A much needed read for this phase.
The market is slow. Users are cautious. So what about KOLs?
Today, users care about proof:
+ On-chain data
+ Real P&L
+ Clear risk analysis
A post from a KOL opens the door. Before committing capital, users check volume and TVL on @DefiLlama or @tokenterminal.
Money flows to protocols with real fee revenue and transparent token models.
Therefore, KOLs who focus on education and practical strategy are building stronger, long-term communities.
Pre-IPO engine is starting up.
+ @Binance is introducing Pre-IPO products on the Binance wallet, allowing users to access early shares.
+ @PreStocks attracted huge volume due to the trending narrative.
+ Pre-IPO shows up on perp DEXs like @tradexyz and @Lavaragexyz.
+ @Backpack launches on-chain IPOs with real equity exposure as issued shares, supported by @SuperstateInc and @solana.
Most Pre-IPO projects are operating in AI and tech fields.
Will you invest in a trillion-cap project with tiny initial million-cap exposure?
Thanks to the decisive voice and leadership from @aave, for the first time in DeFi history, a joint relief alliance was urgently formed to deal with the aftermath of a large-scale attack.
This is proof of the ecosystem's maturity, as major players who were once rivals are now willing to come together.
1. What is DeFi United and how was it formed?
DeFi United is a temporary alliance of major protocols formed right after the @KelpDAO exploit on April 18, 2026.
The attack exploited a cross-chain bridge flaw, allowing fake rsETH to be minted and used as collateral to borrow real ETH, creating ~$190-230m bad debt on Aave and Compound.
The initiative was led by Aave founder Stani Kulechov, calling for support to cover ~116,500 rsETH and contain systemic risk.
2. Key participants
The alliance includes major players across the ecosystem:
Protocols & DAOs:
- @aave DAO (25,000 ETH)
- @Mantle_Official (30,000 ETH credit line)
- @ether_fi (5,000 ETH)
- @LidoFinance (2,500 stETH)
Along with @ethena, @golemproject, @Ink Foundation, and @bgdlabs.
Infrastructure & organizations:
- @Consensys & @Sharplink (30,000 ETH)
- @arbitrum DAO (froze ~30,766 ETH)
- @SolanaFndn
- @circle
Individuals:
- @StaniKulechov (5,000 ETH)
- @justinsuntron (20m USDT)
Community: Over 116,000 wallets contributed.
3. Goals and current progress
Main goals:
- Restore rsETH value by injecting real ETH to bring the ratio back to ~1 rsETH ≈ 1.07 ETH.
- Resolve hacker positions through oracle adjustments and controlled liquidation of ~107,000 rsETH.
- Reopen markets across chains and normalize risk parameters.
Current progress:
- Raised ~132,649 ETH (~$303m), covering 148% of bad debt.
- Aave has shared the execution plan, pending governance approval.
- Large portion of funds recovered, including 30k+ ETH from Arbitrum and 73k+ ETH by KelpDAO.
- User compensation starts April 30, 2026 via https://t.co/fUIxBShsNj.
Overall view
The response has been strong, and Aave’s TVL is already recovering.
From my pov, this is a turning point. It shows DeFi can coordinate and handle crises without relying on external bailouts, which is something the space has been trying to prove for years.
At the same time, the root issue is still there.
Cross-chain bridges remain one of the weakest points, and without better security, similar incidents can happen again.