Aave Founder Dismisses Reports Of Payward’s ‘70% Discount’ Stake Purchase
Aave founder Stani Kulechov has dismissed reports claiming that Kraken's parent company, Payward, was negotiating to purchase a 15% stake in Aave Group at a steep 70% discount. The reported deal proposed a $71 million investment at a $385 million valuation, which was framed as a significant discount compared to AAVE's fully diluted token valuation. Kulechov rejected this narrative, stating AAVE would not be sold at such a discount, and highlighted Aave's protocol revenue.
The article clarifies the distinction between different entities within the Aave ecosystem—Aave Group, Aave Labs, Aave DAO, and AAVE token holders—noting that an equity discussion in a related company does not equate to selling the protocol or transferring DAO control. It underscores the sensitivity of major DeFi protocols to strategic investment rumors and the importance of accurate terminology to avoid misleading readers.
While strategic discussions are common in the crypto sector, Kulechov specifically denied the discounted sale framing. The situation highlights that future developments should be monitored via official Aave channels, and market reactions may depend on whether token holders view the denial as value-supportive or focus on potential future distributions. The key takeaway is the founder's rejection of the 70% discount story, while leaving room for strategic partnerships under different terms.
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