1inch has launched Aqua to the public, after first releasing it for developers in November 2025. Aqua is presented as an alternative to DeFi models that rely on liquidity pools, aiming to offer “risk-controlled” liquidity provisioning instead. According to 1inch’s announcements, Aqua introduces a shared liquidity layer supported by Merkl, a mechanism used to power a liquidity incentive program. The program includes a 10 million token incentive allocation in 1INCH, funded by the 1inch Foundation, alongside additional support of 500,000 USDC from the 1inch DAO. Separate coverage also describes Aqua as enabling users to provide liquidity to multiple DeFi protocols at once, reflecting a move to unify liquidity across a broader ecosystem. The Block reports that Aqua launches across 13 EVM chains, indicating multi-chain support from the outset. Cointelegraph similarly frames the launch as an effort to connect DeFi liquidity across 13 chains. Across sources, the central points are Aqua’s public rollout, its Merkl-backed incentive program, and its focus on shared liquidity across multiple EVM networks, with a stated emphasis on risk control versus traditional pool-based approaches.