1inch has rolled out Aqua, a shared liquidity layer protocol that lets providers allocate virtual balances from a single wallet across multiple DeFi strategies, all without actually locking their tokens. The protocol now spans roughly 13 EVM-compatible blockchains, including Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Avalanche.
How Aqua actually works
Aqua uses a registry-based architecture where virtual balances are tracked per liquidity maker, per application, per strategy hash, and per token. The core contract sits at address 0x499943e74fb0ce105688beee8ef2abec5d936d31 across supported networks, creating a unified system for managing liquidity positions.
Once a strategy is deployed on Aqua, it’s immutable. The protocol builds in flexibility through what 1inch calls “dock-and-ship mechanics,” which allow for updates and modifications without compromising the integrity of the original strategy.
The protocol also integrates with SwapVM, a complementary system designed to enhance strategic liquidity solutions.
