EL7.AI
CryptoMedium•25 June 2026•
1 min read

Kraken in Talks to Buy 15% Stake in Aave at $385M Valuation

Key Facts

1Kraken is in talks to buy a 15% stake in DeFi lender Aave at a $385 million valuation.
2The DeFi lender is rebuilding after the fallout from April's KelpDAO exploit sparked a multibillion-dollar deposit exodus, despite Aave itself not being hacked.

In a move that boosts institutional confidence in DeFi, Kraken is in talks to buy a 15% stake in DeFi lender Aave at a $385 million valuation, per a CoinDesk report. The deal, while still in negotiations, reflects major players' interest in lending protocols despite recent security challenges.

This comes as the lender rebuilds after the fallout from April's KelpDAO exploit, which sparked a multibillion-dollar deposit exodus, despite Aave itself not being hacked. According to reports, the incident triggered a wave of liquidity withdrawals across the DeFi ecosystem, temporarily shaking investor confidence. However, Kraken's interest in a strategic stake could accelerate recovery and restore capital flows to the protocol.

Investors await official confirmation from both parties, as well as the deal's potential impact on the token market. The coming period may see increased buying momentum if talks materialize into a binding agreement, amid market focus on signs of a DeFi recovery.