DefiLlama Cuts Ties With DL News After Mystery Ownership Sale

DeFiLlama has cut all ties with DL News after unidentified buyers acquired the outlet’s website and X (Twitter) account. The analytics platform says no future posts from the brand carry its endorsement.

Core developer 0xngmi went further, warning users not to trust anything the brand publishes. DL News ended editorial operations in May 2026 before its assets changed hands.

From DeFiLlama News Arm to Sold Asset

DL News launched in 2022 as the news arm of DeFiLlama, the open-source analytics platform tracking DeFi deposits. Unlike the platform, however, the outlet was built to turn a profit.

DeFiLlama announced the break in a July 1 statement on X.

“New owners have taken over the @dlnews website and assets. We expect them to resume posting soon. They’re no longer affiliated with DefiLlama in any way. We can’t corroborate any information about outreach and no posts should be considered to be endorsed by us.”

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The relationship fractured in March 2023, when 0xngmi publicly threatened a fork over a LLAMA token plan the team opposed. The sides reconciled within days, but the newsroom operated separately for the next two years.

Director Paige Aarhus announced the closure on May 7, citing shrinking readership and AI’s damage to search traffic.

DL Research, its 2024 commercial arm, grew revenue by 270% in 2025 and crossed the seven-figure mark. The growth still failed to offset the audience collapse.

DeFiLlama, meanwhile, continues to operate as normal. It recently drew scrutiny for relisting Aster perpetual data, a sign of how closely users watch its neutrality.

Why DeFiLlama’s DL News Buyback Failed

0xngmi told users not to trust anything published under the DL News name, likely indicating the open-source analytics platform no longer endorses the publication.

Further, the core developer explained that DeFiLlama attempted to buy the assets after the shutdown but failed.

The purchase failed because the brand belonged to Llama Corp, a Dubai-based entity, not the analytics team.

“Why does being sold mean it can’t be trusted? Doesn’t automatically follow, new ownership doesn’t guarantee bad journalism,” one user challenged.

The core developer did not immediately respond to BeInCrypto’s request for comment.

The site still lists Llama Corp in its footer and displays the closure notice.

The buyers remain unidentified. But market data suggests why the brand still found one.

An April 2026 analysis of 107 crypto news sites found more than 40 with zero organic traffic. Five outlets captured 78% of search visits.

That concentration gives dormant brands residual value. AI tools also drive over 25% of referrals to US crypto media, rewarding domains with citation history.

Trust remains the open question. Research shows crypto press releases can move risky asset prices, and an inherited newsroom brand could carry similar influence.

Whether the new owners identify themselves once publishing resumes may decide how much credibility survives the transfer.

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