Grayscale Introduces AAVE Trust to Expand DeFi Exposure for Accredited Investors

Grayscale Investments has launched the Grayscale Aave Trust, providing accredited investors with a new opportunity to gain exposure to AAVE, the native token of Aave, the largest decentralized finance (DeFi) lending protocol by total value locked (TVL).

According to a press release from Grayscale, the Aave Trust enables investors to indirectly access Aave’s lending protocol, which operates without traditional intermediaries such as banks. Similar to Grayscale’s other single-asset investment vehicles, the trust is exclusively invested in AAVE tokens.

Aave, a decentralized lending platform built on the Ethereum blockchain, facilitates borrowing and lending of cryptocurrencies through smart contracts—automated programs that execute transactions without the need for human oversight. This system eliminates the need for credit checks, thereby increasing accessibility for borrowers.

Grayscale’s private placements, including the Aave Trust, are available exclusively to accredited investors via daily subscription offerings.

The Aave platform is renowned for its transparency and impartiality, minimizing the role of human involvement in the lending process. At the time of this writing, AAVE is trading at $140.90.

Grayscale’s Broader Cryptocurrency Ventures

In addition to the Aave Trust, Grayscale continues to diversify its offerings. In September, the firm launched the Grayscale XRP Trust, providing exposure to XRP, the native token of the XRP Ledger. The firm also introduced the Grayscale Sui Trust earlier in the month.

Rayhaneh Sharif-Askary, Grayscale’s Head of Product & Research, emphasized Aave’s potential to reshape traditional finance. “The Grayscale Aave Trust allows investors to tap into a decentralized protocol that can revolutionize finance by leveraging blockchain technology to streamline lending and borrowing, eliminating intermediaries, and reducing reliance on human discretion.”

Grayscale’s recent track record includes the August launch of the Grayscale Avalanche Trust, which saw AVAX—Avalanche’s native token—surge 12% following the trust’s debut. The token ultimately rebounded by 48% over two weeks after reaching a nine-month low.

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