In a major step toward expanding decentralized finance into institutional territory, Aave DAO has voted overwhelmingly to allow the Ink Foundation—an organization tied to Kraken’s Ethereum Layer 2 network—to launch a customized, white-label version of the Aave V3 lending protocol.
The vote, conducted under Aave’s ARFC (Aave Request for Comments) governance process, passed with near-unanimous approval—99.8% in favor. The decision paves the way for the Ink Foundation to build a rebranded lending platform based on Aave’s trusted infrastructure, but tailored for centralized institutional use.
According to the proposal, “The Ink Foundation seeks to leverage Aave's battle-tested infrastructure to create a native lending platform.”
It’s a move both parties view as a win-win: Ink gains access to proven DeFi architecture, while Aave extends its reach into a more traditional financial ecosystem without compromising its decentralized roots.
What’s in the Deal?
The white-label version will be supported by Aave DAO service providers for the first six months of operations. In return, Aave DAO will earn a revenue share equal to or exceeding what it would receive from a 5% Reserve Factor based on borrow volumes across all lending pools.
To protect the integrity of the agreement, Ink and its centralized partners will be restricted from partnering with other lending protocols for at least 12 months after the platform’s launch.
The Ink Foundation, for its part, is making a serious commitment to grow the new platform. It plans to roll out multiple liquidity mining programs to help seed the ecosystem, with a goal of attracting over $250 million in initial liquidity.
Aave’s Expanding Footprint
This collaboration comes at a time when Aave V3 is already widely deployed across the DeFi landscape. According to data from DeFiLlama, the protocol currently operates on 17 blockchains, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, and Polygon—underscoring its flexibility and broad adoption.
While the new version of the protocol will operate in a more centralized format, the strategic partnership could help bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized platforms, especially for institutions seeking regulatory clarity and reliable infrastructure.
The Aave-Ink partners hip reflects a growing trend in crypto: blending decentralized innovation with centralized execution to meet institutional needs. With significant liquidity plans and long-term commitments from both sides, this white-label launch could mark a pivotal moment in DeFi’s evolution into mainstream finance.
