Ethereum core developer and startup founder Federico Carrone has started a debate across the crypto industry after predicting that most crypto companies will eventually disappear as the sector matures and consolidates around a handful of dominant networks and financial products.
Carrone shared the view in a post on X following reports of significant layoffs at blockchain security firm Certora, arguing that much of crypto’s core infrastructure has already been built or is nearing completion.
Almost every crypto company will disappear.
most of the infra is already built or about to be built. crypto will collapse into bitcoin, ethereum, and maybe solana. the only relevant products will be stablecoins, AMMs, wallets, and perps.
ethereum will enable exporting a new… https://t.co/ijx4y4dqWt
— Fede’s intern 🥊 (@fede_intern) June 18, 2026
According to Carrone, the industry is moving away from its experimental phase and toward a more streamlined ecosystem centered on a small number of networks and products with proven utility.
Are Certora’s layoffs highlighting the industry pressures?
The discussion was started by workforce reductions at Certora, a well-known smart contract security company that provides formal verification and audit services for decentralized finance protocols.
Founded in 2018, Certora has worked with major blockchain projects including Aave, MakerDAO, Uniswap and Lido. The company is widely recognized for helping secure billions of dollars in digital assets through its security tools and auditing services.
The layoffs drew attention because the company had reportedly been recruiting top talent shortly before the cuts were announced, raising fresh questions about changing market conditions and long-term demand across the crypto infrastructure sector.
Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana seen as long-term winners
Carrone argued that future industry consolidation could leave only a few major blockchain networks at the center of the ecosystem.
He identified Bitcoin as the primary store-of-value asset, Ethereum as the leading smart contract platform, and Solana as a potential high-performance blockchain that could remain relevant for specific applications.
Meanwhile, Coinbase announced plans to reduce its workforce by about 14% as it restructures to adapt to market conditions and accelerate its transition to AI-driven operations. Robinhood also cut about 290 jobs, or roughly 10% of its full-time workforce, as the online brokerage streamlines its operations while positioning itself for renewed growth in crypto and retail trading.
Financial applications expected to dominate
Carrone also suggested that only a limited set of crypto products will remain essential in the long run. These include stablecoins, automated market makers (AMMs), wallets, perpetual futures and prediction markets.
He argued that Ethereum could play an important role in modernizing global financial markets by enabling programmable and borderless financial infrastructure that operates more efficiently than traditional systems.
While many community members challenged parts of the prediction, others viewed it as a sign that crypto is entering a new stage focused on practical financial use cases rather than rapid expansion into countless experimental projects.
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