Most Influential 2021: Michael Shaulov

A DeFi powerhouse finds a balance between decentralization and compliance.

(Adam B. Levine/Pixelmind.ai)
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Michael Shaulov is CEO of decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure firm Fireblocks. Shaulov’s company isn’t as exciting as many crypto startups or food-themed DeFi projects – at least on the surface. But Fireblocks is betting it can find the right balance between decentralization and compliance, potentially bringing DeFi to more professional circles. This autumn, DeFi A-lister Aave chose the custody firm for Aave Arc, a version of the Aave DeFi protocol aimed at serving institutions.

The Complete List: CoinDesk’s Most Influential 2021

(Kevin Ross/CoinDesk)


ER June 2026 Image

CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.

Why it matters:

CEX trading volumes rose for the first time in five months in June, with spot climbing 15.3% to $1.11T and RWA perpetual volumes surging to a record $311B.