Aave to Enter 2026 With a Master Plan, SEC Ends 4-Year Investigation

Core Insights - The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially closed its nearly four-year investigation into the DeFi protocol Aave without taking enforcement action [2][3] - Aave's founder, Stani Kulechov, has shared a long-term roadmap focusing on scaling the platform into a core credit system of the onchain economy [4] Regulatory Developments - The investigation began under the Biden administration, reflecting a tougher regulatory stance on digital assets [3] - Aave Labs maintained regular communication with regulators throughout the investigation, allowing for operations without legal uncertainty [3] Aave's Long-Term Strategy - The roadmap includes three main areas: Aave V4, Horizon, and the Aave App, aiming to onboard millions of new users and move the next trillion dollars in assets onchain [4] - Aave has processed over $3.33 trillion in total deposits and issued nearly $1 trillion in loans since its launch [4] Financial Performance - In the current year, Aave generated approximately $885 million in fees and holds about 59% of the DeFi lending market [5] - Despite its size, Kulechov describes Aave as still being in its early stages [5] Product Developments - Aave V4 will redesign the protocol's structure to unify liquidity across different networks [5] - Horizon, launched earlier this year, focuses on regulated and compliance-aligned lending [5] - The Aave App aims to simplify access to DeFi for everyday users [6] Market Reaction - AAVE's price has seen a short-term decline of around 2%, with trading volume dropping by approximately 28% [7] - The token is currently trading below a major resistance zone, with a key support area identified between $135 and $150 [7]