# \[ARFC\] $AAVE token alignment. Phase 1 - Ownership

**URL:** <https://governance.aave.com/t/arfc-aave-token-alignment-phase-1-ownership/23616>\
**Category:** Governance\
**Created:** [December 16, 2025, 4:42pm UTC](https://governance.aave.com/t/arfc-aave-token-alignment-phase-1-ownership/23616 "2025-12-16T16:42:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 195

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**Author:** ![stani](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/governance.aave.com/stani/32/17_2.png) [@stani](https://governance.aave.com/u/stani)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 10:50am UTC](https://governance.aave.com/t/arfc-aave-token-alignment-phase-1-ownership/23616/195 "2025-12-26T10:50:11Z")

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The Snapshot vote has wrapped up, and it has raised important questions about the relationship between Aave Labs and [$AAVE](https://x.com/search?q=%24AAVE&src=cashtag_click) token holders. This is a productive discussion that’s essential for the long-term health of Aave.

While it’s been a bit hectic, debate and disagreement are features of decentralized governance.

I want to state clearly: I am committed to making the economic alignment between Aave Labs and [$AAVE](https://x.com/search?q=%24AAVE&src=cashtag_click) token holders more clear. We haven’t done a great job explaining this and will do so going forward. Another thing that’s gotten lost in this conversation is that the DAO has earned $140M this year, more than the past three years combined, and [$AAVE](https://x.com/search?q=%24AAVE&src=cashtag_click) token holders have control over this treasury.

In the future, we’ll be more explicit about how products built by Aave Labs create value for the DAO and [$AAVE](https://x.com/search?q=%24AAVE&src=cashtag_click) token holders.

I also want to address my recent $15 million purchase of [$AAVE](https://x.com/search?q=%24AAVE&src=cashtag_click). These tokens were not used to vote on the recent proposal and that was never my intention. This is my life’s work, and I am putting my own capital behind my conviction.

Lastly, the Aave ecosystem is large enough for many service providers to succeed, and we will continue to support and collaborate with teams building on the protocol. I am confident that by working together, we will build a stronger and more aligned future.

[$AAVE](https://x.com/search?q=%24AAVE&src=cashtag_click) will win.

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_[View the full topic](https://governance.aave.com/t/arfc-aave-token-alignment-phase-1-ownership/23616)._