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Aave Review

Lending Protocols · Official site ↗

A+
Risk grade

Dominant DeFi lending market — deepest liquidity across major assets

Best for: Risk-averse users seeking stable yields on major assets with maximum security

TVL
$12.80B
APY Range
1.5-15.2%
Founded
2017
Chains
ethereum, polygon, arbitrum, optimism, base, avalanche, bsc

Risk Assessment

Largest DeFi lending protocol with 4+ audits, multi-sig governance, real-world institutional adoption.

Audits & security reviews
Trail of Bits, OpenZeppelin, Certora, SigmaPrime

Fees

Protocolreserve factor 10-15%
Borrow Spreadvariable based on utilization

Top Markets

AssetTypeUtilization30d APY
USDC lending 62% 4.8%
USDT lending 68% 5.2%
ETH lending 45% 1.8%
DAI lending 58% 4.6%

Strengths

  • Largest TVL in DeFi lending
  • Deepest liquidity across USDC/USDT/DAI/ETH/WBTC
  • FlashLoan feature enables advanced strategies
  • Strong institutional adoption and regulatory prep

Weaknesses & Risks

  • !Variable rates can swing significantly with utilization
  • !Lower headline APYs vs niche aggregators
  • !Complex for absolute beginners

Aave FAQ

What is Aave?

Aave is a lending protocols founded in 2017 on ethereum, polygon, arbitrum, optimism, base, avalanche, bsc. Dominant DeFi lending market — deepest liquidity across major assets

What APY can I earn on Aave?

Current yields typically range from 1.5% to 15.2% APY, with a typical rate around 4.5%. APY varies with market conditions, utilization and token emissions — always verify live rates before depositing.

Is Aave safe?

DifiCalc risk grade: A+. Largest DeFi lending protocol with 4+ audits, multi-sig governance, real-world institutional adoption. Audits: Trail of Bits, OpenZeppelin, Certora, SigmaPrime. As with all DeFi, smart-contract and market risk remains — never deposit more than you can afford to lose.

What fees does Aave charge?

Protocol: reserve factor 10-15%. Borrow Spread: variable based on utilization.

Run the numbers yourself

Model a real Aave position with our free yield calculator — no signup.

Information last reviewed in 2026. APY figures are indicative ranges from protocol data and may differ from live rates. This page is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.