Curve Founder Proposes 17.45M CRV Grant for Lending Protocol Upgrades

• The grant supports a 25-person team focused on software research, infrastructure, security, and ecosystem growth for Curve Finance.

• It follows a previous grant from late 2024 and aims to enhance Curve’s lending protocol and user interface.

• Curve Finance currently holds $2.2 billion in total value locked, ranking as the 21st-largest DeFi protocol according to DeFiLlama data.

Discover Michael Egorov’s $6.6M CRV grant proposal for Curve Finance upgrades, including Llamalend v2. Learn how it boosts DeFi innovation and sustainability. Read now for key insights!

What is the Curve Finance CRV Grant Proposal?

The Curve Finance CRV grant proposal involves founder Michael Egorov requesting 17.45 million CRV tokens, worth about $6.6 million at current prices, to bolster the ecosystem’s growth and technological advancements. This funding would go to Swiss Stake AG, the company managing Curve’s core operations, to support a dedicated team and upcoming projects. It builds on a prior grant issued in late 2024, emphasizing sustained development in the decentralized finance space.

How Will the Grant Funds Be Used by Swiss Stake AG?

The proposed grant will primarily fund a 25-member core development team at Swiss Stake AG, enabling continued contributions to Curve Finance’s infrastructure. Key initiatives include software research and development, enhanced security measures, and ecosystem support to ensure long-term viability. Egorov highlighted in the governance forum post that these efforts will drive major 2026 upgrades, such as the launch of Llamalend v2, an improved lending system designed to scale efficiently within the protocol.

Additionally, the funds will support the creation of an onchain foreign exchange swap mechanism, allowing seamless cross-border transactions directly on the blockchain. This addresses a critical need in DeFi for accessible currency conversions without relying on centralized intermediaries. User interface improvements are also prioritized, making the platform more intuitive for both novice and experienced users, as per the detailed objectives outlined in the proposal.

Egorov emphasized the importance of these enhancements, stating, “This grant will fund software research and development, infrastructure, security, and ecosystem support, ensuring that the 25-member team at Swiss Stake AG can continue its ongoing contributions to Curve.” The proposal also commits to releasing any intellectual property developed under the grant as open-source, compatible with Curve’s existing repositories, fostering community-driven innovation.

If approved by the Curve DAO community, Swiss Stake AG will stake a portion of the received CRV tokens to generate yield, but these funds must strictly adhere to the proposal’s outlined purposes. The firm pledges bi-annual reports on spending transparency, building trust among token holders and governance participants. This structured approach aligns with best practices in DeFi governance, as observed in protocols like Aave and Compound, where similar funding mechanisms have propelled protocol evolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the value and purpose of the 17.45 million CRV token grant for Curve Finance?

The 17.45 million CRV token grant, valued at approximately $6.6 million based on current market prices, aims to finance Swiss Stake AG’s work on Curve Finance’s core development. It specifically targets funding for a 25-person team, research into new features like onchain FX swaps, and security enhancements to maintain the protocol’s robustness in the competitive DeFi landscape.

Why does Swiss Stake AG need this grant for Curve’s self-sustainability?

Speaking naturally, Swiss Stake AG relies on community grants like this to bridge revenue gaps while building Curve Finance toward self-sufficiency. Although the firm has created income from Curve Lite deployments and staking veCRV through protocols such as Convex, StakeDAO, and Yearn, these streams fall short of full operational needs, as noted by founder Michael Egorov in the proposal.

Founded in early 2020, Curve Finance specializes in efficient stablecoin swaps and has grown to secure $2.2 billion in total value locked, per DeFiLlama analytics. This positions it as a leader in low-slippage trading, but ongoing development requires stable funding to compete with emerging DeFi innovations.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Funding for Growth: The $6.6 million CRV grant proposal underscores Curve Finance’s commitment to innovation through Swiss Stake AG’s 25-member team.
• Key 2026 Upgrades: Expect advancements like Llamalend v2 and onchain FX swaps to enhance lending efficiency and cross-chain capabilities.
• Path to Sustainability: While ancillary revenues from staking and deployments help, this grant is vital for operational stability and open-source IP contributions.

Conclusion

The Curve Finance CRV grant proposal represents a pivotal step in sustaining the protocol’s leadership in DeFi, with founder Michael Egorov’s vision focusing on robust upgrades like Llamalend v2 and improved governance infrastructure. By supporting Swiss Stake AG’s efforts, Curve aims to achieve greater self-sustainability amid its $2.2 billion TVL milestone. As the DeFi sector evolves, stakeholders should monitor the DAO vote, which could set a precedent for community-funded advancements—stay informed to capitalize on emerging opportunities in decentralized lending and swaps.