The buzz around Ethereum is heating up with the announcement of the first wave of teams joining the DeFi District at the Ethereum World's Fair. This event, happening from November 17-22, 2025, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is being billed as the first Ethereum World's Fair. It's a hands-on showcase where you can interact with real apps built on Ethereum, demonstrating how the blockchain is disrupting traditional systems today.

The fair is divided into eight districts, each highlighting a different aspect of the Ethereum ecosystem: DeFi, Social, Hardware/Wallets, Privacy, Gaming, AI, L2s (Layer 2 solutions), and Collectibles. DeFi, or decentralized finance, is such a massive area that organizers split it into two parts. This thread from Devconnect ARG focuses on DeFi District 1/2, spotlighting some heavy hitters in the space.

DeFi refers to financial services built on blockchain technology, allowing users to lend, borrow, trade, and more without traditional banks. It's all about putting control back in the hands of users through smart contracts—self-executing code on the blockchain.

Key Projects in DeFi District 1/2

Here's a rundown of the announced teams, each bringing their unique innovations to the fair:

• Aave: As the largest decentralized lending marketplace, Aave boasts over $70 billion in net deposits and $30 billion in active loans across 14 networks. It's a go-to for borrowing and lending crypto assets without intermediaries.

• Morpho: This project is revolutionizing onchain lending by connecting users through large-scale integrators like Coinbase, Société Générale, and Worldcoin. Their setup might even feature a fun "DeFi mullet" theme—business in the front, party in the back?

• R3AL Blocks: Focused on tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs), R3AL Blocks aims to boost financial inclusion in Latin America. They'll show how Ethereum bridges the gap between digital and traditional economies.

• 1inch: Making token swaps seamless across chains, 1inch aggregates the best prices from various decentralized exchanges (DEXes). It's all about efficient, cross-chain trading.

• Daimo Pay: Already powering crypto payments for Devconnect tickets, Daimo supports over 1,000 tokens across chains. They're making crypto usable for everyday transactions.

• Gnosis: Dive into the Gnosis ecosystem with merch, demos of Gnosis Pay and Circles, and a preview of new developments. Gnosis is known for prediction markets and safe wallets.

• Ripio: A leading crypto company in LATAM, Ripio is democratizing DeFi with tools for automated yield, reaching millions in the region.

• DeFi Saver: This non-custodial interface manages positions across protocols like Aave and Compound, simplifying complex DeFi strategies with live demos at the event.

• Lemon: Offering a hybrid wallet for crypto and fiat, Lemon integrates with Visa for global spending. Born in Argentina, it's tailored for LATAM users.

• CoW Swap: Protecting trades from MEV (miner extractable value) bots, CoW Swap finds optimal prices across DEXes and bridges.

• Belo: An Argentine platform combining crypto wallets, exchanges, and yield tools to integrate DeFi into daily life in LATAM.

• Offramp: Enabling crypto-to-fiat conversions, Offramp turns tokens into spendable cash, enhancing Ethereum's real-world utility.

These projects highlight how DeFi is evolving, from lending and trading to real-world integrations, especially in emerging markets like Latin America.

If you're into blockchain and DeFi, this is your chance to see these innovations up close. Check out the full details on the districts and what to expect in the Ethereum blog post. And if you're heading to Buenos Aires, grab your tickets now—rumor has it, crypto payments are already live thanks to Daimo!

Stay tuned for more updates on DeFi District 2/2 and how these developments could influence the meme token scene, where quick trades and yields often rely on robust DeFi infrastructure.