TLDR:
- Digital asset treasuries deployed into ether.fi faster than ETFs, driving ether from $1,472 to $4,832
- Crypto neobanks offer clearer adoption paths by exposing users directly to onchain activity and yield
- Ether.fi CEO expects 2026 growth from user-friendly products combining stablecoins, yield, and custody
- Institutional onboarding in 2025 established groundwork for mainstream financial services on Ethereum
Ethereum’s expansion in 2026 will stem from crypto-native neobanks rather than speculative trading, according to Mike Silagadze, CEO of ether.fi.
The executive told CoinDesk that institutional adoption throughout 2025 established crucial infrastructure for mainstream financial services.
Silagadze expects user-friendly products combining stablecoins, yield generation, and self-custody to accelerate widespread adoption across the network.
Institutional Adoption Marks 2025 as Turning Point
The ether.fi CEO characterized 2025 as a pivotal year for Ethereum’s institutional onboarding. Digital asset treasuries emerged as faster-moving vehicles compared to traditional ETFs, which continue to face limitations on staking capabilities.
“A bunch of them have already started deploying into ether.fi,” Silagadze said, describing these early institutional adopters as “very much on the bleeding edge.”
The CEO noted that digital asset treasuries “certainly had a positive impact on the price” of ether throughout the year.
The cryptocurrency reached its lowest point at $1,472 in April 2025 before surging to $4,832 during peak institutional interest.
This price movement reflected growing confidence among institutional players entering the Ethereum ecosystem through alternative investment vehicles.
The institutional wave represents more than short-term price action, according to Silagadze. These developments laid essential groundwork for 2026’s anticipated growth phase.
Meanwhile, ether.fi expanded beyond its original restaking platform to develop comprehensive neobanking products that integrate yield opportunities with self-custody solutions.
Neobanks Position Ethereum for Mainstream Adoption
“The whole crypto neobank movement seems to be like a rapidly growing trend, just lots of companies going into space and seeing growth there,” Silagadze explained.
Multiple platforms are building familiar financial products on blockchain infrastructure, offering advantages over traditional ETFs by exposing users directly to onchain activity.
These developments position neobanks as clear pathways to sustained adoption as stablecoins become deeply embedded in global finance.
The CEO believes these platforms will attract mainstream users through practical, accessible services rather than speculative applications. This approach contrasts sharply with gambling-driven products that currently dominate portions of the crypto landscape.
“I really believe that the adoption is going to come from a lot of these neobank type players,” Silagadze said.
Ethereum’s 2026 success depends on delivering practical utility at scale, the executive argued. The focus must shift toward “more real-world use cases,” from tokenized stocks to accessible banking services.
Silagadze maintains that increased user activity will naturally follow as neobank platforms demonstrate tangible value through everyday financial services combining blockchain benefits with familiar user experiences.
