1inch Launches Public Version of Aqua, a Shared Liquidity Layer for DeFi
On July 28, 2026, 1inch announced the public launch of its shared liquidity layer called Aqua. Following an initial developer release in November 2025, Aqua offers a new approach to decentralized finance (DeFi) by allowing users to deploy their wallet balances across multiple positions without locking assets into traditional liquidity pools. Aqua functions as a registry where users approve token balances and create liquidity positions that can access those funds. The protocol executes swaps using atomic transactions only when conditions are met, ensuring full custody of tokens until they're used in trades. This model aims to improve capital efficiency by eliminating the need for fragmented pool deposits. To support adoption, 1inch has launched a liquidity incentive program through Merkl, backed by 10 million 1INCH from the 1inch Foundation and an additional 500k USDC from the 1inch DAO. The initiative is intended to boost swap activity and liquidity growth across supported token pairs.
Topics: 1inch Aqua liquidity layer self-custodial DeFi