Curve Founder Clears Aave Debt as CRV Surges 30% Since Mid-September

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The decentralized finance (DeFi) world is watching closely as Michael Egorov, founder of Curve Finance, takes strategic steps to stabilize his financial position amid market volatility. Recent on-chain data reveals that Egorov has successfully repaid his debt on Aave—a move that signals improved risk management and renewed confidence in the CRV ecosystem. At the same time, the CRV token has rebounded sharply, rising over 30% from its September lows, reflecting growing investor sentiment and market resilience.

This article dives into the details of Egorov’s debt restructuring, the current state of his collateralized positions, and how these developments are influencing CRV’s price momentum and broader DeFi perception.

Michael Egorov Repays Aave Debt via Silo Protocol

According to blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain, Michael Egorov recently deposited 68 million CRV tokens—valued at approximately $35.5 million—into the Silo lending protocol. In return, he borrowed 10.77 million crvUSD, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar and native to the Curve ecosystem.

👉 Discover how top DeFi founders manage large-scale crypto loans with smart strategies.

He then swapped the entire crvUSD amount for USDT (Tether) and used it to fully repay his outstanding debt on Aave, one of the largest decentralized lending platforms. This maneuver not only eliminates counterparty risk associated with Aave but also demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of cross-protocol liquidity management.

“Egorov deposited 68M $CRV ($35.5M) to #Silo and borrowed 10.77M $crvUSD in the past 2 days. Then swapped $crvUSD for $USDT and repaid all debt on #Aave. He currently has 253.67M $CRV ($132.52M) in collateral and $42.7M in debt across 4 platforms.”
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain), September 27, 2023

By leveraging Silo’s isolated lending model, Egorov effectively reduced exposure to potential liquidation risks while maintaining access to liquidity. The use of crvUSD—a decentralized, non-custodial stablecoin—highlights a shift toward greater self-sovereignty in managing large crypto positions.

Current Debt Exposure Across Multiple Platforms

Despite clearing his Aave obligations, Egorov still holds significant debt across other DeFi protocols. He currently has 253.67 million CRV tokens (worth around $132 million**) locked as collateral. His remaining **$42.7 million in debt is distributed across four platforms: Silo, Fraxlend, Inverse Finance, and Cream Finance.

This diversified borrowing strategy allows him to spread risk and avoid overreliance on any single protocol. However, it also means that if CRV’s price were to drop significantly again, multiple positions could face liquidation pressure simultaneously—especially given the high loan-to-value ratios often involved in such large-scale DeFi loans.

Still, the fact that he has proactively reduced his most visible liabilities suggests a more cautious and sustainable approach moving forward.

Background: The Curve Hack and Its Aftermath

Prior to this latest development, Egorov had borrowed approximately $102 million in stablecoins, using CRV tokens as collateral—much of it before a major security incident involving Curve Finance in July 2023. During that event, attackers exploited vulnerabilities in delegated staking contracts, leading to millions in losses and triggering concerns about systemic risks within DeFi.

In response, several lending protocols proposed emergency measures urging Egorov to repay or restructure his loans to prevent cascading liquidations that could destabilize both CRV markets and wider DeFi ecosystems.

The situation drew attention from key players in the space, including Justin Sun, who publicly expressed support for stabilizing CRV through liquidity provision and high-yield incentive pools.

CRV Price Recovery: From $0.389 to $0.52

At the height of the crisis in mid-September, CRV dipped below $0.40**, reaching a low of **$0.389—a critical psychological level. Reports indicated that Egorov had been selling CRV over-the-counter (OTC) at around $0.40 to raise funds, making this price point a key support zone.

However, since September 13, the token has staged a strong recovery. As of the latest data, CRV is trading at $0.52, marking a 34.9% increase from its recent bottom.

This rebound can be attributed to several factors:

The price action underscores how sentiment and on-chain activity are deeply intertwined in DeFi ecosystems, where founder actions directly impact token valuation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why did Michael Egorov borrow so much against CRV?
A: Like many crypto founders, Egorov used his holdings as collateral to access liquidity without selling tokens. This is common in DeFi but carries liquidation risk if prices fall.

Q: Is CRV still at risk of another crash?
A: While risks remain due to high leverage in some positions, recent debt repayments and price stabilization suggest improved resilience. Continued monitoring of on-chain metrics is advised.

Q: What is crvUSD and why was it used?
A: crvUSD is Curve’s native algorithmic stablecoin, designed with advanced mechanisms like Peg Keeper and LLAMMA to maintain stability even during volatility.

Q: How does borrowing across multiple platforms help?
A: Diversifying loans reduces dependency on one protocol’s health and spreads liquidation thresholds across different systems.

Q: Could this affect future governance of Curve Finance?
A: Yes. If large stakes are liquidated, voting power could shift dramatically. Egorov’s actions help preserve decentralized governance integrity.

👉 Learn how algorithmic stablecoins like crvUSD are reshaping DeFi lending markets.

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Conclusion

Michael Egorov’s repayment of Aave debt marks a pivotal moment for Curve Finance and its native token CRV. By strategically using Silo and crvUSD to restructure his obligations, he has reduced systemic risk and restored some market confidence. Meanwhile, CRV’s 34% rally since mid-September reflects improving sentiment and stronger fundamentals.

As DeFi continues to mature, cases like this highlight the importance of responsible leverage management, transparent on-chain activity, and resilient protocol design.

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