Financial institutions are embracing Alchemy’s ‘DeFi mullet’ model: compliant front-ends with decentralized back-ends. This hybrid approach lets banks offer DeFi services while meeting regulatory requirements β traditional KYC/AML interfaces connected to permissionless protocols.
The strategy resolves banks’ dilemma of missing DeFi yield opportunities versus regulatory non-compliance. Examples include tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) on blockchain back-ends with fiat on/ramps and identity-verified wallets. Major banks are piloting this for institutional clients first, with retail rollouts planned.
Alchemy reports surging demand from traditional finance firms seeking to integrate DeFi lending, automated market makers, and staking. The ‘mullet’ architecture positions banks as curated gateways rather than full DeFi participants, balancing innovation with compliance.



