DeFi lending protocols gained serious momentum in the last 24 hours. Platforms added $2.3 billion in total value locked (TVL), as token prices surged across the sector. This renewed on-chain activity sparked an increase in active loans and lifted lending tokens above the broader market average.
DeFi Lending TVL Jumps by $2.3 Billion in One Day
Data from DefiLlama shows TVL in DeFi lending rose from $40.36 billion to $42.69 billion — a 6% jump in just 24 hours. This increase highlights a wave of investor confidence returning to decentralized finance, especially during ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty. Many users now prefer transparent, on-chain lending over centralized alternatives.
Meanwhile, Token Terminal data confirmed that active loans grew from $16.4 billion to $17.1 billion. This $700 million increase occurred between April 21 and April 22.
Aave Sees $562M in New Loans, Despite Falling Revenue
Aave led the lending market during this rally. It added $562 million in active debt, pushing its loan total past $11 billion. However, its daily revenue dropped sharply. Earnings fell from $418,000 to $67,430 — suggesting a cut in fee generation or rewards.
Other major protocols saw strong lending growth:
- Euler added nearly $30 million in loans, ranking second by volume gain.
- Fluid followed with $14 million in new debt.
- Compound posted a $13 million increase in daily loan activity.
Lending Tokens Outperform the Broader Crypto Market
Lending tokens rallied alongside the surge in protocol activity. CoinGecko data shows they gained 7.7% on average, outpacing the 5.4% daily average across crypto.
Top-performing tokens on April 23 included:
- Maple Finance (SYRUP) jumped 18%, leading the category.
- Euler (EUL) rose 16%, showing growing demand.
- AAVE gained 13.5%, continuing its dominance.
- MORPHO climbed 11.83%, tracking broader lending strength.
Investors Regain Confidence in DeFi Lending
Rising token prices and lending metrics suggest growing trust in DeFi from both institutional and retail investors. With centralized exchanges under regulatory pressure, more users are turning to decentralized protocols for capital access and transparency.
The combination of higher TVL, more active loans, and surging token prices indicates a positive market shift. DeFi lending appears to be moving into a stronger, more mature phase.
Conclusion: Lending Protocols Regain Center Stage
DeFi lending continues to thrive as users reallocate capital into decentralized finance. Aave, Euler, and others show strong user engagement and capital inflows. If this trend holds, lending protocols may outperform other sectors and secure their spot as top-performing DeFi assets in 2025.
