Aave has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing $20 billion in total value locked (TVL) for the first time, reflecting a substantial growth from $18 billion to $31 billion this quarter. This increase in TVL is noted to match the combined size of all other lending protocols, highlighting Aave's dominant position in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector. Additionally, Apecoin has reached a TVL of $100 million on Apechain, indicating growth in that area as well. Observers note that Aave's growth is occurring with approximately ten times the capital compared to its competitors, emphasizing its rapid expansion in the DeFi market.