According to data from DeFiLlama, Aave holds approximately $26.5 billion in total value locked (TVL), representing nearly one-third of the roughly $93 billion across the entire DeFi sector. This makes Aave one of the largest lending protocols in decentralized finance, amplifying the significance of any governance dispute.

As part of its exit, ACI plans to submit a direct-to-AIP proposal to cancel its GHO funding stream and return 120 days of payments to the DAO treasury. It also intends to cut its AAVE vesting stream via LlamaPay. The outcome of the remaining governance votes will determine how Aave transitions responsibilities and whether the DAO restructures how independent contributors operate moving forward.