Aerodrome rallies 48% in four weeks, outpacing Bitcoin and Ether

Aerodrome Token Surges 48% Ahead of Merger with Velodrome Finance

The Market Performance

Aerodrome's AERO token has climbed approximately 48% over the past 30 days. This move puts it ahead of both Bitcoin and Ether over the same stretch, according to The Defiant.

The Timing is Not Subtle

Aerodrome, the leading decentralized exchange on Coinbase's Base layer-2 network, is roughly two weeks away from merging with Velodrome Finance. Traders appear to be positioning early.

The Numbers Behind the Run

AERO has traded between $0.68 and $0.84 in early October 2026. Aerodrome holds about $393 million in total value locked on Base. Total value locked, or TVL, is the pool of crypto deposited into a protocol's smart contracts. Broader estimates place Aerodrome's TVL between $390 million and $411 million as of early October 2026. Most of that sits on Base.

The Merger and Its Implications

The combined protocol targets a broader addressable market worth over $63 billion across EVM ecosystems, up from the previous $7 billion. Token holders get converted, not wiped out. Existing AERO swaps into the new AERO at a 1:1 ratio. VELO holders receive about 0.044 new AERO per token. Legacy token emissions will stop as part of the transition. Post-merger, holders of sAERO will see real-time reward allocation replace the current weekly voting system. The new setup directs 100% of protocol revenue to participants.

Conclusion

Aerodrome's merger with Velodrome Finance marks a significant expansion of the decentralized exchange's capabilities and market reach. The token's performance and the upcoming merger demonstrate the growing interest in layer-2 networks and the increasing adoption of decentralized finance.