1inch Launches Aqua Shared Liquidity Layer Across 13 EVM Chains
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Written by
Simonas Brazionis - Updated 2026-07-28 12:34:52
The 1inch decentralized exchange aggregator has launched Aqua, its shared DeFi liquidity layer, to all users. This public release follows an eight-month period during which the protocol was accessible only to developers. Aqua became operational on Tuesday across 13 Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible chains, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, BNB Chain, and Robinhood Chain.
A public interface for Aqua was initially projected for release in the first quarter of the year.
How Aqua Functions
Aqua functions as a registry rather than a traditional liquidity pool. Liquidity providers approve a token balance and establish positions that draw from this balance. Tokens are not deposited into a smart contract; instead, they are pulled by the protocol only when a swap aligns with a position's terms. The swap, proceeds, and fees are processed atomically. Token approvals are configured per token and per chain, with the option to revoke them.
Risk Control and Incentives
Each swap executed on Aqua involves a verified counterparty, defined by 1inch as a market maker or arbitrage bot that undergoes on-chain verification at the time of the swap. 1inch characterizes this as the first risk-controlled liquidity venue, aligning with a broader trend toward risk-controlled and regulated DeFi. The company indicated that the single ownership of each position prevents just-in-time fee skimming, a practice estimated to cost providers up to 44% of their fee income.
An example provided by 1inch illustrates a $100,000 balance supporting three positions collectively quoting $300,000. No funds are borrowed, and swaps can only execute against tokens actually held in the wallet, thereby capping exposure at actual holdings rather than the combined size of the positions.
Security and User Guidance
The 1inch Foundation has allocated 10 million 1INCH tokens as provider rewards for the launch, supplemented by 500,000 USDC from the 1inch DAO, distributed via Merkl.
Aqua has undergone eight independent security audits conducted by firms such as OpenZeppelin, Nethermind, Hexens, and Bailsec. 1inch advises that the product is designed for experienced users, noting that fee generation is not guaranteed, prices can fluctuate unfavorably, and providers assume market and smart contract risks. A spokesperson for 1inch previously stated that Aqua has the potential to transform capital and yield strategies in DeFi by enhancing liquidity and reducing fragmentation across the industry.
