Standard Chartered analyst Jeff Kendrick predicted an explosive rise in AAVE’s token to $3,500 by the end of 2030, implying a 50-fold increase from current values of around $70. According to his estimates, this dynamic would allow the asset to surpass Bitcoin and Ethereum in yield. The main drivers of this scenario will be a new wave of DeFi development, massive tokenization of real assets (RWA), and further growth in onshore lending.

The bank emphasizes that the Aave protocol, which can be compared to a fully automated bank, has already successfully recovered after the April DeFi sector shocks associated with the attack on the KelpDAO bridge. At its peak in October 2025, the platform’s deposits reached $75 billion, comparable to those of major US banks. By 2030, the RWA market in DeFi is expected to grow 37 times, directly increasing protocol revenues and tokenization.

Additional growth catalysts for the analyst include a possible renewal of AAVE’s token buyout program and the development of the Horizon initiative, which allows tokenized assets to be used as collateral to attract traditional financial institutions. Despite the crypto market’s current weakness, Standard Chartered believes that Aave will be one of the main beneficiaries of capital inflows into the decentralized finance sector.

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The material is prepared solely for informational purposes and does not constitute a financial advice or recommendation.