For several months, the decentralized finance movement within the crypto ecosystem seemed to be winding down. While its core group of developers continued to build, only a handful of projects maintained any sort of visibility. For most members of the crypto community, the sentiment seemed to be that DeFi was in hibernation, waiting for the winter of crypto’s current bear market to pass. But now, discussions on social media and within the crypto industry around DeFi are picking up again. Even though the crypto space has recently been filled with memecoins, Bitcoin ETFs, and Layer 2 scaling developments, a return to DeFi fundamentals marks a crucial change in our space. This recent uprising is being driven not only by higher asset prices but also by greater user engagement, improved protocol performance, and interest from institutional players. Ethereum Reclaims the DeFi Crown Even with new Layer 1 blockchains and Layer 2 networks popping up, Ethereum remains the reigning champ of DeFi. It now has well over 50% of all the assets locked in smart contracts across the entire DeFi space. The DeFi application of Ethereum attracts much development and usage. The liquidity and confidence in DeFi on Ethereum are coming back. From the looks of it, the Ethereum DeFi ecosystem, which is built and interacts mostly with the Layer 1 base layer of Ethereum, is looking much healthier with a rapid upswing in total value locked which seems to be hinting at bringing back some liquidity to the core financial-grade decentralized applications that use the base Ethereum Layer 1. Ethereum continues to face significant ongoing challenges. These include its still high gas fees and a capacity-stretched main chain, which together make it hard for some types of Ethereum projects to get off the ground. But with the payoff from its long-planned transition to proof of stake now in hand, Ethereum has opportunity to work through those challenges. AAVE and Lido Lead the DeFi Protocol Rankings Among distinct protocols, AAVE shines as the leading light in many ways, with an incredible $25.41 billion locked up in its lending markets across the chains. Of course, many folks know AAVE. It operates under a decentralized governance model, supports a wide variety of assets, and is present in many chains. Its relevance and resonance in this ecosystem are testaments to its user-centric design. Beyond the governance and asset support, though, the platform has captured attention in a good many ways. DeFi is gaining serious momentum again. Total Value Locked (TVL) has surged to $178.52 billion, signaling a strong resurgence in decentralized finance activity. Ethereum remains the dominant force, accounting for more than half of all TVL. Among individual protocols, AAVE… pic.twitter.com/e6Kp8JVM6e — OLOBA THE ARTIST (@IamOloba_) May 30, 2025 AAVE is closely followed by Lido, which has a value locked of $24.57 billion. Lido is a liquid staking solution that works quite well and has built significant momentum. It allows users to stake Ethereum (as well as a handful of other assets) while keeping their assets liquid with derivative tokens. This model has gained considerable popularity as Ethereum transitions to proof-of-Stake, allowing way more users than previously access to Ethereum staking rewards while also letting them do stuff with their assets. Alongside AAVE, Lido has emerged as a key anchor within the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. Together, they exemplify two critical, closely intertwined, and almost universally needed building blocks of DeFi: permissionless lending (AAVE) and permissionless staking (Lido). They are quietly serving up a potent combination of services that is boosting DeFi to that next level of confidence and making the space seem even more solid than before. Is a New DeFi Season on the Horizon? Once again, DeFi’s total value locked is climbing toward historic highs, and with it, speculation is building around the possibility of a new DeFi season. Observers of the market are noting not only the influx of capital but also the increased stability and maturity of many top protocols compared to previous boom cycles. The most recent DeFi season brought us new experiments, great yields, and lots of hacks. Today, leading DeFi protocols make clearer promises about what users can expect. They emphasize something that should come as no surprise in the wake of last season’s breaches: safety. DeFi’s path to safety is more grounded in traditional finance, with protocols now promising comprehensive auditing and stronger governance. They may be using institutional capital to get there. This momentum might bring us a full-blown DeFi revival; it’s not yet certain. But the signs are strong. As protocols get better, ecosystems evolve, and user experience becomes more seamless, decentralized finance seems set for another significant expansion. One thing is certain: traction is returning to DeFi, and with close to $180 billion in the system, all is primed for the next installment of the tale that this is a decentralized financial world. Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services. Follow us on Twitter @nulltxnews to stay updated with the latest Crypto, NFT, AI, Cybersecurity, Distributed Computing, and Metaverse news !
