Conferences No Longer a Reliable Way for DeFi Protocols to Generate Growth

DeFi protocols spent big on visibility in 2025, but few saw real returns. Conferences were no longer a reliable way to generate user growth or deposits.

Several major DAOs, including Aave and Arbitrum, published explicit conference budgets for the first time. However, Polkadot's marketing spending drew sharp community backlash over weak ROI.

Hyperliquid grew to billions in TVL with just 11 employees and zero venture funding, relying entirely on product quality instead of event sponsorships.