
In this interview, Pyth Network founder Mike Cahill explains how decentralized finance is transforming access to financial data through blockchain technology. He discusses the challenges of delivering real-time market information on-chain, the future of DeFi infrastructure, and why transparent, reliable data is essential for building the next generation of financial applications.
Mike Cahill is the founder of Pyth Network, a decentralized financial market data platform that delivers real-time price feeds to blockchain applications. With a background in traditional finance and market infrastructure, he is focused on improving data transparency and enabling developers to build more efficient and scalable DeFi products.
June 1, 2024

Earlier oracles were built for slow chains with low resolution. We came in with newer tech and chose Solana because of its 400-millisecond block time. That let us publish real-time price data on-chain with much less latency. And because it's on-chain, it's transparent and auditable, which is critical for trust.

We focused on stocking the shelves first. Before we approached protocols, we partnered with top data providers like Jane Street, Susquehanna, DRW, and others. Once we had that core group and could provide nearly any asset data, it was easier to bring developers and protocols on board. They saw the value right away.

Mainly two types leverage and trading. For leverage, apps like Camino use our data to price collateral and manage loans. On the trading side, some protocols allow users to trade directly at the Pyth price, while others use our data to manage funding rates and keep derivatives aligned with spot markets.

Pyth Laser offers ultra-fast updates down to 1 millisecond. It makes some trade-offs in decentralization for speed. That's useful for high-performance protocols that care more about user experience and latency than full decentralization. It's all about giving developers more choices based on their needs.

Super important. Most DeFi tools today are still stuck on desktop, which feels outdated. I already use mobile wallets like Phantom for quick interactions. Long term, mobile will be the main way most people around the world use these tools. Or maybe even something beyond mobile like AI-driven interfaces.

Once millions are onboarded, I think we'll see tons of creative financial features like automated trade-following, real-time portfolio setups, even streaming salary investments. Things that haven't taken off yet because the infrastructure or form factor wasn't there. It'll unlock a whole new era of financial tools.
Use this interview in your research, article, or academic work

Co-Founder at Y Combinator
In this interview, Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham reflects on twenty-one years of startup acceleration and forty-seven YC batches. Graham explores the nature of founder…

Founder & CEO at Food for Education
In this interview, Food for Education founder and CEO Wawira Njiru reflects on her foundational upbringing, family values, and the journey of building Africa's largest…

President & CEO at Sasol
In this interview, Sasol president and CEO Simon Baloyi discusses the operational turnaround of the global integrated chemicals and energy company. Baloyi details cross-functional collaboration…

Founder & CEO at Liquid
In this interview, Liquid founder and CEO Franklin Wang discusses the integration of conversational AI with cryptocurrency perpetual futures trading. Wang details how the Co-Invest…

Co-Founder, Chairman & CIO at Marshall Wace
In this interview, Marshall Wace co-founder and chairman Sir Paul Marshall discusses running a ninety billion USD alternative asset management firm. Marshall explains the synergy…

Co-Founder & CEO at Ather Energy
In this interview, Ather Energy co-founder and CEO Tarun Mehta discusses the evolution of India's electric two-wheeler market and the unveiling of the EL platform…