Neobanks will fuel Ethereum’s 2026 growth, says ether.fi CEO
In a recent interview with CoinDesk, Mike Silagadze, the CEO and co-founder of ether.fi, shared his insights on the future of Ethereum in 2026. As Ethereum wraps up a significant year in terms of institutional adoption, Silagadze is already looking ahead to the next phase of the network, which he believes will be characterized by the proliferation of financial products that are more accessible to everyday users.
Ether.fi is widely recognized for its restaking platform on Ethereum, but the company has now shifted its focus towards developing crypto-native neobanking products that offer a combination of yield, self-custody, and onchain financial services. Silagadze is scheduled to speak at CoinDesk’s Consensus Hong Kong conference in February 2026.
Reflecting on 2025, Silagadze described it as a pivotal year for Ethereum, marked by a surge in institutional interest. While staking activities are still largely confined within ETFs, Silagadze noted that other institutional vehicles, such as digital asset treasuries (DATs), have been quick to embrace Ethereum. He mentioned that some early adopters have already started deploying into ether.fi, attributing the positive impact on ether’s price to the influx of DATs.
During the lowest point of 2025, ether was priced at $1,472 in April. However, the price surged to $4,832 at the peak of the DAT trend, showcasing the influence of institutional adoption on the cryptocurrency’s value.
Looking forward to 2026, Silagadze expressed his enthusiasm for the continued development of Ethereum’s financial ecosystem. He highlighted the growing trend of crypto neobanks as a key driver of adoption, particularly as stablecoins become more integrated into the global financial landscape. Silagadze believes that neobanks are better positioned than ETFs to introduce users to onchain activities and yield.
According to Silagadze, Ethereum’s success in 2026 will hinge on its ability to deliver practical utility at scale. He emphasized the importance of focusing on real-world use cases, such as tokenized stocks and accessible banking services, rather than solely relying on gambling-driven applications.
In conclusion, Silagadze underscored the significance of the crypto neobank movement in driving Ethereum’s adoption and user activity. By offering a familiar and user-friendly interface for financial products, neobanks are poised to propel Ethereum towards mainstream acceptance in 2026.
For more information on ether.fi’s journey and the future of Ethereum, you can visit their website at ether.fi.
