As the crypto landscape shifts from speculative frenzy to real-world financial utility, Ethereum is gearing up for one of the most transformative years in its history. According to Mike Silagadze, CEO and co-founder of ether.fi, crypto-native neobanks — not hype cycles — will be the driving force behind Ethereum’s growth in 2026.
Silagadze’s outlook comes at a crucial moment. 2025 served as a turning point for #Ethereum , marked by a surge in institutional engagement, digital asset treasuries (DATs) driving price momentum, and growing demand for on-chain financial tools. These shifts laid the foundation for a new phase of adoption — one centered on practical, everyday financial utility.
📈 From Institutions to Everyday Users
While institutional players helped push Ethereum’s price from lows to highs in 2025, according to Silagadze, the next major growth engine won’t be hedge funds or traders — it will be users. Ethereum’s mass adoption, he says, depends on familiar financial products that everyday people can use with ease.
That’s where crypto neobanks come in.
Unlike traditional banking or purely speculative crypto services, neobanks built on Ethereum combine:
✔️ Stablecoin-enabled payments
✔️ On-chain savings and yield-earning products
✔️ Integrated wallets and self-custody
✔️ Low-friction access to DeFi tools
These features make blockchain finance feel less like crypto jargon and more like everyday banking — but better.
💡 Why Neobanks Matter for Ethereum
Silagadze believes that neobanks will unlock the three key drivers of Ethereum’s next growth sprint:
1. Mainstream On-Chain Activity
Rather than moving money into #etf or holding assets passively, users will interact on chain — depositing, earning, swapping, and using crypto just like traditional financial services.
2. Stablecoin Integration
With stablecoins becoming a backbone of global liquidity, neobanks simplify how users access and manage digital dollars — making crypto finance accessible to a broader demographic.
3. Familiar User Experiences
By mimicking user-friendly interfaces and banking services, neobanks reduce the learning curve for mainstream users. Silagadze stresses that practical utility at scale will be a decisive factor in Ethereum’s 2026 success.
🔍 A Shift From Speculation to Utility
Silagadze’s vision stands in stark contrast to the old narrative of crypto growth being driven by price speculation. Instead, he sees product adoption and financial utility as the real levers that will drive Ethereum’s next chapter.
This aligns with broader industry trends showing the blurring lines between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (#defi ). According to recent trend analysis, products that merge convenience with blockchain innovation — especially neobanks — are emerging as key growth catalysts in 2026.
📌 What to Watch in 2026
Here’s what industry observers will be tracking as neobanks take center stage:
🔹 Product launches at major events – including new ether.fi offerings debuting at Consensus Hong Kong.
🔹 Institutional adoption vs. mainstream user onboarding – will neobanks succeed where ETFs lag?
🔹 Stablecoin usage and integration – as stablecoins power more daily transactions and savings tools.
