Aave DAO Considers Pulling Back: zkSync, Metis and Soneium May Be Shut Down

The world’s largest decentralized‑lending protocol seems to be dialing back its ambition. Aave DAO is currently debating a proposal to deprecate and unwind its deployments on zkSync, Metis, and Soneium — three networks that, until recently, formed part of its aggressive multichain expansion.

Why the Reversal?

The reconsideration stems from a proposal initiated by the community delegate platform Aave Chan Initiative (ACI). According to ACI, the underperforming networks are failing to generate sufficient revenue to justify ongoing operational and maintenance costs. In the case of Metis, annualized revenue reportedly amounts to only a few thousand dollars; Soneium brings in somewhat more, but remains marginal compared with Aave’s major markets. By contrast, Aave’s main deployments — notably on the Ethereum mainnet — continue to generate the overwhelming majority of revenue, making smaller networks a drag on resources. The proposal therefore suggests winding down the three least profitable instances.

A Shift in Strategy: From Multichain Maximalism to Profit‑First Discipline

This shift marks a major departure from Aave’s longstanding “go wide” philosophy. The protocol had historically embraced maximalist multichain expansion — deploying on dozens of blockchains to maximize reach and liquidity. The new plan prioritizes financial viability and resource efficiency.

As part of the proposed changes, Aave would adopt stricter criteria before any new deployment: a minimum annual revenue threshold is proposed (in one draft at roughly two million dollars) to justify launching on a new chain. Networks that produce trivial returns will face higher reserve‑factor requirements or be skipped entirely. The idea is to concentrate engineering and governance resources on high‑yield, high‑liquidity environments rather than spread them thin across many small chains.

What This Means for Aave and the Broader DeFi Ecosystem

If the proposal passes through governance, Aave’s footprint could shrink significantly. For users and developers on zkSync, Metis or Soneium — who had invested time or funds into these ecosystems — this could mean a forced migration, loss of liquidity, or closing out of positions.

More broadly, the change signals a maturation phase for large DeFi protocols: multichain presence is no longer automatically a virtue. Instead, capital efficiency, risk management and sustainable returns are becoming the deciding factors. This could reshape how upcoming blockchain networks pitch themselves to major DeFi platforms, forcing them to prove not just technical compatibility but real usage and economic volume.

For Aave itself, the move may strengthen long‑term sustainability. By shedding low‑yield chains, the protocol can reduce risk exposure, streamline operations, and focus on core markets where it already commands a dominant share. On the flip side, it might reduce decentralization and limit user access to certain blockchains that were previously supported.

What’s Next: Governance Vote and Industry Watch

As of now, the proposal is at the “Temp Check” stage — a community poll to gauge support before full governance deliberation. Early signals indicate high alignment behind trimming the weakest deployments, but some voices caution against excessive consolidation, warning it could erode Aave’s multichain promise and hurt long‑tail ecosystems.

The outcome will likely shape not only Aave’s roadmap, but also broader norm‑setting for how DeFi protocols approach multichain deployment and growth.