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DeFi Lending Protocol

Aave Governance — DAO-Controlled DeFi Protocol

AAVE token holders govern every aspect of the protocol — interest rates, supported assets, fee allocation, and major upgrades. Here is how it works.

Open Aave App Explore Protocol
aave.protocol Live
Total TVL$14.5B
Cumul. Deposits$71T+
Networks12+
Security Audits15+
AAVE Token16M max supply
Fee Share100% to stakers
Current VersionAave v4 (2026)
Flash Loans0.09% fee
About

Aave Governance

Aave is governed by the Aave DAO — a decentralized autonomous organization where AAVE token holders propose and vote on all significant protocol changes. This includes adding new assets, changing risk parameters, allocating treasury funds, and major upgrades like the April 2026 fee redirect to Safety Module stakers. Governance happens primarily through the Aave governance forum and on-chain voting.

// protocol.stats
Protocol TypeNon-Custodial Lending
TVL$14.5B
Cumul. Volume$71T+
Networks12+
Supported Assets30+
Stablecoin APY3-8% variable
AAVE Staking100% fee share
Flash Loan Fee0.09%
Versionv4 (2026)
GovernanceAAVE DAO
Features

Why Use Aave?

The most battle-tested DeFi lending protocol — supply, borrow, flash loans, GHO, and now 100% fee sharing for AAVE stakers.

[01]
🗳️
On-Chain Voting
Every major protocol change requires an on-chain vote — binding, transparent, and immutable.
[02]
📋
Governance Forum
governance.aave.com hosts all proposal discussions before they go to on-chain vote.
[03]
⏰
Timelock
Passed proposals have a timelock delay before execution — preventing rushed or malicious changes.
[04]
🛡️
Guardian
Aave has a Guardian multisig that can veto proposals in emergencies — an additional safety layer.
[05]
💡
Anyone Can Propose
Any wallet with sufficient AAVE voting power can submit governance proposals.
[06]
📅
April 2026 Landmark
The 100% fee redirect to Safety Module stakers was the most significant governance vote in Aave history.
Guide

How to Use Aave Governance

Step-by-step from wallet connection to earning yield and staking AAVE.

01

Get AAVE or stkAAVE

Both give you voting power proportional to your holdings. One AAVE or stkAAVE = one vote.

02

Follow the Forum

governance.aave.com hosts active discussions. Read proposals, understand the arguments, and engage in community discussion before votes.

03

Vote On-Chain

When a proposal reaches on-chain voting, connect your wallet to the governance portal and cast your vote — For, Against, or Abstain.

04

Delegate Voting Power

If you do not want to vote directly, you can delegate your voting power to an active community delegate while retaining ownership of your AAVE.

05

Submit Proposals

With enough voting power (check current threshold), you can submit your own Aave Improvement Proposals (AIPs).

Start Earning on Aave Today

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything about Aave Governance.

How does Aave governance work?
+
Aave governance uses a two-step process: (1) Forum discussion where community members debate proposals at governance.aave.com. (2) On-chain vote where AAVE/stkAAVE holders cast binding votes. Passed proposals execute after a timelock delay.
How much AAVE do I need to vote?
+
Any amount of AAVE or stkAAVE gives you proportional voting power. Even 1 AAVE gives you a vote. You need more AAVE to submit proposals (check the current proposal threshold at governance.aave.com).
What was the most important Aave governance vote?
+
The April 2026 vote redirecting 100% of Aave protocol revenue to Safety Module stakers is widely considered the most impactful governance decision in Aave history. It fundamentally changed the economics of holding and staking AAVE.
What is Aave\'s Guardian multisig?
+
The Aave Guardian is a multisig wallet controlled by core contributors that can veto (but not propose or approve) governance actions in case of an emergency or malicious proposal. It is a safety backstop, not a control mechanism.
Can governance make bad decisions for token holders?
+
Yes — governance can make decisions that harm certain stakeholders. Aave\'s timelock and Guardian provide some protection against rushed bad decisions, but ultimately DAO governance reflects the will of the majority of token holders.
Reviews

What Users Say

Active Voter
★★★★★

"Aave governance participation is genuinely high-quality compared to most DAOs. The April 2026 fee redirect vote had clear analysis, active debate, and a clean on-chain execution. Model governance for the industry."

Governance Researcher
★★★★☆

"Aave\'s two-step (forum + on-chain) process produces better outcomes than single-step voting. The forum discussion genuinely shapes proposals before they go to vote."

Passive Holder
★★★★☆

"I delegate my AAVE voting power to an active community delegate. The delegation system is underutilized — more holders should use it rather than leaving their voting power dormant."

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