Author: Jun, Bankless; Translated by: Deng Tong, Jinse Finance
The DeFi story is extraordinary.
From its early days as an experiment and speculative frenzy, DeFi has now grown into a cornerstone of the crypto ecosystem.
At the heart of this revolution are blue-chip lending protocols — the pioneers that kicked off the DeFi summer. They have faced black swans, proven product-market fit, and a solid position in the ecosystem.
Now, they are ready to enter the next phase of growth. We are witnessing these blue chip companies expanding their product offerings, diversifying their revenue streams, and building for the future, while remaining committed to the DAO ethos and the security of Ethereum.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the latest developments in the world of DeFi blue chip companies. We’ll examine their strategies, innovations, and future ambitions. By understanding their vision, we can get a glimpse into the next wave of growth that will shape our industry.
Aave
Aave is not an ordinary lending market, but a DeFi lending market for cryptocurrencies, with a massive TVL of over $11 billion. Everyone in this space has probably used it before. How did they do it? By relentlessly solving problems.
People need to borrow and lend crypto, and Aave has built a brilliant system to do that.
But Aave isn’t stopping there. Their DAO is one of the most active in DeFi and just released their vision for Aave 2030. It’s basically a roadmap for how to take their already dominant technology (Aave V3 and the GHO stablecoin) and push it toward multi-chain dominance, potentially even launching their own chain at some point.
At the heart of Aave’s ambitious plans is Aave V4. Aave V4 proposes a completely new architecture for the protocol. Think of it as a unified liquidity layer that aims to make the system more efficient with capital. Easier for users, less governance hassle, more capital in motion — that’s the goal. Aave Labs also plans to introduce a host of automation and risk parameter improvements to ensure the system runs smoothly in both bear and bull markets.
Additionally, Aave plans to become chain-neutral through its Cross-Chain Liquidity Layer (CCLL). It will let users tap into liquidity pools on all supported chains on Aave — instantly accessible wherever you go.
Another big bet? Their stablecoin, GHO. They plan to integrate it more deeply into V4 and use it as a springboard to bring real-world assets (RWA) to crypto. They are working with Chainlink to make this happen.
Not only that. They are even considering building their own chain, the Aave Network. This would be the ultimate Aave hub, allowing them to unlock even crazier network effects. Think GHO fees, a seamless V4-centric user experience, and widespread account abstraction — all powered by the security of Ethereum.
Additionally, Aave Labs also wants to go beyond Ethereum-based chains (EVM). They plan to explore non-EVM chains in the coming years.
Given its track record and current development trajectory, Aave is likely to dominate the DeFi lending market over the next decade if all proposed features are executed.
Sky (formerly MakerDAO)
Sky is in the midst of a transformation driven by its ambitious future vision, Endgame. Essentially, the multi-year initiative aims to transform The DAO into a self-sustaining network of DAOs, with each DAO working in unison to drive the ecosystem forward and establish its stablecoin as a leading force — while maintaining a healthy balance of governance.
MakerDAO is going through a massive period of transformation, all in line with its future vision, Endgame, a comprehensive 5-phase multi-year plan to build its ecosystem into a self-sustaining DAO network, drive the ecosystem forward, and grow its stablecoin into one of the most widely used stablecoins in the ecosystem without sacrificing governance balance.
The first phase of Endgame has just launched with the Sky Protocol. Sky lets users generate USDS, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, to save or earn yield. This is a strategic move to unify the brand, simplify governance, and attract new users. Think of it as Maker 2.0 — same core mission, but with a new look and some exciting new features.
A key part of Sky’s rebrand is an overhaul of its tokens. The governance token MKR becomes SKY, and the stablecoin DAI becomes USDS. This is more than just a name change; it’s about enhancing decentralization, scalability, and user experience.
It also introduced Stars - specialized child DAOs responsible for building new features on top of the base protocol. Imagine a team of independent contractors working to expand the Sky ecosystem - that's the concept behind Stars. The first Star to launch was Spark Protocol, a DeFi lending platform with a TVL of over $2 billion.
The endgame doesn’t stop with Sky Protocol and Stars. Phases 3, 4, and 5 are filled with initiatives designed to streamline growth, increase DAO participation, and usher in a new era of DeFi innovation:
The third phase brings artificial intelligence into the mix, introducing AI-driven governance tools to simplify decision-making.
Phase 4 focuses on incentivizing active participation in governance. Think of a rewards program for participating users — that’s the basic idea.
Phase Five introduces NewChain, a brand new blockchain designed to enhance Sky’s governance processes – paving the way for the full implementation of Endgame’s advanced features and token economics.
Additionally, the Endgame plan also includes the inclusion of RWAs in the protocol. MakerDAO’s $1 billion investment in tokenized U.S. Treasury issuance through initiatives such as the Spark Tokenization Grand Prix suggests that RWAs will continue to be a major revenue source for Sky.
With the launch of Sky, all of these efforts in the Endgame vision have been set in motion, and it will be interesting to see if USDS adoption can increase as expected in the coming years and compete with the top stablecoins in the ecosystem.
Compound
Compound is a bit like DeFi’s reliable old friend. It’s been around since the early days, quietly doing its thing — letting people lend, borrow cryptocurrencies, and earn interest. It’s not too noticeable, and not always noticeable, but it’s always stable.
Their latest major update, Compound III, was released in 2023. It’s not a complete overhaul; it’s more like a streamlined version of their existing product. They’re focused on simplifying things, removing complexity without sacrificing functionality, and providing borrowers with simple, effective tools.
That’s the philosophy of Compound: keep it simple, focus on security and efficiency, and prioritize user experience. They don’t mess with what works. In a world full of over-engineered protocols, this is a refreshing approach.
Over the years, they have added support for L2 and other popular chains , but they have done so in a measured, thoughtful way. They focus on major markets like ETH, USDC, and USDT, and only expand to new chains when it makes sense. It's a slow and steady approach, but a reliable one.
It works well for them. Compound remains one of the go-to platforms for investors looking to earn a return on their idle cryptocurrencies. With a total locked value of around $2 billion, Compound may not be the largest player in the DeFi space, but it is definitely one of the most respected.
Summarize
It’s refreshing to see such fierce competition among DeFi’s blue-chip lending protocols. This constant drive for innovation is exactly the kind of energy that drives DeFi forward.
As these established protocols compete for dominance, they will experiment, iterate, and ultimately build better, more user-friendly, and more robust financial rails. This innovation will not only benefit these protocols; it will benefit the entire crypto ecosystem by attracting new users and enabling broader adoption!
