defi ·
Kraken parent Payward and its clients buy AAVE tokens in DeFi investment push
The investment follows talks first reported by CoinDesk in June that included a proposed equity stake in Aave Group.
2 outlets · CoinDesk · cryptobriefing.com
The firm and its asset management clients have bought an undisclosed amount of AAVE tokens, according to an announcement made Thursday. The move extends Payward's push into asset management and decentralized finance, or DeFi.
DeFi covers financial services that run on blockchain software rather than through banks and brokers. Payward and Aave are also exploring further collaboration.
The tokens were acquired through Digital Asset Special Investments I, LP, an investment fund affiliated with Payward. The fund's asset management clients also took part in the buying.
According to the research findings, the announcement was dated November 5, 2026. No dollar figure or token count was attached to it.
Notably, the purchase involves tokens only. There is no equity component this time, meaning Payward is not buying a slice of the company that develops Aave.
It is buying exposure to the protocol's token instead. This is not the first time Payward and Aave have discussed a deal.
Earlier talks, disclosed in June 2026, centered on a much larger package. That proposal included 250,000 AAVE tokens along with a 15% equity stake in Aave Group, at a valuation of $385 million. The arrangement was ultimately not realized.
