A comprehensive guide to purchasing Aerodrome (AERO) safely on trusted cryptocurrency exchanges, including platform recommendations, wallet setup, and practical tips.
Steps to Buy AERO
Get on Base — Bridge assets to Base L2 via the official bridge or Coinbase direct deposit.
Purchase AERO — Buy AERO on Aerodrome itself (aerodrome.finance) or on centralized exchanges like Coinbase.
Complete verification — Standard KYC if using centralized exchanges.
Consider veAERO — Lock AERO as veAERO to earn trading fees and direct emissions — the primary value capture mechanism.
Explore LP positions — Provide liquidity in Aerodrome pools to earn AERO emissions directed by voters.
How to Store Aerodrome Safely
AERO is a Base token stored in MetaMask (Base network), Coinbase Wallet, or any Base-compatible wallet. For veAERO locking, interact directly with aerodrome.finance.
Tips for Buying AERO
veAERO locking is the primary value capture — holding AERO without locking means you're diluted by emissions
Monitor Base's overall growth metrics — Aerodrome's value is directly tied to Base's ecosystem success
Bribe revenue for veAERO holders can exceed direct trading fees — check Aerodrome's bribe marketplace
Compare Aerodrome (Base) to Velodrome (Optimism) for ve(3,3) model performance across chains
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ve(3,3)?
ve(3,3) combines Curve's vote-escrow model (lock tokens for governance and fees) with Olympus's (3,3) game theory (incentivizing cooperative behavior). In Aerodrome: lock AERO as veAERO → vote for pools → earn 100% of trading fees from voted pools + receive anti-dilution rebases. The model creates aligned incentives between liquidity providers, traders, and governance participants.
How does Aerodrome compare to Uniswap on Base?
Uniswap v3 is deployed on Base but Aerodrome dominates in TVL and volume. Aerodrome's ve(3,3) model incentivizes deep, sticky liquidity through emissions and fee-sharing — Uniswap relies on organic trading fees alone. For LPs, Aerodrome typically offers higher yields due to emission incentives. For traders, both provide competitive pricing.
Are AERO emissions sustainable?
AERO emissions decrease over time (following a predetermined schedule), and anti-dilution rebases protect veAERO holders from dilution. The sustainability test is whether trading fee revenue grows fast enough to offset declining emissions incentives. So far, Base's growth has supported this, but continued ecosystem expansion is necessary for long-term sustainability.
After purchasing, consider using the DCA Backtester to plan a dollar-cost averaging strategy, or check the Staking Calculator to estimate staking rewards.