10 Years In, Here's Why Aave's Founder Isn’t Done Betting on Ethereum - Ep. 878

37 snips

Aug 1, 2025

Stani Kulechov, the founder of Aave and ETHLend, dives into Ethereum's 10-year legacy and its resilience against competition. He passionately discusses why Aave remains committed to Ethereum, unveiling plans for Aave V4 and its institutional initiative, Horizon. Stani also critiques the Ethereum Foundation and shares insights on blending traditional finance with decentralized protocols. With a history rooted in DeFi, he highlights the evolving landscape and the importance of integrating real-world assets into this financial revolution.

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ANECDOTE

Stani's Early Ethereum Journey

Stani Kulechov started building on Ethereum in 2016 as a university student with a hobby project called ETHLEND.
He reflects on the surreal growth of Aave and DeFi from small experiments to billions in deposits and liquidity.

INSIGHT

Ethereum Foundation's Role Critique

Aave’s success is independent of the Ethereum Foundation, but the Foundation can accelerate ecosystem growth.
Stani criticizes the EF's limited focus on DeFi despite its financial roots and sees opportunity in deeper EF involvement.

INSIGHT

DeFi as Backend for TradFi Lending

Traditional financial institutions should leverage DeFi protocols like Aave to avoid building complex infrastructure.
DeFi automates lending logic, improving resilience, security, and lowering operational risk for banks and fintechs.

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