# Lending

Lending is not a trend.
It is one of the foundational layers of every financial system.
That is why Aave remains one of the most important protocols in DeFi.
$AAVE captures exposure to onchain credit markets, where borrowing, lending, collateral management, stablecoin liquidity, and capital efficiency all come together.
That matters because financial markets do not function on asset ownership alone.
Users want to unlock liquidity without selling. They want to borrow against collateral, earn yield on idle assets, and manage risk without fully exiting positions.
The stronger $AAVE thesis is dur