TVL (total value locked)
Yield & returnsValue of assets deposited in a pool or protocol. Used as a depth proxy: it caps the size you can enter and exit without moving the market.
TVL is a capacity measure, not a quality measure. A large pool can still be a poorly designed one; a small pool is simply not investable at institutional size.
Direction matters: TVL falling faster than the market is a withdrawal signal worth understanding before you deposit into it.
Why it matters
Your position should be a small fraction of pool TVL, or you are the exit liquidity.
See it in action
Related terms
The size you can trade before moving the price. On USD.NET this is indexed on-chain DEX pool depth containing the asset; centralised order books are not included.
USD.NET's A–E grade for how likely a pool's yield is to persist, built from depth, reward sustainability and TVL/peg stability.