Home/How to Stake AAVE
DeFi Lending Protocol

How to Stake AAVE — Safety Module Guide

Stake AAVE in the Safety Module to earn 100% of protocol fees — the April 2026 governance vote made AAVE staking significantly more rewarding.

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 Stake AAVE

The Aave Safety Module allows AAVE holders to stake their tokens to act as a backstop for the protocol — if there is a shortfall event, up to 30% of staked AAVE can be slashed to cover losses. In exchange, stakers earn rewards. Since April 2026, a landmark governance vote redirected 100% of Aave protocol fees to Safety Module stakers, significantly improving the staking economics.

// 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]
💰
100% Fee Share
Since April 2026, all Aave protocol revenue flows to Safety Module stakers.
[02]
🛡️
Protocol Security
Staked AAVE acts as a backstop — you are insuring the protocol in exchange for rewards.
[03]
⏰
10-Day Cooldown
After initiating unstake, you must wait 10 days — then have a 2-day window to withdraw.
[04]
⚠️
Slashing Risk
Up to 30% of staked AAVE can be slashed in a shortfall event — this risk is real but has never occurred.
[05]
🗳️
Governance Power
Staked AAVE retains full voting weight in Aave governance.
[06]
📊
Live APY
Staking APY varies with protocol revenue — check app.aave.com for current rate.
Guide

How to Use How to Stake AAVE

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

01

Get AAVE Tokens

Purchase AAVE on any major exchange (Coinbase, Binance, Uniswap) and withdraw to your self-custody wallet on Ethereum mainnet.

02

Navigate to the Safety Module

On app.aave.com, go to the "Stake" section. Select the AAVE staking option.

03

Approve and Stake

Approve the AAVE token allowance, then confirm the stake transaction. Your AAVE is now in the Safety Module and earning rewards.

04

Monitor Rewards

Staking rewards accrue in real time. Claim them from the dashboard — each claim is a gas transaction, so batch claims for efficiency.

05

Understand the Unstake Process

When ready to unstake: initiate cooldown (10-day wait), then withdraw during the 2-day window. If you miss the window, restart the cooldown.

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.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything about How to Stake AAVE.

How much can I earn staking AAVE?
+
Staking APY in the Safety Module varies with Aave protocol revenue. Since the April 2026 vote redirecting 100% of fees to stakers, the yield has improved. Check app.aave.com/staking for the current rate.
What is the AAVE cooldown period?
+
When you want to unstake AAVE, you must first activate a 10-day cooldown period. After 10 days, you have a 2-day withdrawal window. If you miss the window, you restart the 10-day cooldown.
Has the Safety Module ever been slashed?
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As of June 2026, the Safety Module has never been slashed. Slashing would require a governance vote approving the action following a shortfall event. The mechanism exists as a backstop but has not been activated.
What was the April 2026 AAVE governance vote?
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In April 2026, Aave governance passed a landmark proposal to redirect 100% of Aave protocol revenue (from interest spreads and flash loan fees) to AAVE Safety Module stakers. This significantly improved the economic case for staking AAVE.
Can I vote in governance with staked AAVE?
+
Yes. Staked AAVE (stkAAVE) retains full governance voting power. You do not need to unstake to participate in Aave governance votes.
Reviews

What Users Say

Long-Term AAVE Holder
★★★★★

"The April 2026 fee redirect fundamentally changed the AAVE staking calculus. Earning actual protocol revenue rather than token inflation is the right economic model for a mature DeFi protocol."

Staking Analyst
★★★★☆

"The 10-day cooldown is a meaningful constraint. Plan exits in advance. The slashing risk is real but the governance guardrails around it are robust."

Governance Participant
★★★★★

"Retaining voting power while staking is an underappreciated feature. Most staking mechanisms require you to choose between yield and governance participation. Aave\'s model does both."

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