# DeFi United Relief Vehicle For rsETH

*Aave service providers pledge 13,500+ ETH toward covering rsETH's 118,000 ETH shortfall from the KelpDAO exploit.*

By [ETH Daily](https://ethdaily.io) · 2026-04-24

defi, aave, liquid, staking, exploit, rseth, kelp

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Aave service providers have launched a deficit relief initiative called DeFi United, designed to fully cover the underbacked rsETH liquid staking token from KelpDAO. The initiative includes contribution pledges from several ecosystem projects: EtherFi has committed [5,000 ETH](https://x.com/ether_fi_Fdn/status/2047393169776492798), Lido [2,500 ETH](https://x.com/LidoFinance/status/2047371180781539827), and Golem [1,000 ETH](https://x.com/GolemFoundation/status/2047440757900906535).

Aave founder Stani Kulechov also [personally](https://x.com/StaniKulechov/status/2047413237113868576) pledged 5,000 ETH (approximately $11.6 million), emphasizing that Aave represents his life's work. Additional participants, including Ethena, Ink Foundation, Tydro, and LayerZero, have announced participation, though have not specified their contribution amounts.

The rsETH asset is facing an estimated shortfall of 118,000 ETH following the KelpDAO exploit executed by the DPRK. Arbitrum also recovered 30,000 ETH connected to the exploit, which could be directed toward DeFi United. 75,700 ETH has already been swapped by the DPRK via THORChain. Kulechov [called](https://x.com/StaniKulechov/status/2047444880784286181) for THORChain to contribute the roughly $450,000 in swap fees generated from those transactions to support DeFi United.

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Disclaimer: Content is for informational purposes only, not endorsement or investment advice. The accuracy of information is not guaranteed.

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*Originally published on [ETH Daily](https://ethdaily.io/defi-united-relief-vehicle-for-rseth)*