Aave Labs has officially introduced a landmark governance proposal titled the "Aave Will Win Framework," a strategic initiative designed to fundamentally reshape the economic relationship between the development team and the protocol's governing body. Under the proposed terms, 100% of the gross revenue generated from all Aave-branded products will be remitted directly to the Aave DAO treasury. This move signifies a shift toward a "token-centric" model, ensuring that the financial value created by the ecosystem's expanding product suite is captured entirely by AAVE token holders rather than the private development firm.
Comprehensive Revenue Sharing and Product Scope
The framework encompasses a wide array of existing and upcoming services within the Aave ecosystem. By pledging to no longer retain product income, Aave Labs aims to align its long-term incentives with those of the community. The revenue streams to be redirected include:
- aave.com: All fees generated through the primary web interface and its associated swap functions.
- Aave App: The forthcoming consumer-facing mobile application designed for mainstream adoption.
- Aave Card: A debit card integrated with the ecosystem, providing users with direct access to their on-chain assets.
- Aave Pro and Aave Kit: Institutional-grade interfaces and enterprise developer tools.
- Aave Horizon: The protocol's specialized market for Real-World Assets (RWA).
Funding Request and Operational Sustainability
In exchange for surrendering its independent revenue streams, Aave Labs is requesting a structured budget from the DAO to support its operations over the next 12 months. The proposal seeks 25 million USD in stablecoins and 75,000 AAVE tokens, with the latter subject to a linear four-year unlocking schedule to ensure long-term commitment. Furthermore, the plan earmarks approximately 17.5 million USD for specific product growth incentives and development milestones, particularly for the mobile app and institutional tools.
The Aave Will Win Framework expands Aave DAO's revenue base beyond protocol revenue to include non-protocol and off-chain revenue, materially increasing the DAO's capacity to grow its treasury.
Strategic Vision: Aave V4 and Brand Protection
A central pillar of the proposal is the prioritization of Aave V4, the next evolution of the lending protocol. Aave Labs suggests that the new revenue model, combined with the technical efficiencies of V4, will significantly boost the DAO's income. To safeguard the ecosystem's integrity, the framework also proposes a robust intellectual property protection mechanism and a system for quarterly financial disclosures and KPI reporting. This structure aims to provide transparency and accountability as the protocol transitions to its new governance-funded operational model.
The proposal has recently cleared its initial Snapshot "temperature check" and is now moving toward the Aave Request for Final Comment (ARFC) stage. If the community continues to show support, the plan will proceed to a formal on-chain Aave Improvement Proposal (AIP) for final execution, marking one of the most significant shifts in DeFi governance to date.
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