Venus Core Pool vs Compound V3: lending protocols compared on open data
Venus Core Pool scores 8.29/10 and Compound V3 8.21/10 on data collected October 19, 2026, ranking #3 and #4 among 15 [lending platforms](/ratings/lending/). Both are fully measured, and they are close in size ($1.26B and $1.41B locked). Venus gains on time in operation and Compound V3 gains on chain reach. The net gap of 0.08 points is one band on one criterion. The score does not include hack history, and on that measure the two differ.
Data collected October 19, 2026 · No affiliate links · How scores are built
Venus Core Pool scores higher: 8.29/10 against 8.21/10. It leads on 1 of 4 criteria, Compound V3 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 scoreLevelVenus Core Pool9Compound V39Why these marks ↓Hide ↑
Security audits31% of the scoreLevelVenus Core Pool6Compound V36Why these marks ↓Hide ↑
Track record22% of the scoreVenus Core Pool leadsVenus Core Pool10Compound V39Why these marks ↓Hide ↑
Multi-chain reach14% of the scoreCompound V3 leadsVenus Core Pool9Compound V310Why these marks ↓Hide ↑
Where the 0.08 points come from
- Track record: +0.22 for Venus Core Pool. Venus's age counts from its documented 2020 launch (from July 1, 2020, because the record gives the year only). Compound V3's counts from its September 2022 DefiLlama listing, which is a floor. Under this method, the Compound brand's earlier versions do not add to V3's age.
- Reach: +0.14 for Compound V3. 10 chains against 8.
- Net: 0.22 − 0.14 = 0.08 for Venus. Value locked and audits score the same for both.
Hack records outside the score
Security record is not weighted in the lending category. DefiLlama's public hack database (checked October 23, 2026) shows:
- Venus Core Pool: two donation attacks, $902,000 on March 29, 2025 and $3.7M on March 15, 2026. Older incidents are filed under "Venus Protocol".
- Compound V3: nothing recorded under this name. "Compound V2", a separate, earlier product, has a $147M entry from September 2021.
The site does not carry incidents across product versions. Readers may still want to know about them.
Which fits which reader
- If you weigh a protocol's own recent incident record, Compound V3 has none in DefiLlama's database, and Venus Core Pool has two since 2025.
- If longer operating history is your priority, Venus Core Pool has run since 2020.
- If you want a simpler market structure, each Compound V3 market lends out a single base asset against approved collateral (see the Compound profile). The score does not grade design, so check the market's collateral list and liquidation settings either way.
The numbers side by side
| Measured | Venus Core Pool | Compound V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Value locked | $1.26B | $1.41B |
| Published audits | 1 | 1 |
| Track record | 6.3 yr | 4.1 yr |
| Chains | 8 | 10 |
Where each one falls short
Venus Core Pool
Security audits: 1 published audit with links (DefiLlama) — read the findings yourself. Audits reduce risk, they do not remove it.
Compound V3
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, Venus or Compound V3?+
Venus Core Pool, with 8.29/10 against 8.21/10 on the October 19, 2026 data.
Has Compound V3 been hacked?+
DefiLlama records no hack under "Compound V3" as of October 23, 2026. Its $147M entry from 2021 is filed under Compound V2, a different product.
Has Venus been hacked?+
DefiLlama records two donation attacks against Venus Core Pool, in March 2025 ($902,000) and March 2026 ($3.7M). These are not part of the lending score. More comparisons: Morpho Blue vs Venus Core Pool · Compound V3 vs Maple · Full lending ranking