Aave plans to launch a white label lending platform on Ink | A new paradigm of fusion between Decentralized Finance and CeFi

Aave DAO is voting on a significant proposal to deploy a white label version of the lending protocol on the Layer 2 network Ink. This will be Aave's first expansion of its DeFi services in a white label model, collaborating closely with centralized platforms, and exploring new revenue sources and institutional compliance pathways.

Aave white label protocol is set to launch Ink, with strong support from DAO voting

According to the proposal submitted to Snapshot on July 17, Aave will deploy its core lending smart contracts in a white label format on the Ink chain, managed by the Ink Foundation under a new brand. As of now, the proposal has received over 790,000 votes in support, clearly leading against the opposing votes, and voting will close on July 21.

This is also Aave's first white label deployment, aimed at expanding its technological influence and generating additional revenue through brand licensing and revenue sharing.

Ink and Aave join forces to create compliance-friendly on-chain lending services

Ink Chain is an Ethereum Layer 2 solution based on the Optimism Superchain, supported by CEX. This collaboration will provide on-chain lending services for the users of this CEX, managed centrally by the Ink Foundation, achieving a fusion of DeFi architecture and centralized regulation.

This model may attract institutional users to enter the market and provide a convenient DeFi access channel for existing CEX user groups.

Early Incentives and Aave Resource Injection Supporting Growth Objectives

To promote adoption, the Ink Foundation will distribute 4% of INK tokens to early users, while Aave DAO will provide AAVE tokens and its stablecoin GHO as initial liquidity support.

The platform aims to attract at least $250 million in deposits—this figure far exceeds Ink's current TVL of less than $10 million, and intends to narrow the gap with competitors like Base (which currently has a TVL of over $3.7 billion).

The pattern of multiple beneficiaries has taken shape, but decentralized governance has sparked discussions

This deployment will provide Ink with a flagship DApp, promoting the expansion of its Layer2 ecosystem; CEX will gain a robust expansion of DeFi lending products; Aave can achieve income diversification without compromising its core decentralized protocol.

At the same time, the Aave community has expressed concerns about the Ink Foundation having high management authority. Some members question whether this collaboration may undermine the decentralized nature of Aave governance.

If the proposal is approved, a comprehensive audit will be conducted before the protocol goes live, with Ink responsible for the final user interface and functionality management. In addition, Ink will enjoy at least one year of exclusive white label deployment rights.

Conclusion: The collaboration between Aave and Ink explores new directions for the integration of DeFi and CeFi. The deployment of the white label protocol not only enhances the commercialization capabilities of the protocol but also provides a compliance-friendly channel for DeFi. Users and developers should pay attention to the long-term impact of this model on decentralized governance and carefully evaluate future opportunities.