As the largest lending protocol by total value locked across most networks it operates on, Aave functions as the baseline yield benchmark in DeFi. Its V3 pools are deployed on Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Avalanche, BNB Chain, and Sonic. more networks than nearly any other tracked protocol.

The rates on Aave reflect broad market lending demand: when borrowing activity rises across DeFi, Aave rates tend to move first because of its deep liquidity. This makes Aave useful not just as a yield source but as a reference point for evaluating whether higher rates elsewhere adequately compensate for additional risk. The protocol has operated since 2020 through multiple market cycles, hacks affecting other protocols, and shifting regulatory attention, building one of the most extensive audit and governance track records in the space.

Yield on Aave varies meaningfully by network. USDC lending on Base may offer double the rate available on Mainnet during periods of high Base-specific borrowing demand. Comparing Aave rates across its six supported networks reveals where borrowing demand is strongest, which can inform both direct deposits and broader DeFi strategy decisions.

Earnbase tracks 19 strategies on Aave across Arbitrum, Avalanche, BNB, Base, Mainnet, Sonic.