Home/How to Lend on Aave
DeFi Lending Protocol

How to Lend on Aave — Earn Yield Step-by-Step

Supply USDC, ETH, WBTC, or any supported asset on Aave and start earning real-time interest — here is exactly how.

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

How to Lend on Aave

Lending (supplying) on Aave is the simplest and safest way to interact with the protocol. You deposit an asset, receive aTokens that represent your balance plus accrued interest, and withdraw any time with no lockup. This guide covers the complete supply workflow from wallet setup to earning yield.

// 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]
💵
Stablecoin Lending
Supply USDC, USDT, or DAI for yield without price exposure — 3-8% typical APY.
[02]
🔵
ETH Lending
Supply ETH or wstETH to earn yield while maintaining Ethereum price exposure.
[03]
🟠
BTC Lending
Supply WBTC to earn yield while holding Bitcoin price exposure.
[04]
🪙
aTokens Explained
aUSDC balance grows every second — no claiming needed, interest auto-compounds.
[05]
🌉
L2 Advantage
Supply on Arbitrum or Base for sub-$0.10 gas fees vs $5-15 on mainnet.
[06]
📊
Live APY
Rates update every block — check app.aave.com for current supply rates.
Guide

How to Use How to Lend on Aave

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

01

Choose Your Asset and Network

For low risk: USDC or USDT on Arbitrum. For ETH exposure: wstETH on Ethereum mainnet. Network choice affects gas cost, not security.

02

Approve the Token

First transaction: approve Aave to spend your token (one-time per asset per network). Small gas fee.

03

Supply the Asset

Second transaction: the actual deposit. Confirm in your wallet. You receive aTokens representing your position.

04

Watch Your aToken Balance Grow

In the Aave dashboard, your aToken balance increases in real time as interest accrues — fractions per second.

05

Withdraw When Ready

No lockup. Click Withdraw, enter amount, confirm transaction. Receive original deposit plus all earned interest.

Start Earning on Aave Today

Join $14.5B in TVL across 12+ networks. Supply assets to earn yield or stake AAVE for 100% of protocol fees.

Open Aave App →
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything about How to Lend on Aave.

What is the best asset to lend on Aave?
+
For stability: USDC or USDT (no price risk, steady 3-8% APY). For ETH exposure: wstETH (earns Aave supply APY on top of native ETH staking yield). For BTC exposure: WBTC. Choice depends on your price view.
How much interest does Aave pay?
+
Rates are variable and change with market demand. USDC typically yields 3-8% APY. ETH yields 0.5-3%. WBTC yields 0.2-2%. During high-borrowing periods, rates spike. Check app.aave.com for live rates.
Are there any fees for lending on Aave?
+
Aave itself charges no fees for lending. You pay Ethereum (or L2) network gas fees for transactions. On Arbitrum/Base these are under $0.50. On Ethereum mainnet they can be $5-20 per transaction.
Is there a lockup period for lending on Aave?
+
No. Supplied assets can be withdrawn at any time, subject to sufficient liquidity in the pool. If utilization is very high (>95%), some assets may be temporarily illiquid until borrowers repay.
What is the risk of lending (not borrowing) on Aave?
+
Supply-only risk: smart contract bugs, oracle manipulation, or pool liquidity crunch. Without borrowing, you cannot be liquidated. Smart contract risk is the primary concern — it is low but nonzero.
Reviews

What Users Say

Passive Yield Earner
★★★★★

"Supplied USDC six months ago and have been consistently earning 4-6% APY with no action needed. The auto-compounding aToken mechanism is elegantly simple."

ETH Hodler
★★★★☆

"Lending wstETH is my preferred way to hold ETH — earn staking yield from Lido PLUS Aave supply APY on top. Effectively double-dipping on ETH yield."

WBTC Holder
★★★★☆

"Lending WBTC rates are lower but it is still meaningful yield on an asset I would hold anyway. No reason to leave BTC sitting idle when Aave exists."

Ready for DeFi Lending?

Aave v4 is live — supply, borrow, mint GHO, and stake AAVE for 100% of protocol fees.

Get Started Free