TVL, Trading Volume, Open Interest: How to Use DeFi Data to Find the Next Breakout Project?
Analyzing DeFi projects requires moving beyond hype and narratives to focus on on-chain fundamentals—a revolutionary advantage over traditional finance due to its real-time, transparent data. Key metrics include:
- **TVL (Total Value Locked)**: Reflects assets deposited in a protocol, similar to AUM in TradFi, but should be combined with USD net inflows to distinguish actual deposits from price changes.
- **Fees, Revenue, and Holder Revenue**: Fees are total user payments (gross revenue), revenue is the protocol’s share (gross income), and holder revenue is what token holders earn via dividends or buybacks.
- **Volume**: Tracks trading activity on DEXs and perpetual exchanges, with market share trends often more meaningful than absolute numbers.
- **Open Interest**: Measures active derivative positions, indicating liquidity and platform resilience during volatility.
- **Stablecoin Market Cap**: Represents real USD capital flowing into a blockchain, a key indicator of ecosystem growth.
- **App Revenue & Fees**: The "GDP" of a chain, showing economic activity excluding stablecoins and gas fees.
Effective analysis prioritizes sustained growth over time, combines stock metrics (e.g., TVL) with flow metrics (e.g., fees), and accounts for token unlocks and incentives that may cause sell pressure. Platforms like DefiLlama provide real-time data to identify trends early, as seen with Polymarket and Hyperliquid’s growth before they peaked. Mastering these metrics helps cut through noise and spot genuinely valuable projects.
marsbit01/08 05:02