Ethereum Ecosystem 2026 New Breakthrough: How Crypto-native New Banks Are Redefining On-Chain Finance?

【Blockchain Rhythm】The narrative around Ethereum is quietly shifting. Over the past year, institutional funds have entered the market on a large scale through digital asset vaults (DAT), which is seen as a watershed moment — the next growth driver will no longer come from pure speculative trading, but from real financial products. Mike Silagadze, CEO of ether.fi, straightforwardly states that Ethereum’s next phase of expansion will be driven by available financial products.

What are the key players in this? A category of applications known as “crypto-native new banks” is emerging. Their logic is simple — combining self-custody, high-yield stablecoin products, and the user-friendly experience of traditional mobile banking. In other words, users can enjoy DeFi’s high on-chain yields of 4%-5% (, without the hassle of Gas fees, private key management, or cross-L2 operations. This is a true exit for ordinary users who are kept out by DeFi’s barriers but are dissatisfied with the low interest rates of traditional banks.

What is the underlying logic supporting all this? Institutional staking and liquidity staking. Products like DAT allow enterprises to earn staking rewards while holding Ethereum, offering more flexibility than spot ETFs. Industry forecasts suggest that by Q1 2026, institutional vaults and new banks targeting retail users will generate synergistic effects, jointly providing stable on-chain yields for users. At this moment, Ethereum is expected to transform from a “speculative application” into everyday financial infrastructure.