Stani Kulechov, founder of Aave, has refuted claims by OpenZeppelin's founder Manuel Aráoz that all decentralized finance (DeFi) is unsafe. Aráoz's comments, which highlighted the threat of AI-powered cybersecurity agents to DeFi protocols, have sparked a heated debate within the community. Kulechov argued that DeFi infrastructure has become more resilient, partly due to advancements in AI that enhance DeFi tools and risk management systems. OpenZeppelin, a prominent blockchain security firm, distanced itself from Aráoz's remarks following public backlash. Industry figures like Sam MacPherson of Sky (formerly MakerDAO) supported Kulechov, emphasizing that recent major hacks were largely due to operational security issues rather than smart contract vulnerabilities. Despite ongoing security challenges, DeFi's total locked value has decreased by 35% to $80 billion amid broader market outflows.