Decentralised finance (DeFi) is redefining global finance by offering permissionless, borderless access to financial services whereby challenging traditional banking and state control over money. As regulators grapple with how to oversee systems built on code rather than corporations, innovative models are emerging such as Bitcoin-backed banks and smart contract compliance tools. Some jurisdictions are embracing DeFi through regulatory sandboxes and partnerships with blockchain analytics firms and so, rather than elimination, the path forward points to integration where DeFi’s core principles co-exist with practical regulatory frameworks to build a new era of global finance.