Analyst Ayman ‘AI Man’ Mufleh has highlighted a passage in a reported Financial Action Task Force (FATF) DeFi study that names Hedera, Ethereum and Solana as examples of distributed-ledger infrastructure used at the settlement layer.

The video argues that the reference is significant for HBAR because it places Hedera within a regulatory discussion about how decentralized finance systems are structured.

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The host describes the document as a newly released FATF report titled Regulatory Challenges of DeFi, dated July 2026 in the video. While the commentary presents the mention as a major endorsement, the cited language appears to describe examples of blockchain infrastructure rather than designate Hedera as an approved or selected system for global financial settlement.

Hedera appears in the report’s DeFi architecture discussion

According to the passage read in the YouTube video, the settlement layer consists of “foundational distributed ledger infrastructure” that records transactions, provides security and consensus, and delivers final settlement for higher-level applications. Ethereum, Solana and Hedera are cited as potential examples. Notably, Hedera differs from Ethereum and Solana in that it uses hashgraph consensus rather than a traditional blockchain and is governed by a council of multinational enterprises, positioning it more toward enterprise and institutional use cases.

The report section notes that FATF standards generally do not apply to payment infrastructure unless those operating at that layer also provide services falling within the definition of a virtual asset service provider, or VASP. The FATF's VASP framework, first articulated in its 2019 guidance and expanded in subsequent updates, has been a primary reference point for governments shaping national crypto regulations.

That distinction matters: the reference concerns DeFi’s technical stack and regulatory perimeter, not a direct FATF recommendation to use HBAR.

The YouTube video also points to the report’s asset layer, where native blockchain tokens are discussed as integral to network operation and security. HBAR is grouped with Ethereum and Solana native assets, alongside other digital assets such as stablecoins that may be used in financial transactions through DeFi protocols.

Regulatory visibility does not equal adoption

Ayman Mufleh frames the FATF reference as evidence that major international policymakers are taking notice of Hedera.

FATF is an intergovernmental body that sets standards intended to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and related financial crime, and its guidance has substantial influence on national regulatory approaches to crypto. Countries that fail to adopt FATF recommendations can face placement on grey or black lists that restrict access to global financial systems, which gives the body's guidance significant downstream regulatory weight.

Still, being named in a technical example does not establish institutional adoption, confer regulatory approval, or guarantee demand for HBAR. The report’s language, based on the excerpt cited in the video, treats Hedera as one of several networks that can underpin DeFi activity.

Ayman Mufleh notes that HBAR was trading around $0.06 to $0.07 at the time of recording, down sharply from prior highs near $0.25. He also cites possible future catalysts including DTCC, SWIFT, CBDC initiatives, decentralized applications, potential HBAR ETFs and prospective U.S. crypto legislation, though none is presented as confirmed in the report itself.