Aave V4 introduces Risk Premiums to address the issue of uniform borrowing rates in DeFi lending, allowing borrowing costs to reflect the actual risk of collateral. This tiered system incentivizes better collateral and enhances risk management across different asset types and user profiles, ultimately supporting a more efficient and diverse lending market.

Leverage in the crypto market experienced significant growth in Q2 2025, with onchain crypto-collateralized loans reaching an all-time high of $26.5 billion, a 42% increase. Digital asset treasury companies maintained stable debt levels while the outstanding loans in CeFi and DeFi platforms collectively expanded to $44.25 billion, demonstrating a resurgence in borrowing activities amid rising asset prices.

DeFi lending protocols have achieved a new all-time high of over $55.69 billion in total value locked (TVL), driven primarily by Aave v3, which saw a 55% increase in just two months. Other platforms like Morpho and Maple Finance are also experiencing significant growth, with Maple's TVL increasing by 417% due to its innovative approach to real-world asset lending.

Aave has reached $25 billion in outstanding loans, commanding 82% of all debt on the Ethereum network. The protocol's significant market share reflects its ability to attract nearly 1,000 unique borrowers daily and highlights a trend of consolidation in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector.