Aave V3 vs Venus Core Pool: compared on open data
Aave V3 scores 8.54/10 and Venus Core Pool 8.29/10 on data collected October 19, 2026, ranking #1 and #3 among 15 [lending platforms](/ratings/lending/). Both are fully measured. Aave V3 gains on value locked (about 13 times larger) and on chain reach. Venus Core Pool gains on time in operation. Both have recent incidents in DefiLlama's hack database, and the lending score does not count them.
Data collected October 19, 2026 · No affiliate links · How scores are built
Aave V3 scores higher: 8.54/10 against 8.29/10. It leads on 2 of 4 criteria, Venus Core Pool on 1.
Criterion by criterion
Same category, same weights, heaviest criterion first. Open a row for each side’s reasoning and evidence.
Scale of value trusted33% of the scoreAave V3 leadsAave V310Venus Core Pool9Why these marks ↓Hide ↑
Security audits31% of the scoreLevelAave V36Venus Core Pool6Why these marks ↓Hide ↑
Track record22% of the scoreVenus Core Pool leadsAave V39Venus Core Pool10Why these marks ↓Hide ↑
Multi-chain reach14% of the scoreAave V3 leadsAave V310Venus Core Pool9Why these marks ↓Hide ↑
Where the 0.25 points come from
- Value locked: +0.33 for Aave V3. $17.06B is in the top band of the log scale, and $1.26B is one band lower.
- Reach: +0.14 for Aave V3. 21 chains against 8.
- Track record: +0.22 for Venus Core Pool. It counts from a documented 2020 launch (from July 1, 2020, because the record gives the year only). Aave V3 counts from its April 2022 DefiLlama listing, which is a floor. Aave's earlier versions do not count toward V3's age.
- Net: 0.47 − 0.22 = 0.25 for Aave V3. Audits are level.
Hack records outside the score
Security record is not weighted for lending protocols. DefiLlama's public hack database (checked October 23, 2026) lists:
| Protocol (DefiLlama name) | Date | Recorded loss | Type | Recorded as returned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aave V3 | March 12, 2026 | $862,000 | Oracle misconfiguration | $862,000 |
| Venus Core Pool | March 29, 2025 | $902,000 | Donation attack | — |
| Venus Core Pool | March 15, 2026 | $3.7M | Donation attack | — |
Older incidents appear under "Venus Protocol" (2021, 2022 and 2023) and under "Aave" (2024, $56,000). The site does not attribute these to the ranked products. Recorded-as-returned amounts come from DefiLlama and have not been verified independently.
Which fits which reader
- If scale and chain choice matter, Aave V3 holds about 13 times the value locked and runs on 21 chains.
- If operating history matters, Venus Core Pool has run since 2020.
- If incident history matters, read the table above. Aave V3's single 2026 entry is recorded as fully returned. Venus Core Pool's two entries show no recorded return.
- In either case, check the specific market's collateral, oracle and liquidation settings, and compare live rates. Neither is scored here.
The numbers side by side
| Measured | Aave V3 | Venus Core Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Value locked | $17.06B | $1.26B |
| Published audits | 1 | 1 |
| Track record | 4.6 yr | 6.3 yr |
| Chains | 21 | 8 |
Where each one falls short
Aave V3
Security audits: 1 published audit with links (DefiLlama) — read the findings yourself. Audits reduce risk, they do not remove it.
Venus Core Pool
Security audits: 1 published audit with links (DefiLlama) — read the findings yourself. Audits reduce risk, they do not remove it.
Which to choose
Which scores higher, Aave V3 or Venus Core Pool?+
Aave V3, with 8.54/10 against 8.29/10 on the October 19, 2026 data.
Have Aave V3 or Venus been hacked?+
DefiLlama records one Aave V3 incident ($862,000, March 2026, recorded as returned) and two Venus Core Pool incidents ($902,000 in March 2025 and $3.7M in March 2026). The lending score does not use them.
Is this comparing the AAVE and XVS tokens?+
No. It compares the lending protocols Aave V3 and Venus Core Pool. Token prices are not part of any rating here. More comparisons: Aave V3 vs Morpho Blue · Morpho Blue vs Venus Core Pool · Full lending ranking