At a glance
Spark Protocol ↗ ($4.5B TVL) and Radiant Capital ↗ (under $0.01B TVL) are both Aave v3 forks operating in the lending category. Spark sits inside the Sky (MakerDAO) ecosystem, offering DAI/USDS markets with rates steered by Sky governance. Radiant is a cross-chain money market built on LayerZero, but it is winding down after a ~$50M exploit in October 2024. The choice largely hinges on liquidity depth versus cross-chain reach and post‑exploit recovery tolerance.
Key differences
- TVL and liquidity. Spark holds $4.5B TVL across Ethereum, Gnosis, and Base, while Radiant holds just under $0.01B on Arbitrum, BNB Chain, and Ethereum. The vast gap in capital makes Spark the far deeper market for borrowers and lenders.
- Ecosystem integration. Spark is native to the Sky (MakerDAO) ecosystem, giving its stablecoin rates a direct link to Sky’s monetary policy. Radiant, though deployed on three chains, does not have a similar ecosystem anchor and acts as a standalone cross-chain money market.
- Chain footprint. Both cover three chains, but only Ethereum is common. Spark adds Gnosis and Base; Radiant adds Arbitrum and BNB Chain. Protocol selection depends on which chain a user prefers.
- Security incidents. Spark has no reported exploits or critical incidents. Radiant suffered a ~$50M exploit in October 2024 and, unable to recover, its DAO voted in June 2026 to wind down operations.
- Audit firms. Spark was audited by ChainSecurity and Cantina. Radiant was audited by Peckshield, Zokyo, and BlockSec. Both sets are credible, but audits did not prevent Radiant’s exploit.
Security and track record
Spark launched in 2023 as a fork of Aave v3, inheriting a well‑battled codebase, and passed audits by ChainSecurity and Cantina without any subsequent incidents. Because it is governed by the Sky DAO, changes are subject to broader ecosystem governance, adding a layer of scrutiny. Radiant, launched in 2022, also forked Aave v3 and completed audits by Peckshield, Zokyo, and BlockSec. Yet in October 2024 it was exploited for ~$50M, and after failing to recover its DAO began winding down in June 2026. While both protocols list reputable audit firms, Spark’s clean record and deep integration with Sky’s security processes make it the more battle‑tested choice.
Fees and costs
Specific fee data (borrow/lend spreads, reserve factors) are not disclosed in our current dataset for either protocol. Spark’s rates are set via Sky governance and tend to be competitive for DAI/USDS markets. Radiant’s fee structure is typical of Aave v3 forks, but its wind-down may impose additional restrictions. Check each protocol’s app for current rates.
Which should you choose
Pick Spark if…
- You need the deepest liquidity ($4.5B TVL) and most competitive DAI/USDS rates.
- You already use the Sky (MakerDAO) ecosystem and want a native lending arm.
- You prioritize a proven security track record with no known exploits.
Pick Radiant Capital if…
- You need cross‑chain lending on Arbitrum or BNB Chain (where Spark is not available).
- You are only managing residual positions and understand the protocol is winding down.
- You accept that the DAO voted in June 2026 to wind down and that TVL has collapsed to a ~$2M husk.
Verdict
For most lending users, Spark Protocol is the clear winner. Its $4.5B TVL, zero‑incident history, and deep ties to the Sky ecosystem make it the safer, more liquid choice. Radiant Capital’s cross‑chain reach is its only edge, but the ~$50M October 2024 exploit and June 2026 wind-down make it a collapsed husk that only risk‑tolerant users should consider.