Stani Kulechov, the founder of Aave Labs, refuted claims of buying AAVE tokens to sway a pivotal DAO vote on December 26, 2025, regarding asset control.
The allegations highlight ongoing governance challenges within Aave, affecting decentralization debates and token market stability, with AAVE’s price momentarily dipping.
AAVE Purchase Not Intended to Sway DAO Vote
Stani Kulechov, founder of Aave Labs, has refuted claims of buying AAVE tokens to sway a failed DAO vote on asset control. The Snapshot vote ended with 55.29% against transferring brand assets to DAO control.
Kulechov purchased approximately $10-15 million in AAVE on December 23, 2025, but asserts it was not for voting. “These tokens were not used to vote on the recent proposal; that was never my intention,” noted Kulechov. The vote aimed to decide on the transfer of brand assets and intellectual property to DAO oversight.
AAVE Community Split Over Governance Influence
Community reactions have been mixed, with some accusing Kulechov of attempting to influence governance. Critics argue governance risks remain due to centralized control by top wallet holders.
Potential shifts in AAVE token value were observed, with short-term price drops and increased trading volume. Historical governance challenges in DeFi further amplify concerns over the balance between centralization and open governance.
DeFi Governance Issues Highlight Centralization Fears
Similar governance issues have arisen in the DeFi sector, where tensions between centralized entities and decentralized voting lay foundation for controversy. This event underscores ongoing debates on asset control and revenue allocation.
As Kanalcoin noted, regulatory scrutiny could intensify amidst increasing governance tensions. Experts highlight the precedence of such issues as indicative of challenges faced by DeFi in achieving true decentralization.
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