Aave’s push toward deeper decentralization just got more concrete. Days after founder Stani Kulechov confirmed the U.S. SEC has formally closed its four‑year inquiry into the protocol without recommending enforcement, a new governance proposal seeks to hand control of Aave’s most visible assets directly to the DAO. If passed, the move would transfer ownership of the Aave brand, key domains, social handles and developer gateways into a DAO‑controlled legal wrapper — a change that could rank among DeFi’s most significant decentralization restructurings. What the proposal asks for - Move soft assets — aave.com, app.aave.com, the “Aave” trademark, X and Discord handles, GitHub organizations and other communication channels — out of private hands and into a DAO‑owned entity with strict anti‑capture protections. - Ensure no private party, including legacy contributors, has unilateral control over those assets. - Establish clear ownership boundaries so the ecosystem’s identity and access points are neutral and defensible. Who put it forward The proposal was introduced on X by Ernesto Boado, co‑founder of BGD Labs. Boado frames the change not as an attack on Aave Labs but as a governance safeguard: “A private party, regardless of its past or present role in the community, should not have unilateral ownership and control over them,” he wrote. “The DAO should control its brand, its gateways, and its identity.” Why timing matters The proposal arrives at a strategically important moment. Regulators are increasingly scrutinizing whether DeFi projects are truly decentralized or depend on centralized corporate actors. By shifting control of brand and access points to the DAO, Aave would strengthen its decentralization profile — an appealing posture after the SEC concluded its probe without recommending enforcement. That outcome, while not an exoneration, has been widely read as a major relief for the DAO. Potential impact Brand and gateway control are not cosmetic issues for a protocol of Aave’s scale. They serve as trust signals, governance levers and potential economic chokepoints. Transferring these assets to DAO ownership could change who can speak for, operate, and gatekeep the protocol — with implications for security, censorship resistance, legal risk and community governance. Where things stand The vote has not yet opened. Early reactions suggest strong interest from token holders and governance delegates, who will weigh whether this structural change is the logical next step in Aave’s decentralization journey. The SEC chapter may be closed, but this proposal could open a new one about who truly owns Aave’s future. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Cryptocurrency trading carries high risk; readers should do their own research before making any financial decisions. © 2025 AMBCrypto Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

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