TL;DR
- Launch: Aave debuts on Aptos with USDC, USDT, APT, and sUSDe, backed by liquidity incentives and Chainlink oracles.
- Security: Rebuilt in Move with multiple audits, $500K bug bounty, and risk parameters set by Chaos Labs and LlamaRisk.
- Outlook: Targets Aptos’s $1.3B stablecoin base and liquid staking growth, with plans for asset expansion and ongoing security.
Aave, the world’s second-largest decentralized lending protocol, has officially launched on Aptos, marking its first deployment on a non‑EVM blockchain. The move expands Aave’s multichain strategy and introduces support for four assets at launch: native USDC, USDT, APT, and sUSDe. The Aptos Foundation will provide user rewards and liquidity incentives to drive adoption, while Chainlink Price Feeds will secure market data for the new deployment.
Aave is live on @aptos. pic.twitter.com/azgKS0JKFc
— Aave (@aave) August 21, 2025
Strategic Expansion Beyond EVM
With over $50 billion in net deposits and nearly $37 billion in total value locked, Aave’s arrival on Aptos signals a major step toward diversifying its network presence. Founder Stani Kulechov described the launch as a “big step” in building a global, open financial system. Aptos, a proof‑of‑stake Layer 1 built in the Move language, offers low‑latency finality and high throughput, making it attractive for DeFi protocols seeking performance and scalability.
Technical Build and Security
To operate on Aptos, Aave Labs re‑implemented its V3 protocol in Move, developed a new front‑end and SDK, and underwent extensive architecture reviews, testing, and audits. Security partners included Zellic, Ottersec, SpearBit (Cantina), and Certora, with Chaos Labs and LlamaRisk setting risk parameters.
A $500,000 bug bounty in GHO is available, complementing earlier security contests. The launch targets Aptos’s $1.3 billion stablecoin base, dominated by USDT, and aims to unlock new collateral markets such as liquid staking tokens.
Market Context and Adoption Goals
Only 8.1% of APT is currently in liquid staking tokens compared to 76% directly staked, presenting a growth opportunity for lending and borrowing activity. Aptos Foundation’s Ash Pampati called the integration a “major milestone” for its Global Trading Engine vision. Chainlink Labs’ Johann Eid noted the deployment extends a long‑standing collaboration with Aave, ensuring MEV‑resilient oracle feeds for users and developers.
Future Outlook
Both teams expect the launch to serve as a liquidity engine for Aptos, potentially accelerating total value locked growth as seen on other chains hosting Aave. Plans include expanding supported assets, adjusting risk settings as markets mature, and continuing security programs. The deployment also serves as a template for future non‑EVM expansions, subject to Aave DAO governance, reinforcing Aave’s role as a cornerstone of cross‑chain DeFi infrastructure.
