In a June 23, 2026 podcast interview, the BitMEX co-founder argued that reliance on a U.S. regulator would undermine DeFi’s core premise of operating without centralized gatekeepers.
Arthur Hayes said DeFi (decentralized finance) has failed at decentralization if its progress depends on a U.S. regulator approving legislation. In a June 23, 2026 interview with the New Era Finance podcast, the BitMEX co-founder framed the need for official approval as a contradiction of DeFi’s original goal of functioning without centralized intermediaries or political permission.