Aave Vote Moves to Send All Revenue to AAVE Token

Aave governance advances plan to route 100% protocol revenue to the AAVE token as the proposal moves into the ARFC review phase.

Aave has advanced a governance proposal to direct 100% of product revenue to the AAVE token after passing its Temperature Check, the first formal voting stage.

Founder Stani Kulechov confirmed the result on March 1, 2026, stating that the “Aave Will Win” proposal had cleared the vote.

The plan signals a shift toward a token-centric model, with structural revisions planned before entering the ARFC phase.

Revenue Redirection Plan Gains Support

The approved framework outlines how revenue will flow to the Aave DAO.

Under the plan, 100% of gross revenue from Aave products will go to the treasury. This includes fees from current and future offerings. 

Aave founder Stani Kulechov announced that the “Aave Will Win” proposal has passed the Temp Check stage, advancing Aave Labs toward a fully token-centric model that would direct 100% of product revenue to the AAVE token. The proposal now moves to the next phase, where structural…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) March 1, 2026

Revenue sources listed in the proposal cover swap fees from aave.com and the upcoming mobile app. The Aave Card program is also included.

Institutional services such as Aave Pro fall under the same structure. The framework also covers Aave Horizon, which focuses on real world assets. 

Potential revenue linked to an AAVE exchange traded product is mentioned. All these streams would be directed to the DAO under the proposal.

This approach aims to reduce value leakage between Aave Labs and the DAO. It formalizes the economic relationship ahead of the planned V4 upgrade. The change would take effect if later governance stages approve it.

Funding Request and Structural Changes

In exchange for redirecting revenue, Aave Labs has requested funding from the DAO. The request includes $25 million in stablecoins.

It also seeks 75,000 AAVE tokens. The token portion was valued at about $8.48 million in late February. Combined with stablecoins, the total package approaches $51 million.

Targeted growth grants are also part of the request. Some community members have questioned the size of the funding package.

Marc Zeller of the Aave Chan Initiative raised concerns during discussions. He compared the amount to prior grants approved by the DAO.

The proposal also calls for the creation of an Aave Foundation. This entity would hold trademarks and intellectual property on behalf of the DAO.

The structure aims to clarify brand ownership and governance rights.

Related Reading: Aave Labs Shuts Down Avara Brand and Refocuses on Core Lending Protocol

Governance Path Toward ARFC Stage

The Temperature Check is an early signaling vote within Aave governance. It measures community sentiment before more binding stages.

Passing this stage allows the proposal to move forward. The next step is the ARFC, or Aave Request for Comments, phase.

During this stage, technical and structural changes can be introduced. Community feedback will shape the final draft.

Aave Labs previously suggested transferring all protocol revenue to the DAO in exchange for operating funds. That earlier proposal set the groundwork for the current framework.

The new plan refines those ideas into a formal structure. The governance process comes as Aave reports over $1 trillion in cumulative loan volume. The protocol remains one of the largest decentralized lending platforms.

The outcome of the ARFC stage will determine whether the revenue shift proceeds to a final on-chain vote. Kulechov stated, “Aave will win,” following the Temp Check result. The coming stages will decide how the token-centric model is implemented.