Aave Labs is sunsetting the Avara “umbrella brand,” which once housed its semi-related family of Web3 projects, including Lens, the decentralized social media project recently acquired by Mask, and the Family wallet, which Aave co-founder Stani Kulechov said on Tuesday will be wound down.
“All current and future products, including the Aave mobile app, Aave Pro, and Aave Kit, will operate under Aave Labs,” Avara said on X. “This change simplifies our brand surface under Aave Labs and focuses our resources on building Aave brand awareness and introducing DeFi to millions of new users globally.”
The move to sunset Avara and cut loose its non-lending-related intellectual property comes amid a shift in focus at Aave Labs to recenter attention on the Aave lending protocol.
It also comes amid a simmering debate between Aave Labs, the private company that initially developed the Aave lending protocol, and the Aave DAO, which has largely shepherded the Aave smart contracts and protocol parameters since the Avara rebrand in 2023, over which entity ultimately controls Aave.
Aave is by far the dominant onchain credit system on Ethereum.
Labs vs. DAO?
Last December, Aave Labs sparked tensions within the Aave community after integrating CoW Swap into the official aave.com interface and redirecting swap fees that previously funded the Aave DAO treasury to a private wallet controlled by Aave Labs.
That move surfaced questions over who truly owns Aave. The Aave DAO, governed by AAVE token holders, is said to control the protocol’s smart contracts, risk parameters, and protocol-level revenue, while Aave Labs owns key off-chain elements like the official frontend (aave.com), branding, domains, social media, IP, trademarks, and other user-facing products.
A community-led “poison pill” proposal to legally seize Aave Labs’ IP, code, brand assets, and equity — essentially turning the company into a DAO subsidiary — failed during a governance vote, in part due to Aave Labs’ and Kulechov’s concentrated token holdings. However, Kulechov has since proposed sharing future non-protocol revenue with AAVE holders and revisiting the IP and branding question.
At the time of the Avara rebrand, a Finnish phrase for “seeing more than you see,” Kulechov said the company wanted to expand beyond its DeFi niche into other web3 verticals. Now, however, it appears that Kulechov is once again championing DeFi.
In January, Aave announced it sold the Lens web3 social media protocol and it will now look to wind down its Family wallet-related projects.
“As part of this transition, the Avara brand is no longer required as we go all in on bringing Aave to the masses,” Kulechov said on X. “We are now united as one team of world-class designers, engineers, and smart contract experts, aligned around a single mission: bringing DeFi to everyone.”
Late last year, Aave unveiled an upgraded Aave App offering high-yield savings options, including interest rates of up to 9% and “insurance-backed protection” on deposits up to $1 million. Kulechov also previously said the protocol is pursuing a long-term plan to scale toward trillions of dollars in onchain financial activity, following the conclusion of a multi-year regulatory probe by U.S. authorities.
On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported Kulechov had purchased a five-story Victorian mansion in London’s Notting Hill for £22 million, or about $30 million, sparking some pushback.
© 2026 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
Trade Crypto On Coinhub Exchange
Trade Crypto On Coinhub Exchange
Stay ahead of the market by turning news insights into trading opportunities. With Coinhub Exchange, you can seamlessly buy, sell, and manage your digital assets, all in one secure platform. Take advantage of real-time market insights, deep liquidity, and fast execution for your favorite cryptocurrencies. Don’t just read about it — trade crypto now!
Disclaimer
The content of this article shown by Coinhub News, powered by The Block, is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Coinhub News and its affiliates are not a licensed financial advisor, legal advisor, broker, or tax advisor, and ... should not be considered as professional advice or a recommendation to engage in any specific investment, legal decision, or financial transaction. Cryptocurrency markets are highly speculative and volatile. Readers should perform their own independent research and consult with a qualified professional before making any financial or legal decisions. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Company of its affiliates. Additionally, the Company does not make any representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, timeliness, reliability, or completeness of any information in this article. By accessing this content, you acknowledge that any reliance on the information contained in this article is solely at your own risk. The Company is not responsible for any financial losses, legal disputes, or other damages that may arise from reliance on this content or from any investment or legal decisions based on the information provided. Investing in cryptocurrencies involves substantial risks, including the risk of losing your entire investment, and you should carefully consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances.
Read more
