1inch launches Aqua, gathering DeFi mobility across 13 chains

1inch launches Aqua protocol to integrate multi-chain DeFi liquidity

1inch has released a new protocol called Aqua, which aims to integrate liquidity from multiple decentralized financial platforms under one coordinated system. Aqua, announced on Tuesday, targets a long-standing problem in the DeFi space: liquidity is often dispersed by different protocols, which can lead to reduced routing efficiency and underutilization of some funding pools.

According to a 1inch announcement, Aqua allows liquidity providers to authorize multiple policies related to a single wallet asset. Instead of permanently depositing assets into a specific liquidity pool, the agreement retains funds in the wallet until the transaction is settled and uses an atomic settlement mechanism to prevent overutilization.

Core Points

Aqua aims to unify the liquidity of multiple DeFi markets without locking assets in a single pool. Liquidity providers can authorize multiple strategies while assets remain in their wallets until settlement. Transactions are limited by the available wallet balance; if the redemption request exceeds the amount of funds, the system will roll back atomically. 1inch plans to deploy Aqua on multiple chains, including Ethereum and multiple Layer 2 and alternative networks. After receiving governance approval, Aqua's incentive funds will include USDC and 1INCH tokens.

How Aqua coordinates liquidity without relying on pool deposits

Aqua 的核心是一个集成工具包，包括通用链上注册表、基于钱包的自动做市（AMM）策略、原子结算以及围绕如何将流动性分配至特定交易而设计的仓位管理。这种方法的目的是拓宽流动性的获取渠道，因为它不受限于单一协议的池结构。不过，Aqua 也不允许同一笔资本无限并行使用。1inch 描述了一种模型：提供者可供使用的资金一次只能参与一个操作，即使提供者在多个平台同时宣传其流动性。

例如，公告中描述了一个场景：一位拥有 10,000 美元的流动性提供者可以在三个不同协议上宣传其拥有 10,000 美元，潜在宣传仓位总额可达 30,000 美元。然而，在任何时刻，该资产中实际只能执行价值 10,000 美元的并行交易。这种设计实际上类似于对宣传容量进行“超额预订”，但在执行时会进行严格的余额检查。

原子结算与余额限制

1inch provided more details to the media through a spokesperson. The spokesperson pointed out that "parsers" holding access credentials issued by 1inch can use Aqua, but not all protocols are supported by the system. In terms of enforcement mechanisms, the spokesperson emphasized that Aqua's offer is based on the market maker's real-time wallet balance. After partial transactions, the remaining positions will be quoted based on the remaining balance. If the redemption request exceeds the actual available balance, the system should atomize a rollback to prevent partial execution or account mismatch. This "pegging quote to balance" behavior is important to users and integrators because it helps reduce the risk of not being able to fulfill liquidity commitments at settlement-a problem that can arise with certain routing and aggregation designs when inventory processing is out of contract or lack strict enforcement constraints.

Deployment scope and on-chain registration

In its deployment plan, 1inch stated that Aqua has been deployed on 13 blockchains, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Robinhood Chain and BNB Chain. By deploying in multiple ecosystems, Aqua is positioned as an infrastructure layer rather than a single platform product. The protocol's common on-chain registry and wallet-based policy system aim to make cross-chain liquidity coordination more uniform, while the atomic settlement model strives to be consistent in execution rules, even if the sources of liquidity vary from platform to chain. The real question for liquidity providers and traders is whether this architecture translates into better capital utilization and more reliable routing. A model that "promotes more than simultaneously" is helpful only when demand patterns match-1inch's design clearly assumes that not all operations require the same amount of capital at the same time.

Incentive measures to be decided by governance

In addition, 1inch said Aqua will receive incentives to support its adoption after token holders approve it through an upcoming governance vote. Under the proposal described in the announcement, the agreement would allocate 500,000 USDC for Aqua incentives, as well as 10 million 1inch (1INCH) tokens. At the time of the 1inch announcement, the token portion was worth approximately US$830,000. 1inch sees incentive plans as a way to accelerate liquidity growth and redemption activities for Aqua's supported trading pairs. If approved, these incentives will be consistent with Aqua's philosophy: By coordinating inventory across platforms, making it easier for participants to leverage aggregated wallet-based liquidity to route and perform redemptions. Investors and builders may be concerned about whether these incentives can actually increase exchange throughput and whether liquidity providers will continue to participate under the restriction of operating only one account at a time.

Background of company leadership turmoil

The release came after related reports involving 1inch internal governance and management. Earlier this month, media reports pointed out that 1inch co-founder Anton Bukov said in November 2025 that he was "fired" by the company after "promoting management and operational changes." While the controversy does not directly affect Aqua's technical design, it provides background information for readers interested in how the 1inch roadmap is implemented and how governance dynamics may affect future agreement decisions. With Aqua now deployed on 13 chains and incentives waiting for community approval, the next key signal will be whether wallet-based coordination can lead to measurable improvements in routing efficiency and redemption volume-especially in real transaction demand, where simultaneous calls can compete for the same underlying inventory.