DeFi’s $20 Billion Surge Faces Questions as Stablecoin Growth Lags

CryptoSlate reported that the apparent $20 billion surge in decentralized finance remains difficult to explain because stablecoin expansion has not matched the broader market move. Stablecoin growth stayed below 6%, while Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) both gained more than 32%. The divergence raises uncertainty over whether the reported increase reflects fresh capital entering DeFi or mainly the effect of higher crypto-asset prices. CryptoSlate said the inflow picture remains unresolved, leaving market participants without a clear indication of how much new liquidity has entered the sector. The comparison is especially relevant for assessing DeFi activity alongside the performance of major blockchain assets, as token price appreciation can increase the dollar value of assets held in protocols without necessarily representing equivalent net inflows. No definitive conclusion on the source of the increase was provided.