Holders of Aave token, a notable figure in decentralized finance (DeFi), are in the midst of voting over a governance proposal. The proposal, which has already received 252,000 of the required 320,000 votes, is centered on the conversion of 1,600 ether (ETH), equivalent to roughly $3 million, into wrapped staked ether (wstETH) and rocket pool ether (rETH).
These are both forms of liquid staking derivatives that allow investors to stake tokens, and secure a yield while maintaining liquidity. Nestled among giants, Aave sits as the third-largest DeFi protocol with a total value locked of $6 billion. By directly staking these 1,600 ETH on the Aave v2 platform, the protocol currently yields 1.69%.
Amid this, a holder has suggested another path for potential yield. By staking in wstETH and rETH, the protocol could earn 3.8% and 3.13% respectively, considerably higher than the current yield. This proposition, on one hand, could be deemed an imaginative use of staked assets to garner higher gains. But, on the other hand, it appears to be a calculated risk, since the increase in yield comes with an inherent exposure to the volatilities of wstETH and rETH.
The aave token has seen a 7.24% uptick in just the last 24 hours, culminating in a 29% rise over the last week, likely reflecting a positive market sentiment towards the ongoing vote. However, despite all votes cast currently being in favor of the proposal, it remains to be seen whether the necessary threshold of 320,000 votes will be achieved by Friday’s deadline.
Leading the charge is a wallet by the name of “aavechan.eth,” holding staked Aave tokens worth $397,000, as per etherscan. While undoubtedly significant in swaying the vote, this concentration of voting power could prove to be a double-edged sword. It might induce faster decision-making and an alignment of interest, but it could also give rise to fears of centralization in what is supposed to be a decentralized governance structure.
Thus, the trajectory of the vote will invariably shed more light on the power dynamics within the Aave community, ushering in a crucial moment for DeFi governance.
Source: Coindesk
