Stani Kulechov Charts Aave’s Next Chapter After SEC Exit

Crypto News DeFi

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: December 17, 2025

Key Takeaways

Aave CEO Stani Kulechov shared a 2026 roadmap after the SEC ended its four-year investigation into the protocol;
The plan centers on Aave V4, Horizon, and a mobile app to scale DeFi use and reach $1 billion in real-world asset deposits;
Horizon will expand with partners like Circle and Ripple, while the Aave App aims to attract everyday fintech users.

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Stani Kulechov Charts Aave’s Next Chapter After SEC Exit

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Stani Kulechov, Aave’s AAVE $178.23 founder and CEO, has shared a new roadmap for 2026 after confirming that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ended its four-year review of the protocol.

In a post on X on December 16, Kulechov explained that the company’s next phase will focus on three main areas: Aave V4, Horizon, and the Aave App.

He said these pillars will help the platform grow and reach goals such as $1 billion in real-world asset deposits.

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The first part of the plan, Aave V4, will include major updates to how users borrow and lend, as well as improvements to the interface and risk controls.

It will use a Hub-and-Spoke structure, where the central “hub” acts as a shared liquidity pool across chains, and the “spokes” are smaller, customizable markets that connect to it. Aave also plans to launch new markets and integrate new asset types through 2026.

The second focus area, Horizon, aims to expand Aave’s role in real-world assets by partnering with major financial institutions. Kulechov said Horizon currently manages about $550 million in deposits, and the goal for 2026 is to double that figure.

He mentioned partners such as Circle, Ripple, Franklin Templeton, and VanEck as examples of organizations helping to bring traditional asset classes into Aave’s ecosystem.

The final pillar is the Aave mobile app, released on Apple’s App Store in November. He noted that the mobile fintech industry is worth more than $2 trillion, and Aave hopes to reach new audiences by offering simple tools and competitive savings products.

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