Decentralised finance (DeFi) is rapidly emerging as a transformative force in the financial ecosystem, offering a range of opportunities for investors. From liquidity pools to yield farming and derivatives, DeFi opens up new avenues for participation. However, navigating this space remains a challenge for many, with complex interfaces and technical barriers limiting broader adoption. Rohit Jain, Head of Okto, a decentralized investment app, is excited about the future of DeFi and the role Okto is playing in its growth. He believes that DeFi has immense potential, but the key to unlocking that potential lies in simplifying the user experience.In this interview, Jain breaks down the types of investment opportunities emerging in the DeFi space and the way forward for investors.
What are some of the exciting investment opportunities emerging in the DeFi space, and why should investors pay attention to them?
DeFi holds immense investment potential, but the key to unlocking that potential is understanding its intricacies. While DeFi platforms offer standard options like buying and selling crypto assets, spot trading, and futures—similar to any centralised exchange—DeFi goes beyond that. Investors can explore staking, liquidity pools, yield farming, and more, each offering unique opportunities based on their risk appetite and understanding of the space.
If there are so many opportunities, why are the number of investors still low?
The reality is that DeFi adoption has been steadily growing, especially in recent years. The increasing total value locked (TVL) in DeFi protocols is a testament to this. In early 2025, TVL in DeFi exceeded $100 billion (as per The Block’s Data Dashboard), showcasing that investor interest is certainly there.
One reason why the numbers are not as high as expected could be the complexity associated with user experience in DeFi. The space still has a steep learning curve for many traditional investors. Through our Okto wallet, we have solved this problem.
Could you explain what Okto is and how it solves for investors within the DeFi ecosystem? What unique features does it offer?
Okto is a mobile DeFi app that allows investors to easily access products, including Swap, Spot, Futures, and Earn, all by simply creating an account with their email ID. With over 12 million registered users, we’re seeing strong participation from global markets such as Korea and Japan, where the Web3 ecosystem is more mature and there’s a deeper understanding of decentralised finance. This trend shows that as DeFi becomes more accessible and user experience improves, we can expect broader adoption across various investor demographics.
For traders, Okto stands out with DeFi futures—native to the mobile app, giving users access to high-performance trading with 50X leverage . What’s really exciting is that we offer 100+ token pairs, including pre-launch tokens, giving traders the opportunity to get in early on promising projects. Plus, we’ve made sure to keep fees among the lowest in the industry, which is crucial for active traders. You also get access to native charts and trading signals, so users can make well-informed decisions with the best tools at their disposal.
On the other hand, for those looking to earn passive income, Okto offers a variety of options, including staking, liquidity pools (LPs), and vaults. Some of the APYs are well over 50%, so there’s significant earning potential for investors who prefer a more hands-off approach. We’ve formed exclusive partnerships with leading DeFi protocols, ensuring that our users have access to some of the most lucrative opportunities available. And with support for 15+ chains and 17+ protocols, the range of investment options is vast, providing flexibility for a variety of strategies.
There has been a lot of buzz around HyperLiquid in the news recently. Can you explain Okto’s connection to HyperLiquid and what this development means for the DeFi space?
In the fast-paced world of DeFi investment, timing and ease of use are everything. Essentially, Okto is the mobile wallet of HyperLiquid, typically what Phantom is for Solana. With our integration with HyperLiquid, traders on Okto now have access to the most liquid, high-performance trading platform directly from their mobile devices, without compromising on speed, security, or control. Our Futures trading, powered by HyperLiquid, has been live since February 2024. Now, we have added Spot Trading, which is another significant step forward in supporting traders with the full trading spectrum.
What makes Okto a trusted and promising platform in the DeFi space?
Okto is backed by CoinDCX, the largest crypto exchange in India, and has investors including Steadview, BCap, Coinbase Ventures, Pantera, and Bain Capital Ventures.
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