- Stani Kulechov denied using a $15M AAVE purchase to influence governance
- A proposal over Aave brand assets was rejected amid community backlash
- Governance process concerns and alignment issues remain unresolved
Stani Kulechov, founder and CEO of Aave Labs, has pushed back against claims that he bought $15 million worth of AAVE tokens to sway a recent and highly contentious governance vote. The allegation surfaced after a proposal tied to Aave’s brand assets and intellectual property failed to pass, igniting fresh debate around transparency, alignment, and power dynamics inside one of DeFi’s largest protocols.
Kulechov Responds to Vote Manipulation Claims
Kulechov said the AAVE tokens in question were not used to vote on the proposal and were never intended to influence governance outcomes. He framed the purchase as a personal conviction play rather than a tactical move, emphasizing his long-term commitment to the protocol.
According to Kulechov, the controversy has exposed a deeper issue: Aave Labs has not done a good enough job explaining how its products and integrations create value for the DAO and AAVE token holders. He acknowledged the communication gap and said future efforts would be more explicit about economic alignment.
What Triggered the Governance Backlash
The dispute centers on a proposal to bring Aave’s brand assets and intellectual property under direct DAO control. Tensions escalated after a DAO member claimed that fees from a recent integration with CoW Swap were routed to a wallet controlled by Aave Labs, without prior DAO consultation.
That revelation set off intense community debate, with critics arguing that those fees should belong to the DAO and that governance norms were bypassed. The proposal was ultimately rejected, with more than 55% voting against it, over 41% abstaining, and just 3.5% voting in favor.
Community Frustration and Process Concerns
Even before voting concluded, several DAO members criticized the proposal process itself, saying it was rushed and did not follow standard governance practices. Adding to the confusion, Ernesto Boado, a former Aave Labs CTO listed as the proposal’s author, later stated it was submitted without his knowledge or consent.
The episode has highlighted ongoing friction between Aave Labs and the DAO, particularly around control, transparency, and how value flows back to token holders. While the immediate proposal is now off the table, the broader questions it raised remain unresolved.
