EthCC8 Review: New Trends in AI, Stablecoin, and Decentralized Finance

The 8th Ethereum Community Conference ( EthCC8) was held from June 30 to July 3 in Cannes, France, attracting over 6,500 participants, setting a record for the largest scale ever. This conference highlighted the increasingly mature landscape of the Web3 ecosystem, driven mainly by the integration with the real world, cutting-edge technologies like AI, and the resurgence of Decentralized Finance.

Cannes not only hosted main venue activities but also became the center of a week-long Web3 event, hosting over 300 peripheral activities covering fields such as AI, cryptocurrency, stablecoin, tokenization, Decentralized Finance, and infrastructure.

The following are three key themes to watch during EthCC8:

AI Agents: From Hype to Practicality

AI in Web3 is undergoing a significant transformation: from the initial pursuit of token-driven speculation to a focus on real-world functionality and long-term applications. Development teams are no longer designing products around short-term interests, but rather prioritizing usability, verifiability, and business models that go beyond simple token economics.

This evolution has given rise to new architectural blueprints that integrate large language models for decision-making, smart contracts for execution, and verifiable systems for trust and security. For example, some blockchain ecosystems are introducing infrastructure that allows AI agents to participate in commercial activities through executable protocols that cover milestones, service terms, and payment conditions.

To support this transition, developers are building the foundational layer of the agent economy, including tools for monetization, inter-agent communication, attribution, and performance evaluation. These components will enable agents to interact, collaborate, and compete in dynamic markets, unlocking models such as recommendation-based systems and interoperability for specific tasks.

Stablecoins and RWA: The Cornerstone of Institutional Finance

Stablecoins have become an indispensable part of the global financial ecosystem. Recent regulatory measures have brought much-needed clarity to stablecoins, positioning them as compliant mainstream application tools. This shift is sparking interest from institutional investors, with major financial institutions beginning to use stablecoins for payments, settlements, and fund management.

At the same time, tokenized real-world assets, from capital management to decentralized credit systems, (RWA) are rapidly expanding. These assets are reshaping capital markets by introducing programmability, transparency, and cost structures that traditional finance cannot match.

Today, AI-driven systems can autonomously optimize cross-chain and cross-protocol stablecoin yields and RWA allocations, further enhancing this landscape. Intelligent rebalancing mechanisms, risk mitigation engines, and cross-chain portfolio execution aim to balance performance and compliance. The integration of compliant stablecoins, tokenized RWAs, and automated intelligence makes Web3 a powerful institutional-grade infrastructure for the digital economy.

The Revival of DeFi: Smarter and Safer

After nearly two years of contraction, DeFi is regaining its development momentum, with a focus on security, efficiency, and interoperability. The next wave will be shaped by cross-chain liquidity layers, institutional-grade compliance, and AI-driven automation. The focus has shifted from chasing short-term gains to building sustainable systems that can scale and withstand volatility.

One of the most striking discussions at EthCC8 was about AAVE v4, which introduces a unified liquidity layer that enables seamless cross-chain lending, dynamic interest rate mechanisms, and more robust risk control. This upgrade also deepens the integration with stablecoins, including features like soft liquidation and automated fund management.

AI-driven automation is accelerating this evolution. Autonomous agents are now able to optimize liquidity supply, execute hedging strategies, and identify high-yield opportunities across multiple chains. Predictive analytics are helping protocols anticipate and mitigate risks before they escalate. DeFi is evolving into an intelligent, self-optimizing financial layer, paving the way for broader institutional adoption, long-term sustainability, and resilient infrastructure that can compete with and complement traditional markets.

Summary

EthCC8 once again showcased the vitality and resilience of the Ethereum ecosystem. Every conversation with Web3 developers revealed bold ideas and groundbreaking products, continuously pushing the boundaries of Web3. These exchanges not only strengthened confidence in Ethereum as a pillar of decentralized innovation but also deepened optimistic expectations that future real-world applications will drive mass adoption.

As Web3 technology continues to mature, we look forward to seeing more projects with practical value and long-term impact emerge, driving the entire industry forward.