1inch partnership with Coinbase signals new era of cooperation in Web3 finance

Once rivals, DeFi and CeFi are now converging. At TOKEN2049 Singapore, 1inch’s partnership with Coinbase marked a turning point toward collaboration, efficiency, and shared innovation in web3 finance.

“By cooperating with Coinbase, we are demonstrating that DeFi infrastructure can drive and empower CeFi platforms,” Segej Kunz, Co-founder of 1inch, told The Crypto Radio.

“This gives Coinbase users access to deep decentralized liquidity, offering all its efficiency and security while retaining the familiar user experience.”

TOKEN2049 is considered the world’s leading event for the crypto industry. This year at Singapore, the event brought 25,000+ attendees, 7,000+ companies, and 300+ speakers with industry executives, innovators, and institutions.

Kunz spoke about his experience at TOKEN2049, emphasizing “the buzz during their participation this year, with packed panels, crowded venues, and constant debate about the future of crypto.”

“The event offered the perfect opportunity for us to unveil our milestone announcement and reveal how 1inch is scaling up to reach a global audience,” he said.

“The event attracted significant interest, so by showcasing our partnership there, we emphasized its relevance and placed it at the forefront of the audience shaping web3's destiny,” he added.

Convergence

Kunz spoke about how DeFi and CeFi were once considered competitors, where the first was associated with centralization, privacy concerns, and mistrust, with the other seen as open and transparent.

However, as the industry has grown, “the narrative has evolved towards cooperation, as both parties have acknowledged that they cater to overlapping user needs,” Kunz said.

Kunz additionally observed how TradFi is digging deeper into digital assets. “Its size, financial resources, and regulatory reach guarantee strong growth in the years ahead,” he predicted.

However, Kunz doesn’t think TradFi will “simply dominate the retail sector, as DeFi still offers something it cannot: direct access, ownership, and freedom for individuals.”

“As the infrastructure becomes more user-friendly and secure, both retail and institutional adoption will continue to increase,” he said.

He also envisions a future where TradFi provides significant liquidity and stability. “Retail adoption will preserve the spirit of decentralization and ensure the industry remains open and accessible to all.”