Uniswap CEO Backs Solana’s L1 DeFi Strategy Over Ethereum’s Modular Future

Uniswap Labs CEO Hayden Adams has voiced strong support for Solana's approach to decentralized finance (DeFi), calling it superior to Ethereum’s rollup-centric direction. In a recent statement, Adams praised Solana’s "better road map, team, and approach" for building DeFi directly on a monolithic Layer 1 blockchain.

Ethereum, over the past few years, has shifted toward a modular architecture, with most DeFi activity moving to Layer-2 (L2) solutions. While this model aims to boost scalability, critics argue it creates fragmentation and undermines Layer 1. Adams questioned the value of abandoning Ethereum's long-term modular focus, asking, “You want to throw this away at the final stretch because of what reason?”

Despite his criticism, Adams admitted he is open to an L1-centric DeFi model but warned it would require “substantial tradeoffs.”

His remarks follow a strong counterpoint from Bankless co-founder David Hoffman, who believes Ethereum Layer 1 is the ideal home for DeFi. In an upcoming article, Hoffman asserts that Ethereum is unmatched in decentralization and uptime, calling it the only smart contract platform with “perfect reliability.” He advocates for Ethereum to remain the primary hub for users, developers, and assets, emphasizing that Layer 1 should "serve everyone."

The debate highlights a growing divide within the blockchain community over the future of DeFi infrastructure. Solana's all-in-one scalability appeals to some developers, while others remain loyal to Ethereum’s proven security and decentralization.

As competition between chains intensifies, the industry continues to weigh the benefits of monolithic versus modular blockchain designs for sustainable DeFi growth.