Aave DAO's governance revenue reached $140 million in 2025, surpassing the combined total of the previous three years. This financial milestone comes amid a governance dispute involving founder Stani Kulechov, who clarified that his $15 million token purchase did not influence a recent vote on brand ownership and revenue distribution. The controversy centers on the allocation of revenue and control over key brand assets. In December, a significant portion of swap fees, over $10 million from CoW Swap, was directed to Aave Labs instead of the DAO treasury, leading to community backlash and raising questions about governance practices.