliminating the bottlenecks that previously fragmented DeFi liquidity, fostering a shared infrastructure where execution appears boundless.
Misha Putiatin, co-founder of Symbiotic, remarked that abstraction layers now allow “users to see one optimized quote.” The discussion surrounding transaction finality, termed “sturdy transactions” by him, highlighted ongoing friction between speed and certainty.
The proliferation of app-specific chains like Hyperliquid may finally reconcile these trade-offs, integrating fragmented networks into a cohesive interoperable system. For institutions seeking efficiency without exposure, interoperability now stands as the crucial link between liquidity depth and user trust.
Maturity Over Cycles as Path to DeFi Renaissance
During one of the discussions at the Unite DeFi event, some panelists noted that DeFi is entering a stage of quiet maturity. Volumes and total value locked (TVL) figures have exceeded those of previous bull cycles despite the prevailing perception of a “boring” market.
Anton Bukov, co-founder of 1inch, remarked, “Higher volumes and TVL than prior bull runs despite that ‘boring’ perception.”
He emphasized that the difference stems from discipline. With fewer exploits, better audits, and a stronger reputation economy taking precedence over reckless yield-chasing, Bukov suggested that this pragmatism mirrors 1inch’s rebranding, which has shifted from a unicorn motif to a cleaner identity centered on gasless swaps (Fusion) and capital-efficient architecture (Aqua).
This represents a market driven less by hype and more by sustainable tools. Even previous miscalculations, like Kain Warwick’s infamous prediction of “ETH to $10K in 2017,” which was mentioned humorously onstage, are now interpreted as lessons in realism.
Moreover, panelists concurred that DeFi’s future will be shaped by operators who prioritize risk, rather than speculation, as the new alpha.
Values and Legitimacy: Ethereum’s Human Core
Aya Miyaguchi, president of the Ethereum Foundation, participated in a fireside chat that shifted the focus from liquidity and throughput to inclusion and legitimacy. Her message served as a reminder of Ethereum’s purpose: to broaden access and opportunity via technology.
“When I encountered Bitcoin, I believed it would bring a revolutionary change in the field of financial inclusion or microfinance,” she stated. “It is about bringing in those who were previously excluded… restoring the balance.”
She described Ethereum as a shared public resource that “belongs to no one because it belongs to everyone,” noting how this principle is beginning to influence real systems, from decentralized IDs to land registries and stablecoins currently being explored by governments.
Despite this progress, she mentioned that the primary gap remains in understanding. “It’s really about better education,” she told the audience, stressing the need for regulators and builders to couple innovation with comprehension. “It is essential for this technology to fulfill its intended role.”
Citing Vitalik Buterin’s belief that “the most important scarce resource is legitimacy,” Miyaguchi urged the DeFi community to collectively safeguard that legitimacy. She clarified that the Ethereum Foundation does not govern the network; its role is to maintain neutrality and empower others to create.
Her final thought resonated quietly yet powerfully. The future of decentralized finance hinges on whether its builders can uphold its values as it scales.
The DeFi Horizon: From 2% to Billions Through Unity
Throughout the panels, one continuous theme emerged. DeFi is unifying. Tokenized assets are stabilizing yields, security frameworks are restoring trust, intent layers are streamlining user experience, and interoperability is breaking down silos. Collectively, these advancements aim to elevate crypto’s global adoption from 2% to the next billion users.
However, this growth will require a balance between innovation and regulation, privacy and compliance, as well as simplicity and depth. As interest rates decline, and institutions increase their on-chain exposure from RWAs to $1 billion DeFi loans like Morpho’s, the forthcoming path appears less speculative and more infrastructural.
In Singapore’s dynamic atmosphere, Unite DeFi concluded with a sense of conviction and intent rather than hype. DeFi is transitioning from a niche experiment to a financial necessity, one interoperable layer at a time.
For those who could not attend the live sessions, the panel discussions from Unite DeFi Singapore can be viewed here:
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