Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic: Stablecoins are safer and more efficient than banks, DeFi lending rates are aligning with traditional finance, and crypto guarantees ensure transaction integrity | Empire

Stablecoins' perceived safety challenges traditional banking, but DeFi's infrastructure gaps pose significant risks.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team Apr. 13, 2026

Key takeaways

• Stablecoins offer perceived safety and efficiency over traditional banking systems.
• The global and permissionless nature of crypto makes it an excellent distribution channel.
• DeFi interest rates are currently low, often aligning with traditional finance risk-free rates.
• DeFi lending markets face challenges due to a lack of necessary infrastructure.
• Over-collateralized lending is a strength of DeFi, but it still carries risks.
• Connecting DeFi to centralized finance can mislead users about inherent risks.
• The cost of capital in DeFi has increased due to supply and demand dynamics.
• DeFi capital markets are disconnected from traditional markets, impacting yields.
• Blockchain guarantees are crucial for transaction integrity and finality.
• DeFi has matured, aligning its lending rates with traditional finance.
• Crypto guarantees ensure trust and integrity in blockchain transactions.
• The disconnection between DeFi and traditional markets affects yield rates.
• Users may not fully understand the risks when DeFi connects to centralized finance.
• DeFi’s current infrastructure is insufficient to prevent risks like rack pulling.
• The rising cost of capital in DeFi is influenced by increased risks.

Guest intro

Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic is co-founder of Steakhouse Financial, an internet-native asset manager building non-custodial, on-chain investment products for stablecoins. Prior to Steakhouse, he worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and management consulting at Bain & Company. He co-authored research on real-time risk metrics for stablecoin protocols, including a case study on MakerDAO’s DAI.

Why stablecoins are perceived as safer

• Everybody loves stablecoins because it’s safer than a bank faster than a bank easier to transact cheaper and hopefully they’re gonna get some yield.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

• Stablecoins are seen as a safer alternative to traditional banking systems due to their efficiency.
• The ability to transact quickly and at lower costs makes stablecoins attractive.
• Stablecoins offer potential yield, adding to their appeal over traditional banks.
• The perception of safety in stablecoins drives their adoption in the financial ecosystem.
• Stablecoins provide a more accessible and user-friendly experience compared to banks.
• The efficiency of stablecoins is a key factor in their growing popularity.

• Stablecoins are perceived as safer and more efficient than traditional banks.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

The global reach of crypto

• Crypto is a great distribution channel because everything is permissionless and is global from day one.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

• The global nature of crypto allows for widespread access and distribution.
• Permissionless systems enable seamless entry and participation in crypto markets.
• Crypto’s global reach is a significant advantage over traditional financial systems.
• The ability to launch products globally from day one is a unique feature of crypto.
• Crypto technology enables access to financial products worldwide.
• The permissionless aspect of crypto fosters innovation and inclusivity.

• Crypto serves as a great distribution channel due to its permissionless and global nature.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

The state of DeFi interest rates

• Look rates in DeFi are very low not all vaults are created equal vaults are all the rage morpho obviously plays a huge part of that…

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

• DeFi rates are currently low, often close to or below the risk-free rate.
• The low rates in DeFi present a challenge for attracting capital.
• Not all DeFi vaults offer the same returns, highlighting the need for careful selection.
• The current state of DeFi rates reflects a maturing market aligning with traditional finance.
• DeFi’s alignment with traditional finance risk-free rates indicates its evolution.
• The low interest rates in DeFi may deter some investors seeking higher returns.

• Rates in DeFi are currently very low, often close to or below the risk-free rate.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

The evolution of DeFi lending rates

• I think DeFi has matured to a point where it’s worth drilling down in exactly what we’re referring to… rates are kind of at or near or slightly under SOFR but basically trending around the traditional finance risk-free rate.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

• DeFi lending rates are aligning with traditional finance risk-free rates.
• The maturity of DeFi is reflected in its lending rate trends.
• The alignment with traditional finance metrics shows DeFi’s growth and stability.
• DeFi’s evolution includes a closer alignment with established financial systems.
• The trend of DeFi rates near traditional finance rates highlights its maturation.
• DeFi’s growth is evident in its rate alignment with traditional finance.

• DeFi has matured to a point where lending rates are aligning with traditional finance risk-free rates.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

The necessity of crypto guarantees

• You need these guarantees because the blockchains… there is de facto instant finality… once it happens it’s like out there and people assume that it’s just gonna finalize.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

• Crypto guarantees are crucial for ensuring transaction integrity on the blockchain.
• The finality of blockchain transactions necessitates robust guarantees.
• Guarantees in crypto maintain trust and integrity in the system.
• The instant finality of blockchain transactions requires reliable guarantees.
• Crypto guarantees play a vital role in the security of blockchain transactions.
• The necessity of guarantees in crypto is tied to the nature of blockchain technology.

• Crypto guarantees are essential for ensuring the integrity of transactions on the blockchain.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

The dynamics of DeFi lending markets

• I have a suspicion… that because all of DeFi lending has to work on supply and demand incentive equilibrium… the cost of capital for the cost of capital to go on chain for DeFi has actually spiked in recent days.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

• The low rates in DeFi lending are influenced by supply and demand equilibrium.
• Increased risks have led to a rising cost of capital in DeFi.
• The dynamics of DeFi lending markets affect interest rates and capital costs.
• The supply and demand equilibrium in DeFi impacts lending rates.
• The rising cost of capital in DeFi is a result of increased market risks.
• DeFi lending markets operate on a supply and demand incentive equilibrium.

• The low rates in DeFi lending are influenced by the supply and demand equilibrium and the rising cost of capital due to increased risks.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

The disconnection between DeFi and traditional markets

• The reason is that this the DeFi capital markets is disconnected from from the traditional one… I think there is a disconnection between the markets and that’s what is making the yield solo.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

• DeFi capital markets are disconnected from traditional markets, affecting yields.
• The disconnection between DeFi and traditional finance impacts yield rates.
• The structural disconnect in DeFi markets influences interest rates.
• The yield rates in DeFi are affected by its separation from traditional finance.
• The disconnection between markets is a key factor in DeFi yield dynamics.
• DeFi’s market disconnection presents challenges for yield optimization.

• DeFi capital markets are disconnected from traditional markets, affecting yield rates.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

The risks in current DeFi lending markets

• Is this true absolutely not do do do vaults have all the required infrastructure actually to avoid rack pulling or adverse selection of credit on chain absolutely not.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

• Current DeFi lending markets lack infrastructure to prevent risks like rack pulling.
• The absence of necessary infrastructure in DeFi increases market risks.
• DeFi lending markets face challenges due to insufficient risk prevention measures.
• The risks in DeFi lending highlight the need for improved infrastructure.
• The lack of infrastructure in DeFi lending markets poses significant risks.
• DeFi’s current state requires better infrastructure to mitigate lending risks.

• Current lending markets in DeFi lack the necessary infrastructure to prevent risks like rack pulling and adverse selection.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

The strengths and weaknesses of DeFi lending

• DeFi is great at one thing which is over collateralized lending on crypto guarantees… it’s the safest alternative you have still it’s not risk free.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

• Over-collateralized lending is a strength of DeFi, but it carries risks.
• DeFi’s strength lies in over-collateralized lending with crypto guarantees.
• Despite its strengths, DeFi lending is not without risks.
• The safety of DeFi’s over-collateralized lending is relative, not absolute.
• DeFi’s lending strengths are balanced by inherent risks.
• The strengths of DeFi lending include its focus on over-collateralization.

• DeFi is currently best suited for over-collateralized lending, but it is not risk-free.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

The potential dangers of integrating DeFi and CeFi

• The problem becomes when you’re connecting this to CeFi retail front ends… you’re actually attracting users or and exposing users to risk that they don’t really understand.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

• Connecting DeFi to centralized finance can mislead users about risks.
• The integration of DeFi and CeFi poses potential dangers for user understanding.
• Users may not fully grasp the risks when DeFi is linked to centralized finance.
• The connection between DeFi and CeFi can expose users to misunderstood risks.
• The integration of DeFi and CeFi highlights the need for user education.
• The potential dangers of DeFi and CeFi integration require careful consideration.

• Connecting DeFi to centralized finance retail front ends can mislead users about the risks involved.

  — Adrian Cachinero Vasiljevic

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.