Leading Base DEX Aerodrome Merges Into Aero in Major Overhaul
Dromos Labs, the developer of Aerodrome and Velodrome decentralized exchanges, has announced the launch of Aero, a unified trading system set to replace and merge its existing platforms while expanding to Ethereum chains. Aero will serve as a central liquidity hub, reduce trading fees, and extend capabilities across networks, with a focus on Base as its central hub. The launch is accompanied by METADEX03, an upgraded system featuring a dual-engine architecture and Slipstream V3, which embeds an MEV auction into the AMM to enhance efficiency and redirect revenue to users. The initiative aims to improve DeFi's efficiency and accessibility over traditional finance, with Aero’s expansion to Ethereum mainnet planned for Q2 2026.
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Overview of Dromos Labs' Announcement
Dromos Labs, the core developer behind decentralized exchanges (DEX) Aerodrome on Base and Velodrome on Optimism, announced a major overhaul of its decentralized exchange infrastructure on Wednesday. The company introduced Aero, a unified trading system that will replace and merge its existing platforms across both networks and expand to other Ethereum chains.
Aero's Expansion Goals
Aerodrome is currently the leading exchange on Base in terms of volume and fees. With Aero’s planned expansion to the Ethereum mainnet in Q2 2026 and integration with Circle’s Arc, Dromos Labs aims to establish the platform as a central liquidity hub for the broader ecosystem.
Benefits of Aero
Aero is designed to deliver faster and cheaper fees onchain. It will position Base as its central operational hub while extending liquidity and trading capabilities to other Ethereum-compatible chains. CEO Alexander Cutler remarked: “Just as the world came online, it is now coming onchain. Aero is at the vanguard of a financial system better, faster, and cheaper than the incumbent.”
Introduction to METADEX03
Alongside Aero, Dromos Labs unveiled METADEX03, the latest version of its MetaDEX operating system. The upgrade features a dual-engine architecture aimed at reducing value leakage and routing all protocol revenue back to users. This innovation is expected to add significant value to users in the DeFi ecosystem.
Slipstream V3 and MEV Auction
A key feature of METADEX03 is Slipstream V3, which integrates a Maximimal Extractable Value (MEV) auction directly into the AMM. This allows the protocol to internalize value that is typically captured by arbitrage bots, creating a more efficient and user-centered trading environment.
Pushing DeFi Beyond Traditional Finance
Dromos Labs stated that Aero and METADEX03 are key components that will enable DeFi to outperform traditional finance in terms of efficiency and accessibility. As more institutions and retail users adopt onchain solutions, the company anticipates these advancements will solidify DeFi's role in the future of finance.
AERO Token Performance
In related news, Liquidity Protocol's token AERO surged 77% following an investment by CB Ventures in Aerodrome Finance. This reflects growing confidence in the platform’s potential as it continues to innovate and expand its reach.