# 1inch launches Aqua to the public, introducing the first shared liquidity layer for DeFi

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/1inch-launches-aqua-to-the-public-introducing-the-first-shared-liquidity-layer-for-defi
- Published: 2026-07-28T18:05:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

◦ Following its developer launch in November 2025, Aqua now offers a risk-controlled
   alternative to DeFi’s pool-based model.
 ◦ 1inch unveils a Merkl-powered liquidity incentive program for Aqua, funded with
   10 million 1INCH by the 1inch Foundation and 500k USDC from 1inch DAO.
 ◦ Aqua goes live across 13 EVM chains from day one.

ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 1inch, the leading
DeFi ecosystem, announces the full public launch of Aqua, a self-custodial shared
liquidity layer that enables liquidity providers to use the same wallet balance 
across multiple positions without locking assets in liquidity pools.

[[

Following its developer launch in November 2025, Aqua today offers one of the first
risk-controlled alternatives to DeFi’s traditional pool-based model, enabling more
capital-efficient liquidity provisioning.

1inch Aqua works as a registry: a user connects their wallet to approve a token 
balance and create liquidity positions that can access that balance. The Aqua protocol
tracks that balance, and when it receives a swap order that meets the criteria of
the position, it pulls the requested tokens from the wallet and pushes back received
tokens and fees in a single atomic transaction. Otherwise, the user’s tokens remain
in their wallet and completely under their control.

_"The liquidity provisioning space is broken, but you only see how broken once there’s
an alternative. Today, that alternative has arrived. With Aqua, liquidity providers
no longer have to accept the inefficient pool structure they’ve put up with for 
years,"_ **said Sergej Kunz, 1inch co-founder. **_"DeFi doesn’t just need more liquidity.
It needs more useful liquidity, active wherever demand appears. We built Aqua so
providers get that reach without giving up custody: your tokens stay in your wallet
until the moment a swap fills."_

Alongside the product launch, 1inch Network Incentives goes live — a liquidity reward
program for Aqua, led by Degensoft Ltd (BVI) and delivered through Merkl. The 1inch
Foundation has committed 10 million 1INCH in provider rewards, and a further 500,000
USDC boost from the 1inch DAO. The initiative is designed to accelerate liquidity
growth and swap activity across supported pairs. As a result, liquidity providers
not only benefit from Aqua’s improved experience but also have the opportunity to
earn additional rewards. Program terms, markets and safeguards are set out in the
published campaign configuration.

According to 1inch, the current pool based system is a major limiting factor on 
DeFi’s ability to scale and bring TradFi capital on chain. For liquidity providers,
the current model of depositing into pools means handing over custody, while active
capital gets spread thin across protocols, pairs and price ranges. The scale of 
the problem is stark: per on-chain [research by Dune commissioned by 1inch](https://dune.com/blog/capital-efficiency-decentralized-exchanges),
85% of concentrated liquidity across major DEXs was underutilized in H1 2026, roughly
$1.6 billion of the $1.84 billion tracked. That includes about $542 million sitting
fully out of range in an average week, resulting in an estimated $150 million in
fees foregone per year.

Through Aqua, 1inch is showcasing a more efficient model for shared liquidity, allowing
the same wallet balance to back multiple positions simultaneously. Unlike the traditional
model, where liquidity must be split across multiple pools and positions, Aqua enables
a single balance to support multiple quotes at once. For example, a $100,000 balance
can support three positions collectively quoting $300,000 of liquidity, with the
potential to quote more. The underlying tokens remain available to every position
at all times; nothing is borrowed, and any swap can only execute against the assets
actually held in the wallet.

A position on Aqua can be full range, concentrated or pegged, depending on the selected
pair and position type. A user can open and close positions themselves, with no 
lock-up. Their exposure is capped by the tokens they actually hold, not by the theoretical
combined size of every position they create. If their wallet cannot cover a swap,
Aqua simply does not call on their tokens.

From today, users can create positions across 13 EVM chains, including Ethereum,
Arbitrum, Base, Robinhood Chain and BNB Chain. Aqua also launches with a number 
of additional functionalities, including a liquidity leaderboard, an incentives 
screen, liquidity map visualizations, batch position creation, provider profiles
with cross-chain positions, sub-wallets, and an AI-assisted liquidity provisioning
flow via the 1inch Business MCP with safe batch deployment, coming soon.

Aqua has undergone eight independent security audits conducted by OpenZeppelin, 
Bailsec, Hashlock, Hexens, MixBytes, Nethermind, Theori, and Decurity. Combined 
with its fully self-custodial design, which never holds user tokens, a swap can 
only move assets that are actually in the provider’s wallet at the moment it fills.
Revocation stops new fills as soon as it confirms on-chain. Aqua is also protected
from JIT fee sniping by design, as each position has a single owner, thus there 
is no shared fee moment bots can capitalize on. While Aqua’s design keeps exposure
bounded and providers in control of their own tokens, swap fees are not guaranteed,
prices can move against a position (impermanent loss), and providers bear market
and smart-contract risk.

Image [here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tN5FV83c9z3pH1pzAgM_psyfMor_Tb3Q/view?usp=sharing)

Gif [here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LynLZ7PVsYhFJ9ZcxYevY69oldvseruy/view?usp=sharing)

**About 1inch**

1inch accelerates decentralized finance with a seamless crypto trading experience
for[ ](https://dune.com/1inch/main)[27M](https://dune.com/1inch/main) users. Beyond
being the top platform for low-cost, efficient token swaps with[ ](https://dune.com/queries/3197249/8150522?timebox_e15077=day)
[$100M+ in daily trades](https://dune.com/queries/3197249/8150522?timebox_e15077=day),
1inch offers a range of innovative tools, including a secure self-custodial wallet,
a portfolio tracker for managing digital assets, a dedicated business portal giving
access to its cutting-edge technology, and even a debit card for easy crypto spending.
By continuously innovating, 1inch is simplifying DeFi for everyone.

[Website](https://1inch.com/) |[ ](https://1inch.dev/)[1inch Business](https://1inch.dev/)
|[ ](https://1inch.network/)[1inch Network](https://1inch.network/) |[ ](https://x.com/1inch)
[Follow on X](https://x.com/1inch) |[ ](https://blog.1inch.io/)[Explore Blog](https://blog.1inch.io/)

_Aqua involves risk, including loss of funds. It’s built for experienced users —
do your own research. Not financial advice. Incentive rewards are variable, not 
guaranteed, and subject to the program’s published terms._

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  |  This article was produced by Cision PR Newswire, our trusted news partner. The views expressed and the content presented here are solely those of the author and may not fully reflect the opinions of Thailand Business News. |

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