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Why DeFi lending? Evidence from Aave V2

Author

Listed:
  • Giulio Cornelli
  • Leonardo Gambacorta
  • Rodney Garratt
  • Alessio Reghezza

Abstract

Decentralised finance (DeFi) lending protocols have experienced significant growth recently, yet the motivations driving investors remain largely unexplored. We use granular, transaction-level data from Aave, a leading player in the DeFi lending market, to study these motivations. Our theoretical and empirical findings reveal that the search for yield predominantly drives liquidity provision in DeFi lending pools, whereas borrowing activity is mainly influenced by speculative and, to some extent, governance motives. Both retail- and large investors seek potential high returns through market movements and price speculation, however the latter engage in DeFi borrowing relatively more than the former also to influence protocol decisions and accrue more significant governance rights.

Suggested Citation

  • Giulio Cornelli & Leonardo Gambacorta & Rodney Garratt & Alessio Reghezza, 2024. "Why DeFi lending? Evidence from Aave V2," BIS Working Papers 1183, Bank for International Settlements.
    • Handle: RePEc:bis:biswps:1183
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Barclay, Michael J. & Holderness, Clifford G., 1989. "Private benefits from control of public corporations," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 371-395, December.
    2. repec:bla:jfinan:v:59:y:2004:i:2:p:537-600 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Alfred Lehar & Christine A Parlour, 2022. "Systemic fragility in decentralised markets," BIS Working Papers 1062, Bank for International Settlements.
    4. Lioba Heimbach & Eric Schertenleib & Roger Wattenhofer, 2023. "DeFi Lending During The Merge," Papers 2303.08748, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2023.
    5. Sirio Aramonteand & Wenqian Huang & Andreas Schrimpf, 2021. "DeFi risks and the decentralisation illusion," BIS Quarterly Review, Bank for International Settlements, December.
    6. Shleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert W, 1986. "Large Shareholders and Corporate Control," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 94(3), pages 461-488, June.
    7. Saengchote, Kanis, 2023. "Decentralized lending and its users: Insights from compound," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    8. Yukun Liu & Aleh Tsyvinski, 2021. "Risks and Returns of Cryptocurrency," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 34(6), pages 2689-2727.
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    Cited by:

    1. Aldasoro, Iñaki & Cornelli, Giulio & Ferrari Minesso, Massimo & Gambacorta, Leonardo & Habib, Maurizio Michael, 2025. "Stablecoins, money market funds and monetary policy," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    2. Matteo Aquilina & Sean Foley & Leonardo Gambacorta & William Krekel, 2024. "Decentralised dealers? examining liquidity provision in decentralised exchanges," BIS Working Papers 1227, Bank for International Settlements.

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    JEL classification:

    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • O39 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Other

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