Dromos Labs Unifies Aerodrome and Velodrome into Aero, Targets Q2 2026 Ethereum Mainnet Launch

Dromos Labs, the developer behind the prominent decentralized exchanges (DEXs) Aerodrome and Velodrome, has announced a significant consolidation, merging both platforms into a single, unified DEX named Aero. This strategic move, powered by the new MetaDEX03 operating system, aims to create a central liquidity hub across the entire Ethereum ecosystem, with a planned launch on Ethereum mainnet and Circle's Arc in Q2 2026. The announcement signals a major overhaul of Dromos Labs' decentralized exchange infrastructure.

Aero will leverage MetaDEX03, an upgraded operating system designed to enhance efficiency, reduce value leakage, and lower costs across Ethereum-compatible networks. According to the company, MetaDEX03 introduces features like Slipstream V3, which captures value typically lost to arbitrage bots, and MetaSwaps, enabling seamless cross-chain trading from a single interface. Alexander Cutler, founder and CEO of Dromos Labs, stated that "Aerodrome has been successful on Base and is excited to expand to effectively service other Ethereum networks via Aero."

The new platform will unify the existing AERO and VELO tokens into a single AERO asset, aiming to eliminate liquidity fragmentation. Luis A. de la Cerda, Executive Director of the Aerodrome and Velodrome foundations, explained that "By linking all of EVM under one token, Aero can operate at a scale no other token has ever reached, concentrating the full power of MetaDEX03 to generate, capture, and coordinate on chain economic activity." While Base will remain the primary hub for the unified platform, the expansion to Ethereum mainnet and Circle's Arc is set to broaden its reach significantly.

Aerodrome currently stands as the largest DEX on Coinbase's Layer 2 Base network by trading volume, boasting $475.9 million in total value locked (TVL) as of November 2025. Velodrome, operating on Optimism’s Superchain ecosystem, holds nearly $39 million in TVL. The merger aims to build on these successes, positioning Aero as a comprehensive trading infrastructure for the onchain economy, capable of serving both retail traders and institutions.

The integration of MetaDEX03 is expected to deliver substantial improvements, with Dromos Chief Financial Officer Dan Wick projecting a 40% revenue increase from the REV Engine and a cost reduction of $34 million from the AER Engine. These enhancements are anticipated to provide 2.8 times more value for token holders. The move underscores Dromos Labs' ambition to push decentralized finance beyond traditional financial systems in terms of efficiency and accessibility.