Following a contentious governance vote, Aave founder and CEO Stani Kulechov has proposed an expansive vision for the protocol, aiming to diversify its operations beyond traditional decentralized finance (DeFi) lending. The recent vote rejected a plan to transfer control of Aave's brand assets to its decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), triggering discussions about the future direction of the Aave community.
Kulechov emphasized the necessity for Aave to venture into real-world assets (RWAs), institutional lending, and consumer financial products to ensure sustainable growth. He identified the potential of RWAs as a significant market, with an estimated value of $500 trillion in global financial assets.
In his communication on the Aave governance forum, Kulechov announced plans for Aave Labs to distribute non-protocol revenue to AAVE tokenholders, which could enhance the value capture potential for holders beyond mere governance roles. Additionally, he indicated that a new governance proposal regarding intellectual property rights would be forthcoming, aiming to resolve community concerns stemming from the rejected proposal.
Aave remains a leader in the DeFi sector, boasting a total value locked exceeding $45 billion as of October. Kulechov's focus appears directed at unifying the community around a long-term strategy that mitigates ongoing governance disputes.