Ethereum Foundation (EF) launches a dedicated team to double down on its DeFi to support its ecosystem growth. The announcement was made through an official blog post named “The Ethereum Foundation’s Commitment to DeFi.”
stronger push into DeFi
The team is led by known industry veterans like Charles St. Louis, the former CEO of DELV and a key architect of MakerDAO’s governance, who joins as the DeFi Protocol Specialist, and Ivan, a co-founder of Gearbox Protocol, serving as the DeFi Coordinator
As stated in their announcement, the EF wants growth that sticks to core principles like being permissionless, privacy-first, and open-source. The team’s 2026 roadmap focuses on several high-impact areas, including the creation of a direct bat-phone between DeFi builders and core EF developers.
They are also looking to support the DeFi of tomorrow, which includes user-controlled AI agents, ZK-powered private loans, and futarchy DAOs that govern via prediction markets. Furthermore, the team aims to improve the “defaults” for safety and security to prevent the exploits that have historically plagued the sector.
By creating this unit, the EF is positioning itself as the “glue” between its cypherpunk roots and the accelerating world of decentralized finance.
Making privacy and security the standard
This launch is closely related to major Ethereum milestones, such as the redesign of the Privacy Cluster in 2025 and the upcoming Glamsterdam upgrade scheduled for the first half of 2026. By collaborating with the Privacy Cluster, the DeFi team intends to make privacy-preserving infrastructure, starting with ZK-proofs for trading and lending, a standard feature for users.
By launching this team during a period of market uncertainty, EF is sending a clear signal that Ethereum’s future isn’t just about following traditional finance but about building a better alternative that is private, open, and truly decentralized. As the industry moves into 2026, all eyes will be on this team to see if they can turn these “DeFipunk” ideals into the new global standard for finance.
