Aave founder Stani Kulechov announced that the “Aave Will Win” governance proposal has passed its Temp Check, a preliminary vote signaling community support. The proposal now advances to the ARFC (Aave Request for Comment) stage, where structural details will be refined based on community feedback before a final on-chain vote.
Revenue Model Shift: 100% to DAO Treasury
The core of the proposal is a fully token-centric model: all revenue generated from Aave-branded products built by Aave Labs will be directed to the DAO treasury and linked to the AAVE token. This replaces the previous system where Aave Labs received a portion of protocol revenue for operational expenses.
Kulechov stressed that the Temp Check is only an early indicator of support. Key details—such as exact revenue allocation and treasury usage—will be determined in the ARFC phase. The proposal also hints at establishing a foundation to hold brand trademarks, with specifics to be voted on later.
Tied to Aave V4 Upgrade
The “Aave Will Win” initiative is closely linked to the upcoming Aave V4 upgrade. Under V4, the smart contract layer will serve as a base, allowing products like interfaces and institutional tools built by Aave Labs to route revenue to the DAO. This broadens income sources beyond lending fees to include ancillary product revenues.
Past debates within the community centered on control of brand assets and governance responsibilities between the DAO and Aave Labs. The new proposal attempts to resolve this by having Aave Labs cede direct revenue claims in exchange for a DAO-funded operational budget, while pooling all brand-derived income collectively.
The ARFC stage is expected to last several weeks, followed by an on-chain vote. If passed, Aave will become a DeFi protocol where all earnings flow to token holders, potentially setting a precedent for other protocols.