Total Value Locked (TVL) is a critical metric in decentralized finance (DeFi) that measures the total value of all assets deposited in a protocol that are actively generating economic activity. These assets undergo a meticulous filtering process to ensure they represent genuine user deposits engaged in productive economic work.
How TVL Calculation Works
When a protocol is first listed, DeFi Pulse employs a manual review process to identify which addresses hold assets that contribute to economic activity. Addresses that don’t meet this criterion—such as those holding staked or locked assets without generating economic interest—are excluded.
Key exclusions in TVL calculations include:
- Assets minted by the protocol or a closely related entity.
- Highly illiquid assets (with liquidity/FDV < 0.0015).
Factory Contracts and TVL
DeFi Pulse actively monitors protocols' factory contracts. New addresses created by these contracts automatically qualify for TVL calculations. For instance:
- DEX Example: A decentralized exchange’s pool factory contract is tracked for new liquidity pools. Assets deposited in these pools are included in the DEX’s TVL.
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Global TVL and Derivative Assets
To prevent double-counting and inflation of global TVL, DeFi Pulse excludes derivative assets if their underlying assets are already counted in another protocol’s TVL. Three types of derivatives are automatically excluded:
- Debt Tokens: Collateral assets are already counted in lending platforms’ TVL.
- LP Tokens: Underlying assets are included in a DEX’s TVL.
- Vault Tokens: Underlying assets are part of the vault platform’s TVL.
FAQs
Why is TVL important in DeFi?
TVL reflects the scale and adoption of a DeFi protocol by quantifying the value of assets locked in productive use, such as lending, trading, or yield farming.
How does DeFi Pulse ensure accurate TVL calculations?
Through manual reviews, factory contract monitoring, and exclusion of derivatives to avoid double-counting.
What assets are excluded from TVL?
Protocol-minted assets, illiquid assets, and derivatives where underlying assets are already counted elsewhere.
How often is TVL updated?
TVL is tracked continuously, with new qualifying addresses added as protocols deploy them via factory contracts.