
Mike CahillFounder
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.
Founder Stats
- Cryptocurrency, Finance, Technology
- Started 2021
- Not Disclosed/mo
- 50+ team
- Switzerland
About Mike Cahill
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.
Interview
June 1, 2024
What makes Pyth Network different from other oracles?

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.
How did you solve the chicken-and-egg problem of launching a data network?

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.
What kind of applications are being built using Pyth Network today?

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.
What is Pyth Laser, and why did you launch it?

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.
What did you learn about product-market fit from building Pyth Network?
What leadership decision helped shape your team's loyalty?
Why hasn't a global finance app been built yet using DeFi?
How important is mobile for the future of DeFi?

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.
What's your big vision for DeFi's future?
What kind of innovations do you expect once that global app exists?

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.
If you weren't building Pyth Network, what would you be doing in DeFi?
Table Of Questions
Video Interviews with Mike Cahill
Mike Cahill on Pyth Network's Oracle Solution
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