Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller believes that DeFi will work alongside traditional finance rather than completely replace it.
Waller spoke at the Vienna Macroeconomic Workshop on October 18 dug in the ongoing debate surrounding DeFi’s role in the financial system, recognizing its innovations while highlighting the continued value of centralized finance.
An additional system
According to Waller, intermediaries, or “middlemen,” remain essential to managing the complexity of financial transactions. He noted that the benefits of age-old centralized systems, such as reducing transaction costs and ensuring trust, still have value in today’s evolving financial landscape.
He stated:
“DeFi has brought new technologies that can improve efficiency, but it cannot replace the complex and trusted systems that the centralized finance industry has developed over centuries.”
Waller acknowledged that DeFi introduces technological advancements that could streamline and reduce the costs of financial activities without the need for intermediaries. However, he cautioned against the idea of a fully decentralized financial system, pointing out that intermediaries still serve a valuable function for most individuals. The Fed Governor stated:
“The idea that finance can be completely decentralized is unrealistic.”
Waller added that DeFi platforms can reduce the need for certain intermediaries, but the need for trust in financial systems remains paramount. He highlighted how crypto exchanges often reintroduce the same intermediary role that DeFi aims to eliminate.
Benefits and challenges
One of the key benefits Waller discussed was the potential of distributed ledger technology (DLT), tokenization and smart contracts to improve the speed and accuracy of financial transactions.
He noted that these technologies could be especially useful for tasks such as record keeping in a 24/7 trading environment. For example, smart contracts can automatically execute complex transactions by ensuring that all conditions are met, potentially reducing settlement risks typically associated with manual processes.
Waller highlighted that several financial institutions are already experimenting with DLT to improve traditional trading methods, such as using blockchain in repo markets. He added:
“The bottom line is that things like DLT, tokenization, and smart contracts are just trading technologies that can be used in defi or also to improve the efficiency of centralized finance. That’s why I see them as additions.”
However, Waller was clear that the efficiency of DeFi comes with challenges, especially around surveillance and security. He expressed concern about the risks posed by decentralized systems, including the potential for illicit financing and the lack of established trust mechanisms fundamental to centralized finance.
According to Waller:
“Centralized finance relies on regulatory frameworks to ensure financial stability and prevent illicit activity, and similar guardrails may be needed in the DeFi space.”