USD1inch Launches Aqua Shared Liquidity Protocol Across 13 Chains
Self-Custodial System Lets One Wallet Balance Support Multiple DeFi Positions
TL;DR
- 1inch publicly launched Aqua on July 28, 2026, across 13 EVM-compatible chains.
- Aqua lets liquidity providers keep assets in their wallets while backing multiple trading positions.
- The rollout includes up to $1.37 million in proposed incentives and follows eight independent security audits.
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1inch publicly launched Aqua on July 28, 2026, opening its self-custodial shared-liquidity protocol across 13 Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible chains after making its developer tools available in November 2025. Aqua allows liquidity providers to use one wallet balance to support several trading positions without depositing separate amounts into conventional liquidity pools.
The public launch introduces an interface through which liquidity providers can connect a wallet, approve token balances and configure positions describing the assets, pricing conditions and strategies they are prepared to support. Aqua operates as a registry rather than a conventional custody pool, meaning approved assets remain in the provider’s wallet until a qualifying swap is ready to execute.
1inch co-founder Sergej Kunz said the protocol allows tokens to remain “in your wallet, under your control” while the same balance supports several positions and strategies instead of being divided among separate smart-contract deposits.
When an incoming swap matches a provider’s configured conditions, Aqua requests only the tokens needed for that transaction. The swap, asset transfer and fee settlement then occur together through an atomic transaction, which either completes in full or fails without partial execution.
Tokens remain in the provider’s wallet while no matching trade is available. The structure is intended to reduce the capital fragmentation created when liquidity providers must divide assets among separate protocols, pools, token pairs and price ranges.
One Balance Can Back Several Liquidity Quotes
Aqua allows a single wallet balance to support multiple concurrent liquidity quotes because providers do not need to reserve a separate copy of the underlying capital for every advertised position.
1inch illustrated the model with a wallet holding $100,000 that could support three positions quoting a combined $300,000 in liquidity. The larger quoted amount does not represent borrowed capital or additional assets. Each executed transaction remains limited to the tokens actually available in the wallet.
Aqua checks the wallet balance when a swap attempts to execute. A trade cannot use a position when the available assets are insufficient to cover the order. When one transaction consumes part of the balance, later transactions must be evaluated against the assets that remain.
The design therefore reuses idle capacity across conditional positions rather than creating leverage or allowing the same assets to settle multiple obligations simultaneously.
Aqua supports Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, BNB Chain and Robinhood Chain among its covered networks. All supported networks use EVM-compatible infrastructure.
The public interface supports full-range positions that provide liquidity across an entire pricing range, concentrated-liquidity positions focused on narrower price intervals and pegged positions designed for assets expected to trade near a reference value.
Liquidity providers can also use batch position creation, position visualizations, cross-chain provider profiles and sub-wallets to separate strategies, permissions or operational balances.
Research Finds Most Concentrated Liquidity Underused
Research commissioned by 1inch tracked concentrated liquidity across major decentralized exchanges during the first half of 2026 and found that a large share of the capital was not being used efficiently.
The broader underutilization estimate and the average-week figure measure different conditions. The first covers capital judged to be used inefficiently during the measured period, while the second counts liquidity that remained completely outside active price ranges during a typical week.
Concentrated-liquidity positions earn fees only when market prices fall inside their configured ranges. Aqua is designed to make an underlying wallet balance available to other eligible strategies when a particular position is not using it.
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Incentive Program Could Reach $1.37 Million
The public rollout includes a liquidity incentive program distributed through Merkl and led by Degensoft.
The total incentive package could reach the stated combined value if the DAO allocation receives approval. The value of the foundation’s contribution can change with the market value of 1INCH.
The rewards are intended to encourage liquidity providers to create Aqua positions and establish market depth across the supported networks and strategies.
Aqua Completed Eight Security Audits
Aqua underwent eight independent security audits before the public launch. The firms named in connection with the reviews included OpenZeppelin, Nethermind, Hexens and Theori.
Aqua does not continuously hold providers’ tokens because approved assets remain in their wallets until an eligible transaction calls them. Providers can revoke Aqua’s token approvals, preventing new fills once the revocation transaction receives on-chain confirmation.
The self-custodial structure does not eliminate financial or technical risk. Liquidity providers remain exposed to token price movements, impermanent loss, smart-contract vulnerabilities and losses associated with the ranges, prices or trading pairs they select.
Swap fees are also not guaranteed. Providers earn fees only when eligible trades execute against their positions, with returns depending on trading activity, position availability and pricing conditions.
FAQ
What is Aqua?
A self-custodial liquidity protocol allowing one wallet balance to support multiple DeFi positions.
When did Aqua launch publicly?
Aqua launched publicly on July 28, 2026.
How many chains does Aqua support?
Aqua supports 13 EVM-compatible chains.
Does Aqua hold liquidity providers’ assets?
No. Assets remain in provider-controlled wallets until an eligible swap executes.
This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.
