Aave Founder Questions Morpho’s Non-Custodial Vault Definition
Aave (AAVE)
Editor:
Eugene Serbin
cryptocurrency.com.tr reports that Aave founder Stani Kulechov has challenged Morpho’s definition of non-custodial DeFi vaults. Kulechov argues that users may still face changes to how their funds are allocated despite the non-custodial label. His concern focuses on the powers granted to vault curators, who can manage capital distribution.
He notes that even with timelocks, managers could expand allocations beyond the strategy users initially agreed to. Kulechov also questions whether users have sufficient visibility into these managerial decisions. He believes relying on implied approval could leave liquidity providers with limited control over fund deployment.
He described the current categorisation as not making sense and being pretty much self-serving. The founder highlighted that curator discretion allows expansion into new markets beyond the user’s initial mandate. This dynamic remains a known issue within the protocol structure. The dispute centers on whether this level of curator power truly aligns with non-custodial principles.
How the market reacted
Whalio's own Binance spot order flow for AAVE, measured when this story was written up on 25 September 2026. Not the outlet's figures.
AAVE is trading at $146.93 with a spot volume of $21,513,122 over the last 24 hours. The 1-hour buy ratio stands at 55.7%, indicating short-term buying pressure, while the 4-hour ratio is 49.7%. Over the full day, the buy ratio settles at 48.5%, showing a slight shift toward selling. The volume delta for the hour is positive at +$86,551, but the 24-hour delta is negative at -$627,927. This negative delta means that sell volume has exceeded buy volume over the day. Buying pressure appears to be fading as the shorter timeframes show higher buy ratios than the longer 24-hour period.
The latest daily buy ratio of 49.4% sits at the 46th percentile of the last 323 days, against a median of 49.8% - ordinary for this coin.
Was that an ordinary day?
The same Binance spot measurements for AAVE, averaged over the days leading up to the story.
Over the preceding week, the 7-day average buy ratio was 50.6%, making today’s 24-hour ratio of 48.5% slightly below average. The daily buy ratio is 2.1 points lower than the weekly average, indicating a less bullish day. Volume today is at 0.93x the average, suggesting slightly lower activity. The coin saw a price change of +14.2% over eight days, with a total volume delta of +$818,176 for the period. This is an ordinary day for the coin, with metrics hovering near weekly norms but showing a slight dip in buying intensity.