1inch launches Aqua: the first shared liquidity protocol, now open to developers

• The developer version of Aqua is now live, providing Aqua's SDK, libraries, and documentation, allowing developers to be the first to integrate the brand-new strategy model.
• Aqua introduces a groundbreaking shared capital model: multiple DeFi strategies can simultaneously access (call) the same asset while maintaining self-custody of the asset.
• To encourage ecosystem participation, 1inch will offer bounties of up to $100,000 for outstanding contributors.

On November 17, 2025, 1inch announced the launch of the developer version of Aqua: a brand-new liquidity layer designed to reshape DeFi capital efficiency and yield strategies. Aqua marks the beginning of the era of shared liquidity and represents a new stage of "infinite scalability" in capital efficiency. Aqua allows multiple strategies to simultaneously access a specific asset, enabling users to utilize liquidity more efficiently without having to transfer or lock funds from their wallets into smart contracts.

Building the Next Generation of DeFi Starts Now

The user frontend for Aqua will officially launch in Q1 2026. It is currently available to Web3 developers on GitHub:

• Explore, optimize, and validate: Aqua's SDK, libraries, and complete documentation are now open, making it easy for developers to get started and explore the potential of this new structure together.
• Start from scratch, get started with one click: Developers can build and test strategies from scratch or use Aqua's SwapVM partner protocol to create composite strategies based on the instruction library.
• Bounty program: 1inch offers bounties of up to $100,000 for outstanding contributors or bug discoverers.

Unlocking DeFi Liquidity

In traditional liquidity models, funds are confined within a single strategy, and liquidity providers must choose between different liquidity pool strategies, with TVL competition existing between different liquidity protocols.

The emergence of Aqua will change this situation—it allows every wallet to become a self-custodial AMM, where multiple strategies can simultaneously operate on the same specific asset. Each strategy obtains liquidity according to its own rules, and any user can initiate atomic swaps based on strategy rules. The benefit is that the same funds can run multiple strategies at the same time.

The core value Aqua brings to users

• Shared liquidity instead of competition: Different strategies can simultaneously access (call) the same asset, and liquidity providers no longer need to split and lock funds into multiple pools.
• The entire ecosystem gains deeper liquidity: Sharing deepens on-chain liquidity, enabling small and medium-sized projects to stably support larger-scale and more efficient interaction needs.
• Unlimited capital efficiency: Multiple strategies operate on the same asset, capital is no longer fragmented but forms a compound effect, increasing yield potential.
• Full self-custody: Assets always remain in the user's hands, with strategies instantly extracting and returning them; although custodial mode is supported, self-custody remains Aqua's core advantage.
• Developer-friendly: No need to study the logic of different pools, developers only need to query Aqua's balance to build products, without managing user funds.

Developer Version: Build on Aqua First

We sincerely invite developers to build and develop on Aqua. Developers can create products, test performance, and submit feedback or suggestions through Aqua; 1inch will also launch a contributor bounty program for the Aqua protocol, with specific details available here.

Anton Bukov, 1inch co-founder: "By multiplying effective capital, Aqua solves the problem of liquidity fragmentation for market makers. From now on, the only limit to your capital efficiency is your strategy. Building AMM strategies for Aqua is the hottest opportunity in DeFi right now."

Sergej Kunz, 1inch co-founder: "Aqua is not just another protocol, but the infrastructure for scalable, high capital efficiency DeFi. Just as our aggregation protocol changed DeFi in 2019, Aqua will reshape the industry once again. With Aqua, users can finally truly control and optimize their own liquidity."

About 1inch

1inch provides a seamless crypto interaction experience and leads the development of the DeFi industry, having served over 26 million users. As a leading token swap platform (with daily trading volume exceeding $500 million), 1inch offers a variety of innovative tools, including:

• Secure self-custodial wallet
• Digital asset portfolio management tools
• Technical portal for developers
• Crypto debit card for everyday spending

Through continuous innovation, 1inch is making it easy for every user to embrace DeFi.

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