Aave is an open-source, non-custodial protocol to earn interest on deposits and borrow assets.
Aave launched as ETHLend, but rebranded to its current form in September 2018. As ETHLend, it raised $600,000 in Ether in November 2017. The team consists of 19 members coming from a diverse background.
The platform’s native governance token AAVE (previously it was LEND), which also gives its holders discounts on network fees. Compared to other platforms of its kind, Aave has listed a comparatively greater number of assets against which loans can be issued, with a multitude of assets available, including offers on layer 2 Ethereum chains like Polygon. This in combination with its flash loan feature has made it a popular choice for borrowing and has contributed to its quick growth in 2020 and 2021.