Aave founder Stani Kulechov has refuted claims that his recent $15 million purchase of AAVE tokens was intended to influence a governance vote. Kulechov clarified that the acquisition was meant to bolster long-term alignment within the platform rather than to increase voting power. The purchase has sparked discussions about governance transparency within the Aave community. Former CTO Ernesto Boado expressed concerns, stating that a proposal was submitted without his consent. Despite the controversy, Aave's total value locked (TVL) and token price remain unaffected, as the DeFi sector continues to focus on new token listings and launches.