Aave DAO Sets $2M Revenue Rule, Freezes Some V3 Chains

• Aave DAO proposes freezing V3 on zkSync, Metis, and Soneium after they generated just $3k–$50k yearly revenue.

• New Aave V3 deployments would need to guarantee at least $2M in annual revenue to justify costs and governance effort.

• The DAO aims to cut operational strain and refocus contributors on high-activity chains like Ethereum mainnet.

Aave DAO has introduced a governance proposal to narrow Aave V3’s multichain footprint. The proposal, shared through an ARFC, outlines plans to freeze deployments on zkSync, Metis, and Soneium. According to the DAO, the move aims to reduce operational strain and align deployment costs with measurable revenue outcomes.

Proposal Details and Revenue Benchmarks

The proposal is titled “Focussing the Aave V3 Multichain Strategy – Phase 1.” It recommends freezing Aave V3 activity on zkSync, Metis, and Soneium due to low usage. According to the ARFC, these deployments generate between $3,000 and $50,000 annually.

By comparison, the Ethereum mainnet deployment produces about $142 million yearly. Aave DAO states this gap shows an imbalance in resource allocation. Notably, even low-activity deployments require ongoing monitoring and governance actions.

To address this, the proposal introduces a new requirement for future V3 launches. Any new deployment must guarantee at least $2 million in annual revenue. According to the DAO, this threshold reflects the value Aave brings to new chains.

“The upfront and recurring costs mean the DAO must prioritize deployments that justify the time and risk,” the proposal states.

Operational Burden and Strategic Rationale

Aave V3 launched its multichain strategy in 2022 to expand access across layer-2 networks. However, the DAO reports that some deployments show no meaningful growth. As a result, they add operational risk without proportional returns.

Each active network requires updates, parameter adjustments, and asset maintenance. According to the proposal, this workload increases governance overhead. Therefore, freezing low-performing instances would allow contributors to focus on higher-impact markets.

The DAO argues that continuing these deployments offers limited upside. Meanwhile, attention shifts away from chains that support higher activity and revenue.

Governance Process and Recent Developments

The freeze proposal follows a prior governance vote in December 2025. That vote approved shutting down low-performing V3 instances. It passed with 99.96% support, totaling 923,400 votes. Next, Aave DAO plans to collect feedback from service providers and community members. After that, the proposal will advance to an ARFC snapshot vote.

Separately, Aave founder Stani Kulechov has appeared in public discussions after purchasing a £22 million London mansion. Despite brand control disputes, the purchase drew attention. Meanwhile, Aave Labs continues development work. Recent efforts include a CoW Swap integration and a reinvestment module planned for Aave V4.