The decentralized finance space is no longer in its experimental infancy. Projects are narrowing their focus, building tools that address specific problems with greater intention and user input. Nikola Vukovic, co-founder of DeFi Saver, talked to BeInCrypto at EthCC about the current state of DeFi, the benefits and pressures of building in the open, and why decentralization and transparency are more than just buzzwords.
Vukovic shared how DeFi Saver approaches development with a user-first mindset and why listening to the community remains a core principle of their work. He also discussed the challenges that come with scaling decentralized systems, the public’s lingering mistrust of non-custodial platforms, and why open source still sets the standard for accountability.
What DeFi Needs, and What It Doesn’t
“We’ve been building since 2017,” Vukovic said. “Back then, the conversation was about proving that Web3 was here to stay. Today, nobody is asking that anymore. We’re just building.”
At EthCC, Vukovic pointed to a shift in builder mentality. In the early days, most DeFi projects were broad and generalized, trying to do everything at once. Today, teams are building highly focused tools for specific use cases.
“Everyone’s building very specialized products now. Whether it’s niche infrastructure for governance incentives or targeted tooling, it shows how far the space has come,” he said.
As for what DeFi could do without, Vukovic offered a measured response.
“It’s a tricky question because people are quick to react. But I still think it’s a good time to experiment. If you have an idea, go for it and see if it sticks.”
Community and UX Come First
For Vukovic, community is not just a nice-to-have; it’s core infrastructure.
“We’re really lucky to have a community that’s vocal, engaged, and passionate about the tools they use,” he said. “They don’t just use the product. They offer feedback, report bugs, suggest features. It’s a constant loop of improvement.”
Twitter may be the most visible channel, but the real back-and-forth happens in Discord.
“It’s not passive. Users help each other before we even have a chance to respond. That tells me we’ve built something people care about.”
Staying Open Without Falling Behind
While many founders see transparency as a risk, Vukovic believes it’s a strength.
“Building in the open creates accountability,” he said. “It forces you to think long term. You can’t rely on speed or secrecy to differentiate your product. You have to ask yourself what you’re actually doing better.”
Still, openness comes with a cost, mainly the pace of keeping up with fast-moving integrations.
“Chains and protocols are constantly changing. Staying up to date is a huge part of our daily operations,” Vukovic added.
Decentralization Is Not a Differentiator – It’s a Standard
Vukovic summed up decentralization in one word: equality.
“To me, decentralization is a baseline. It keeps us aligned with users and ensures we’re building something fair,” he said. “It’s not what gets people in the door, but it’s what makes your product worth trusting.”
That said, he acknowledges the perception gap.
“Even if something is fully non-custodial, people assume there’s a catch. We’ve been conditioned to be skeptical of products that claim to be open and permissionless. That makes it harder to communicate the value.”
Still, DeFi Saver remains committed to the principles that defined early DeFi: transparency, fairness, and true user ownership.
Looking Ahead
Vukovic’s reflections at EthCC paint a picture of a DeFi ecosystem that is growing up. Builders are moving past the need to justify the space and are now focused on delivering value. The hype is fading, but the work is more real than ever.
“For us, openness and transparency are not features. They’re requirements. They keep us grounded and accountable. And they make sure we’re building something that lasts.”
Nikola Vukovic makes it clear that DeFi today is no longer about proving the tech works. It’s about building something useful, sustainable, and worth sticking with. For him and the DeFi Saver team, that means listening to users, staying transparent, and focusing on long-term value instead of short-term hype.
In a space where noise often gets more attention than real progress, DeFi Saver is choosing to stay grounded. The tools they build are meant to last, and the way they build them – in public, with the community – might just be what sets them apart.
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