Aave Founder Stani Kulechov's $10M AAVE Purchase Triggers Governance Dispute

Aave founder Stani Kulechov purchased $10 million of AAVE tokens on Dec. 24, drawing criticism from community members, Cointelegraph reports. DeFi strategist Robert Mullins said the purchase aimed to increase Kulechov's voting power ahead of an upcoming vote on a proposal that could harm token holders' interests. Crypto commentator Sisyphus raised concerns that Kulechov may have sold millions of dollars worth of AAVE between 2021 and 2025, questioning the rationale for the buyback. The controversy unfolds as AAVE holders debate governance practices, with critics arguing that large token purchases can influence outcomes on contentious proposals.