The article discusses the concept of merging fintech and decentralized finance (DeFi), known as the "DeFi Mullet," to leverage the strengths of both sectors. Fintech companies currently face limitations with traditional financial infrastructure, while DeFi offers efficient, cost-effective solutions but lacks mainstream accessibility. By combining fintech's distribution and user experience with DeFi's infrastructure, companies can enhance user experiences, lower costs, and drive more liquidity onchain. DeFi has demonstrated its reliability for fintech integration, with examples like stablecoin transfers being significantly cheaper and faster compared to traditional wire transfers. The article emphasizes the growing mainstream adoption of DeFi, citing examples like BlackRock tokenizing a fund and Stripe acquiring Bridge for $1 billion. The piece also highlights the potential for more advanced fintech products, such as crypto-backed loans and onchain saving accounts, powered by smart wallets. Critics raise concerns about eroding decentralization with fintech and institutional involvement in DeFi but argue that maintaining credibly neutral protocols is key. Overall, the article predicts a structural shift towards the DeFi Mullet, where DeFi will need to meet users through regulated fintech channels for scalability and relevance in the market.Character count: 1703