TL;DR
- Liquidity Model: Aqua Multichain lets providers use one wallet balance to back multiple positions, keeping tokens under user control until swaps execute.
- Utilization Data: Research found 85% of $1.84 billion in concentrated liquidity was underutilized, with $542 million outside active ranges and $150 million in missed annual fees. Aqua Multichain targets this inefficiency.
- Incentives: 1inch launched a $1.37 million incentive program through Merkl, combining 10 million 1INCH and $500,000 in USDC to drive early adoption of Aqua Multichain across 13 chains.
1inch has expanded its shared liquidity system, opening Aqua Multichain access across 13 Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible networks. The rollout gives liquidity providers a way to support multiple positions using a single wallet balance, aiming to reduce fragmentation and improve capital efficiency across decentralized markets. Tokens remain in user wallets until a swap executes, preserving custody while enabling broader quoting capacity.
Aqua Multichain unlocks unified balance support
With Aqua Multichain, providers can quote several positions without splitting assets into separate pools. 1inch highlighted that a $100,000 balance could back three positions quoting a combined $300,000. This represents quoted liquidity rather than additional capital, and orders only execute if the wallet holds enough assets to settle the trade. If the balance cannot cover the swap, the transaction fails. Co-founder Sergej Kunz emphasized that tokens stay under user control while one balance supports multiple strategies across chains. The protocol’s public interface lets users create full-range, concentrated or pegged positions across networks such as Ethereum, Base, BNB Chain, Arbitrum and Robinhood Chain. 1inch first introduced Aqua Multichain last year, releasing its SDK, libraries and documentation to developers ahead of the broader launch.
Underutilized liquidity data drives rollout
The expansion follows research commissioned by 1inch showing that 85% of $1.84 billion tracked across major concentrated-liquidity venues was underutilized during the first half of 2026. Roughly $542 million sat outside active trading ranges in an average week, missing an estimated $150 million in annual fees. Aqua Multichain aims to reduce idle capital and improve fee capture opportunities for providers. Security was a core focus, with 1inch stating that Aqua Multichain underwent eight independent audits. Despite the design improvements, liquidity providers still face price volatility, impermanent loss, and smart-contract risk.
Incentive program boosts early participation
To support adoption, 1inch launched a liquidity incentive program distributed through Merkl. The 1inch Foundation committed 10 million 1INCH, while the DAO added $500,000 in USDC over three months. At current prices, the token portion is valued around $870,000, bringing the combined program to roughly $1.37 million. The incentives are intended to accelerate early usage of Aqua Multichain across supported chains.
