Vitalik Buterin has expressed strong support for Ethereum's decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, citing its growing security and maturity as key factors in its potential to serve as a viable savings alternative to traditional fiat systems. He highlighted the importance of enhanced user protections, such as 'hands-off tests,' which aim to reduce high-risk speculation. Buterin also emphasized the need for open-source development and interoperability, advocating for scalability improvements through Layer 2 solutions. He noted the significant achievement of Lighter, which has surpassed 10,000 transactions per second (TPS). Despite these advancements, Buterin acknowledged the persistent risks in the DeFi space, referencing the recent Balancer hack that resulted in substantial financial losses.