Hassan Maishera
TL;DR
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1inch has launched Aqua, its shared liquidity protocol, across 13 Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible blockchains.
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Aqua enables liquidity providers to use a single wallet balance to support multiple liquidity positions without locking funds into separate pools.
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The protocol supports Ethereum, Base, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Robinhood Chain, and other EVM networks.
Decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator 1inch has officially launched Aqua, its shared liquidity protocol, giving users across 13 Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible blockchains access to a new approach for deploying on-chain liquidity more efficiently.
The protocol is designed to help liquidity providers maximize capital efficiency by allowing a single wallet balance to support multiple liquidity positions simultaneously, eliminating the need to divide assets among separate liquidity pools.
Aqua Keeps Assets in Users' Wallets
Unlike traditional liquidity provisioning models that require users to deposit assets into smart contracts, Aqua allows tokens to remain in the liquidity provider's wallet until a matching trade is executed.
According to 1inch co-founder Sergej Kunz, the protocol enables one wallet balance to back multiple trading strategies without splitting funds across several smart contract deposits.
For example, a wallet holding $100,000 in assets can simultaneously quote liquidity across three separate positions with a combined quoted value of $300,000. However, only the assets actually available in the wallet can be used to settle trades. If the wallet balance is insufficient when a swap is executed, the transaction will fail.
1inch first introduced Aqua last year by releasing its software development kit (SDK), development libraries, and technical documentation.
With the public launch, users can now create full-range, concentrated, and pegged liquidity positions across multiple blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Base, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Robinhood Chain, and eight additional EVM-compatible networks,
The protocol aims to simplify liquidity management while improving capital utilization across decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems.
Research Highlights Underused DeFi Liquidity
The launch follows research commissioned by 1inch that examined approximately $1.84 billion in liquidity across major concentrated-liquidity decentralized exchanges during the first half of 2026.
The study found that 85% of tracked liquidity was underutilized, with an average of $542 million sitting completely outside active trading ranges each week.
According to the research, the inactive capital resulted in an estimated $150 million in annual trading fees being left unearned by liquidity providers.
1inch said Aqua underwent eight independent security audits before its public release. Despite the additional safeguards, the company noted that liquidity providers remain exposed to common DeFi risks, including market volatility, impermanent loss, and smart contract vulnerabilities.
To encourage adoption, the launch includes a liquidity incentive program distributed through Merkl.
The 1inch Foundation has committed 10 million 1INCH tokens, while the 1inch DAO is contributing $500,000 in USDC over a three-month period.
At current market prices, the token allocation is valued at approximately $870,000, bringing the total incentive package to roughly $1.37 million.
