Aerodrome Finance, the leading decentralized exchange on Coinbase's Base network, is implementing significant platform upgrades in anticipation of the Aero launch in July 2026. These upgrades include transitioning liquidity to new MEV-resistant pools, essential for maintaining emissions. Liquidity providers must migrate their funds to continue earning rewards. This transition follows the merger of Aerodrome and Velodrome, announced in November 2025, into a unified cross-chain DEX under the Aero brand. The new AERO token will replace the VELO token, streamlining tokenomics across multiple chains, including Ethereum mainnet and Circle's Arc blockchain. The upgraded platform will offer permissionless pool creation and advanced swap tools, enhancing liquidity bootstrapping for new projects. Aerodrome has established itself as a dominant force on the Base network, with over $1 billion in deposits since its launch in August 2023. The protocol's recent quarterly earnings reached $679,000, driven by high veAERO lock rates. As the Aero launch approaches, maintaining high lock rates will be crucial for investor confidence and reducing sell pressure.