Aave DAO Shifts Strategy by Freezing V3 on Low-Activity Layer-2 Chains

Aave DAO plans to freeze V3 on low-revenue chains as it shifts toward high-performing networks and enforces new revenue rules for future deployments.

Areeba Rashid
February 5, 2026
1:13 am

Areeba Rashid

Areeba Rashid is a dedicated crypto news writer with a passion for making complex topics accessible to everyone. She covers the latest developments in the crypto world, including in-depth price analysis, helping readers stay informed and make sense of market trends.

Aave DAO is moving to freeze V3 deployments on zkSync, Metis, and Soneium as part of a plan to streamline operations and reduce the costs of maintaining low-revenue networks. The proposal outlines a shift toward high-performance chains with stronger economic returns.

Aave DAO introduced the plan through an ARFC proposal titled “Focusing the Aave V3 Multichain Strategy – Phase 1.” The document presents a detailed structure for restricting support for chains that show low activity. It directs attention toward deployments that generate meaningful revenue.

The DAO notes that several V3 instances produce very small annual returns. These networks generate between $3,000 and $50,000 a year. They still require continuous monitoring and governance work. Such an arrangement creates an imbalance between input and output.

Aave Revenue Gap Highlights Weak L2 Performance

The Ethereum mainnet provides a clear comparison. Aave V3 on Ethereum generates $142 million annually. The DAO highlights this gap to explain why resources should shift toward stronger markets. The wide revenue disparity shapes the core justification for the freeze.

Aave introduced its multichain strategy in 2022. The approach is designed to increase the accessibility of V3 for Layer-2 chains. Since the launch, usage of the approach has been low for chains like zkSync, Metis, and Soneium.

The rationale provided for the approach is the ongoing work required for the chains. Reviewing risks, keeping the information up to date, and maintaining the chains is an ongoing process. The process continues regardless of the low usage.

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Aave wants to avoid unnecessary strain on the governance process. The approach will allow the teams to focus on successful implementations. This is the theme of the first phase of the proposal.

Community Support Backs Targeted V3 Changes

The ARFC also introduces criteria for new expansions. Future V3 deployments must show a minimum annual revenue potential of $2 million. The DAO says this requirement ensures that new chains justify both upfront and recurring spending.

The proposal explains that every deployment carries technical and operational risks. It states that only chains with clear economic value should proceed. This principle will guide future decisions as the multichain strategy evolves.

Community support for downsizing is strong. A preliminary vote held in December 2025 recorded 99.96% approval. A total of 923,400 votes supported the shutdown of low-performing V3 instances. Almost all votes supported the measure.

Aave DAO will still collect additional feedback. Service providers and community members will share input before implementation begins. Once that step is complete, the freeze will take effect. The new revenue threshold will also become part of all future deployment criteria.

Aave continues developing new features. Recent updates include work on CoW Swap integration and a reinvestment module for V4. These initiatives support the broader plan to strengthen the protocol while refining its multichain presence.