EtherFi is deploying a dedicated Aave V4 instance on Optimism to power the credit card backend for EtherFi Cash after saying its existing lending infrastructure can no longer meet development needs. The crypto-linked card product currently has $22 million in active loans, while EtherFi expects lending capacity to expand to $500 million by 2027. The company also said 70,000 cardholders are already using cryptocurrency for everyday spending without selling their holdings, a model that typically relies on borrowing against crypto collateral rather than triggering a taxable sale.