Dromos Labs Merges Aerodrome and Velodrome into New DEX Aero
Dromos Labs, the developer behind decentralized exchanges Aerodrome and Velodrome, is merging the two platforms into a unified DEX called Aero. The upgrade expands Aerodrome from the Base platform to other networks, including Ethereum mainnet and Circle’s Arc. Aero will employ an upgraded operating system, METADEX03, to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and enable cross-chain trading. A new native token will replace AERO and VELO tokens for governance, rewards, and incentives. The unified platform is expected to launch in Q2 2026 with Aerodrome and Velodrome remaining functional but unsupported post-launch.
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Dromos Labs Unites Aerodrome and Velodrome into Aero
Dromos Labs, the developer of decentralized exchanges Aerodrome and Velodrome, is merging the two platforms into a single DEX named Aero. According to a press release shared with The Defiant, the upgrade will expand Aerodrome’s Base-centric platform to cover additional networks such as Ethereum mainnet and Circle’s Arc, while Base will continue as the core hub for this unified platform.
Alexander Cutler, founder and CEO of Dromos Labs, stated: “Aerodrome has been successful on Base and is excited to expand to effectively service other Ethereum networks via Aero.” The company has provided a tentative launch window of Q2 2026, though no specific date has been announced.
METADEX03: A New Operating System for Enhanced DEX Functionality
To support the unified DEX, Dromos Labs is introducing a new operating system called METADEX03. This upgraded system is designed to minimize value leakage, lower trading costs, and improve overall efficiency across Ethereum-compatible networks.
METADEX03 includes features such as:
- Slipstream V3, which captures value typically lost to arbitrage bots.
- MetaSwaps, allowing seamless cross-chain trading from a single interface.
Upon launch, Aero will operate across all chains currently deployed with Aerodrome and Velodrome, including new ones such as Ethereum and Circle’s Arc, a Layer 1 solution recently introduced in testnet.
Introduction of a Unified Token System
The upgrade will also introduce a new native token for Aero. According to Luis A. de la Cerda, executive director of the Aerodrome and Velodrome foundations, holders of AERO and VELO tokens will have the opportunity to transition to the new token. This unified token will centralize governance, rewards, and incentives across the platform.
De la Cerda told The Defiant, “By linking all of EVM under one token, Aero can operate at a scale no other token has ever reached, concentrating the full power of MetaDEX03 to generate, capture, and coordinate on-chain economic activity.”
However, while Aerodrome and Velodrome will remain functional, they will no longer be supported once Aero launches.
Performance of Aerodrome and Velodrome
Aerodrome, launched in August 2023 on Coinbase’s Layer 2 Base network, has become its largest DEX by trading volume, holding $475.9 million in total value locked (TVL), making it the fourth-largest protocol on Base, per DefiLlama.
Meanwhile, Velodrome, launched in 2022 for Optimism’s Superchain ecosystem, currently holds approximately $39 million in TVL, ranking as the third-largest protocol on the OP Mainnet.
Data from CoinGecko shows that the native tokens AERO and VELO have surged by 30%-40% in the past week; however, their prices are still down 50% and 88% respectively from their December 2024 all-time highs.
Market Movement and Institutional Interest
Last month, Aerodrome experienced a token surge following a significant announcement by Animoca Brands, a leading Web3 game development and investment company in Asia. The firm disclosed that it had market-purchased an undisclosed amount of AERO for long-term holding and staking, highlighting growing institutional confidence in the platform’s future potential.