DeFi Technologies' Andrew Forson: The Blurring Line Between TradFi and DeFi

DeFi Technologies has achieved a significant milestone in bridging traditional finance and decentralized finance through its subsidiary Valour Inc., which listed its 100th exchange-traded product (ETP)—Valour Sky—on Sweden’s Spotlight Stock Market. As the issuer with the largest portfolio of digital-asset ETPs globally, the company is at the forefront of integrating crypto into regulated markets.

Forson’s Role and Strategic Execution

Andrew Forson, President of DeFi Technologies and Chief Growth Officer of Valour, plays a pivotal role in driving the company’s strategy. His focus is on growth, business building, sales, and market expansion, particularly for Valour, the firm’s cornerstone asset. “It allows me to basically be an executor of strategy at the parent-co level, but I really do focus a lot on growth, business building, sales, and getting our products into new markets at Valour, which is actually our largest asset. Valour is DeFi Technologies’ cornerstone asset—and it’s an ETP issuer.”

(Sources: X)

Valour’s Expansion and European Leadership

Valour’s portfolio of 100 ETPs, reflects a conservative, risk-averse approach. Forson emphasizes, “Our claim to fame is that of all the digital asset underlying ETP providers, Valour has the largest portfolio of products—100 digital asset underlying exchange-traded products—which is Europe-leading, and I think it’s world-leading.” Since inception, Valour has experienced no weeks of outflows, with consistent net inflows of capital into its products, even in challenging markets.

This stability is rooted in physically backed, one-to-one hedged ETPs that minimize counterparty risk and slippage, making them suitable for buy-and-hold strategies in markets.

Convergence of TradFi and DeFi

Forson predicts a diminishing distinction between tokenized and traditional assets. “In five years’ time, we’re definitely going to find that the distinction between tokenized assets and traditional assets is going to be diminished. Whether you access a product that is tokenized and listed on blockchain versus via a regular TradFi platform, we’re going to find that that distinction becomes fewer and further between.” He compares this to the adoption of digital signing tools , which evolved from scanned documents to seamless electronic processes.

Future innovations will include hybridized instruments linking debt, equity, and digital assets for more creative return profiles, supported by AI-driven portfolio optimization.

Regulatory Landscape and Stablecoin Opportunities

Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets ramework provides clarity for listing instruments, enabling Valour’s ETPs to wrap digital assets in a TradFi structure. “When you have regulation, you have clarity as to how to proceed to listing instruments. Because our focus is on regulated, exchange-traded instruments, we’re not actually directly in the crypto space. We’re more in the TradFi space, but our instruments wrap digital assets.” This allows everyday investors to access crypto via brokerage accounts.

Forson calls for flexibility in stablecoins to maintain competitiveness. “Europe may also need to take a more flexible approach to a somewhat regulatory framework if it wants to stay competitive in attracting business, particularly in the stablecoin space.”

Future Outlook: Expansion and Innovation

DeFi Technologies plans to expand beyond Europe, with announcements expected soon. “We are definitely eyeing some significant regions outside of Europe, and I anticipate we’ll be having some announcements with regard to that soon.” The company is also investing in stablecoin projects like CNGN in Nigeria and QCAD in Canada to connect global ecosystems. Future products will emphasize value-added innovations on the Valour platform, including AI-driven tools and hybrid instruments.

For investors in 2025, this underscores the reliability of diversified ETP portfolios with staking yields, while developers should focus on compliant DeFi innovations in tokenized assets to capitalize on the blurring boundaries between TradFi and DeFi.