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Making DeFi Accessible to Everyone
This report by Tiger Research analyzes Wayfinder's innovations in AI-driven DeFi infrastructure and its impact on blockchain accessibility.
DeFi claims to be open to all, but its complexity deters average investors. From preparing gas fees to navigating intricate protocols, many users abandon promising opportunities due to convoluted processes.
Wayfinder is an on-chain AI agent system designed to solve these accessibility issues. Without needing technical expertise, users can execute professional-grade investment strategies—from cross-chain swaps to basis trading—through simple conversations with AI agents.
Future expansions include API services, positioning Wayfinder as a foundational solution for simplifying on-chain complexity across Web3 projects. Its API could revolutionize crypto UX, making "accessible financial services for all" a reality.
DeFi aims to create an open financial ecosystem, yet it demands advanced technical and financial knowledge, creating a gap between ideal and reality.
Chain Abstraction and Account Abstraction emerged to bridge this gap, improving UX but lacking standardization. Limited protocol support persists, and the core issue—learning complexity—remains unresolved. Users must still grasp DeFi-native concepts like AMMs, liquidity pools, and impermanent loss, making DeFi more exclusionary than traditional finance.
Mature LP Participation in Leading Protocols (Source: BIS)
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) highlights this disparity: In Uniswap V3, just 7% of liquidity providers control ~80% of TVL, earning 20% higher returns than average users. Even Uniswap, with its relatively user-friendly design, reflects broader DeFi accessibility challenges.
The Consequences
Recent AI advancements, particularly Agentic AI, offer solutions. These systems go beyond intelligence—they execute tasks autonomously, potentially unlocking DeFi’s mass adoption.
Example Scenario
A user requests: “Bridge my ETH from Base to Solana and buy Memecoin BONK.” An AI agent analyzes bridge options in real-time, presenting clear choices:
Wormhole: $2.50 fee, 3 min, high security
LayerZero: $1.80 fee, 5 min, gas volatility risk
Users skip technical jargon, relying on AI-curated insights. No manual wallet connections or complex transactions—just seamless execution, like a 24/7 asset manager.
Challenges
Current AI lacks direct blockchain integration (e.g., checking wallet balances) and struggles to interpret thousands of smart contracts securely. A dedicated on-chain agent system is needed—enter Wayfinder.
Source: Wayfinder
Wayfinder’s AI agents are tailored for blockchain, integrating directly with DeFi protocols. Unlike generic models, they’re fine-tuned for efficiency, enabling non-technical users to navigate DeFi effortlessly.
Origins: Colony AI
Wayfinder’s roots trace to Colony, an AI-driven survival game by Parallel Studios. Its autonomous agents—trading resources and strategizing without player input—inspired Wayfinder’s expansion into DeFi.
Core Components
Wayfinder Shell: A user interface for interacting with specialized agents.
Wayfinder Graph: A navigation system optimizing multi-chain paths.
Source: Wayfinder
The Shell hosts role-specific agents that collaborate to execute strategies across Ethereum, Solana, Base, and Avalanche. Key features:
Direct On-Chain Execution: Agents use embedded Web3 wallets. For example, a user requests: “Diversify $100 USDC into trending Solana tokens.” The agent screens data, builds a portfolio, and executes—no technical know-how needed.
Agent Types
Transaction Agent: Handles swaps, bridges, and staking.
Perpetual Agent: Integrates with Hyperliquid for leveraged trading.
Contract Agent: Manages smart contract deployment/analysis.
Autonomous Agent: Coordinates multi-step strategies (e.g., cross-chain yield farming).
Future additions include Yield Finder Agents for optimization. All agents simulate transactions in a Virtual Network (VNet) to prevent errors, with critical actions requiring user approval.
Source: Wayfinder
This system maps DeFi protocols, contracts, and assets, guiding agents via optimized routes.
Wayfinding Paths
Like Google Maps’ step-by-step directions, these paths define tasks (e.g., “Swap ETH for USDC on Uniswap”), including contract addresses, methods, fees, and risks. Agents use pre-verified paths for speed and safety.
Community-Driven Scalability
New protocols? Community members submit interaction paths, staking PROMPT tokens as collateral. Validators approve submissions, and creators earn fees when paths are used. Incorrect paths trigger slashing, ensuring quality control. This model mirrors Google Maps’ crowdsourced updates, adapting swiftly to DeFi’s evolution.
Conclusion
Wayfinder’s AI agents and community-powered infrastructure could finally realize DeFi’s promise: financial services for everyone, no expertise required.
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