Mike Silagadze, chief executive of ether.fi, predicts neobanks are set to become major drivers of Ethereum adoption and growth by 2026. Speaking about the changing relationship between traditional finance and decentralized infrastructure, Silagadze noted the next wave of Ethereum expansion is likely not coming from crypto users but digital-first banks integrating blockchain services into everyday finance activities.
Neobanks, which operate without physical branches and heavily depend on mobile platforms, have experienced exponential growth over the last decade. Their focus on user experience, low fees, and quick product iteration makes them ideal for introducing decentralized finance services directly to millions of customers who may never have interacted directly with it before.
Silagadze believes Ethereum’s role as a programmable settlement layer fits perfectly with neobank requirements, providing features like smart contracts, tokenized assets and on-chain settlement that can be seamlessly embedded behind traditional banking interfaces. “Users don’t need to know how Ethereum works in order to take advantage of its benefits,” he noted, emphasizing its important contribution towards mainstream adoption.
Staking and yield-based products offering compliant, simplified solutions are one area with enormous growth potential. Platforms such as ether.fi specialize in non-custodial staking solutions that allow users to earn rewards while maintaining full control over their assets. Silagadze suggested that banks could incorporate similar services, offering cryptocurrency returns alongside more conventional savings tools.
Ethereum’s technical evolution also plays a part. Improvements to scalability, lower transaction costs through layer-two networks, and enhanced security have all reduced friction that once limited real world applications – making Ethereum even more attractive to financial institutions seeking reliable digital asset infrastructures.
Industry analysts anticipate neobank participation could significantly bolster Ethereum network activity. If even a small fraction of customers adopt Ethereum-powered services, transaction volumes and on-chain value transfers could skyrocket, strengthening Ethereum as the basis for decentralized and hybrid financial systems.
However, challenges still remain. Regulatory clarity will be critical, particularly since neobanks must comply with stringent compliance regulations. Silagadze acknowledged that successful integration requires cooperation among regulators, banks and blockchain developers as well as transparent consumer protection and clear risk disclosure measures being included as part of any large-scale rollout.
Critics caution that over-reliance on financial institutions could erode Ethereum’s decentralized ethos, while others maintain that carefully designed institutional participation can coexist with decentralization while legitimizing blockchain technology among the general population.
As 2026 draws closer, it seems inevitable that neobanking and blockchain will merge. Instead of competing directly against decentralized platforms, neobanks could serve as intermediary gateways – routing transactions, savings products and digital assets through Ethereum’s infrastructure without raising alarm bells.
Silagadze sees this shift as a turning point, noting “The next phase of Ethereum growth won’t look like its predecessor,” suggesting it would become quieter, more integrated, and driven by everyday financial use cases. Neobank integration could pave the way for increased practical adoption that takes place alongside speculation in 2026.
