Aave, a decentralized finance (DeFi) lending protocol, is set to launch its own blockchain network following the completion of its V4 upgrade. Stani Kulechov, the CEO of Aave, revealed that the network could potentially be launched in 2025 or earlier, as outlined in the project’s strategic 2030 roadmap. The Aave Network, which will serve as the primary hub for Aave and its native stablecoin GHO, will maintain a multichain and network-agnostic approach, allowing for seamless integration with different blockchain ecosystems. The proposal also suggests that the GHO stablecoin could be used to pay gas fees on the network, while the AAVE token will be the main staking asset for decentralized validators and sequencers. This move is expected to increase the utility and demand for both tokens within the ecosystem. Aave’s decision to launch its own blockchain comes at a time when the protocol is experiencing significant growth and dominance in the DeFi space, with a total value locked (TVL) of over $13 billion, making it the largest lending protocol and the third-largest DeFi project overall. While initially built on the Ethereum blockchain, Aave has expanded to other networks like Avalanche. A key member of the network governance team believes that if Aave existed as an independent chain, it would be the largest Ethereum Layer-2 network, surpassing other giants in the space. The news of Aave’s blockchain plans has been well-received by the crypto community, with experts stating that successful apps will eventually launch their own dedicated blockchains. The launch of the Aave Network is expected to have significant implications for the DeFi ecosystem, attracting more users and liquidity to the Aave platform and fostering innovation within the broader DeFi space. The network’s multichain compatibility will also facilitate greater interoperability and collaboration among different blockchain ecosystems.