A significant governance decision has been made, with the Aave community voting in favor of the 'Aave Will Win' proposal, which redirects 100% of revenue from all Aave-branded products back to the DAO, effectively making the DAO responsible for funding Aave Labs' activities. The proposal includes a $25 million stablecoin grant and 5,000 AAVE token allocation to Aave Labs.
This move resolves a dispute that began when swap fees were redirected away from the DAO treasury, and it marks a significant shift towards a fully token-centric model. The Aave DAO, a community-run decision-making body, will now oversee the protocol's revenue and treasury use.
The proposal also introduces measures to prevent 'value leakage' and ensures that service providers build exclusively for Aave, with measurable goals and improved governance processes. Aave's annual revenue, which reached $140 million in 2025, is expected to increase with the introduction of new features and products, including a 'fintech-like experience' for mainstream users and a card that generates fees for the treasury.