At the landmark Blockchain Life 2025 forum in Dubai, leading cryptocurrency exchange Bybit outlined a forward-thinking vision for the digital economy, asserting that the future of the sector lies in the convergence of centralized (CeFi) and decentralized (DeFi) finance. The message was delivered to a record-breaking audience, reinforcing Dubai’s growing prominence as a global hub for the Web3 industry.
The Convergence of Two Worlds
During a keynote session titled “DEX & CEX’s Face-Off: The Evolution of Exchanges and The New Competitive Arena,” Emily Bao, Head of Spot at Bybit, presented a compelling case for a symbiotic relationship between CeFi and DeFi platforms. She argued against the notion of them being direct competitors, instead highlighting their complementary strengths and the inevitable blurring of lines between them.
Bao explained that this convergence represents a natural evolution for the industry, where users ultimately become the biggest beneficiaries by gaining access to the best features of both ecosystems.
Bridging Strengths for User Benefit
Detailing Bybit’s perspective, Bao emphasized the distinct yet crucial roles both financial models play. She noted that centralized exchanges remain the bedrock of the crypto industry, commanding the majority of active users and providing the deepest market liquidity.
“However, perception matters,” Bao stated. “CeFi operates on proprietary infrastructure, while DeFi is seen as the pure embodiment of the transparent, open-source ethos that blockchain was founded on.”
This distinction, she argued, creates powerful opportunities for innovation. “The real opportunities lie at the inflection point where the boundaries between CeFi and DeFi become more fluid,” she added. “Users can now seamlessly access DeFi projects and protocols through their CEX, while simultaneously leveraging CeFi-DeFi hybrid products on-chain.”
Dubai Cements Its Status as a Global Crypto Hub
The 15th edition of Blockchain Life solidified Dubai’s position on the world stage, attracting a record 16,730 attendees from 130 countries. The event featured over 160 distinguished speakers from global giants such as Telegram, Tether, Mastercard, Tron, and Google Cloud.
Bybit’s presence was a focal point of the two-day forum. The company’s booth attracted more than 2,000 visitors from leading institutions, partner firms, and crypto communities. The engagement underscores Bybit’s commitment to the region, further strengthened by its status as a fully licensed crypto-asset exchange by the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA).
About Bybit
Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving over 70 million users. Established in 2018, it offers a professional platform with an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support for crypto investors and traders. Bybit is a proud partner of the Formula One reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions, Oracle Red Bull Racing.
Source: Arab Founders
