Token Terminal: Key Metrics FAQ

In this article, we provide an overview of Token Terminal's key metrics, how the metrics are calculated, and why we show them.

With the release of new metrics on Token Terminal, we have been receiving an increasing number of questions on what these metrics mean, how we derive them, and how investors should interpret them.

This article is meant to serve as a guide and a single source of truth for Token Terminal users. It includes illustrative examples of our dashboards, along with the relevant smart contract events or function calls used to calculate the metrics sourced from on-chain data.

It is also important to remember that no single metric is perfect in isolation, and should be used in a complementary way to each other when making investment decisions.

Contents:

1. Market data
   1. Fully diluted market capitalization
   2. Circulating market capitalization
   3. Token trading volume
   4. Tokenholders
2. Gross merchanise volume (GMV) data
   1. Total value locked
   2. Trading volume (DEX, NFT marketplace)
   3. Borrowing volume (lending)
   4. Assets staked (liquid staking derivative)
   5. Capital deployed (asset management)
   6. Transfer volume (cross-chain bridging)
3. Financial data
   1. Fees
   2. Supply-side fees
   3. Revenue
   4. Token incentives
   5. Earnings
4. Valuation data
   1. P/F ratio (fully diluted)
   2. P/F ratio (circulating)
   3. P/S ratio (fully diluted)
   4. P/S ratio (circulating)
5. Cash management data
   1. Treasury
6. Alternative data
   1. Daily active users
   2. Active developers
   3. Code commits

1. Market Data

Fully diluted market capitalization

What is this metric: Valuation of the protocol based on the maximum supply of its governance token.

How it is calculated: Maximum supply * token price, sourced from Coingecko.

Why do we show it: Shows the protocol's true valuation by taking into account all the tokens that have been issued.

Example:

Bitcoin dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/bitcoin

Optimism dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/optimism

Chainlink dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/chainlink

Circulating market capitalization

What is this metric: Valuation of the protocol based on the circulating supply of its governance token.

How it is calculated: Circulating supply * token price, sourced from Coingecko.

Why do we show it: When charted against the fully diluted market capitalization, it shows the magnitude of future unlocks that could potentially drive down the price.

Example:

Ethereum dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/ethereum

Cardano dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/cardano

PancakeSwap dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/pancakeswap

Token trading volume

What is this metric: Trading volume of the protocol's governance token across CEXs and DEXs.

How it is calculated: Trading volume on supported CEXs & DEXs, sourced from Coingecko.

Why do we show it: Shows if there's proper price discovery for the token.

Example:

Dogecoin dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/dogecoin

Polygon dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/polygon

Ribbon Finance dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/ribbon-finance

Tokenholders

What is this metric: Number of unique governance tokenholders.

How it is calculated: Number of unique addresses with a governance token balance greater than 0, sourced from onchain data.

Why do we show it: Shows if the protocol's ownership is concentrated or decentralized, often tied to the maturity of the protocol (concentrated ownership more common at the early stage).

Example:

Compound dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/compound

SushiSwap dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/sushiswap

0x dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/0x

2. Gross merchandise volume (GMV) data

Total value locked (TVL)

What is this metric: User deposits to the protocol's smart contracts (these assets are not owned by the protocol).

How it is calculated: Value of funds held across a protocol's smart contracts.

Why do we show it: Shows how much value users are willing to deposit to a protocol's contracts, i.e. if there is trust in the protocol's contracts (security-wise).

Example:

Convex Finance dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/convex-finance

Transaction volume (L1 / L2 blockchain)

What is this metric: Transaction volume on a blockchain (L1 / L2).

How it is calculated: Value of the tokens being transacted on a blockchain, sourced from onchain data.

Why do we show it: Shows how much value users are willing to transact on a blockchain, i.e. if there is trust in the blockchain to transact at scale.

Trading volume (DEX / NFT marketplace)

What is this metric: Trading volume on a DEX / NFT marketplace.

How it is calculated: Value of tokens being exchanged at a DEX / NFT marketplace.

Why do we show it: Shows how much value traders are willing to trade on a DEX / NFT marketplace, i.e. if there is trust in the DEX / NFT marketplace to trade at scale.

Example:

Relevant events for Uniswap: Swap event, Pair / Pool contracts

Uniswap dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/uniswap

Relevant events for GMX: IncreasePosition / DecreasePosition / Swap events, Vault contract

GMX dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/gmx

Relevant events / function calls for OpenSea: atomicMatch function call, WyvernExchange contract + OrderFulfilled event, Seaport contract

OpenSea dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/opensea

Active loans (lending)

What is this metric: Outstanding loans on a lending protocol.

How it is calculated: Value of funds owed by borrowers to lenders.

Why do we show it: Shows how much value borrowers are willing to borrow on a protocol, i.e. if there is trust in the lending protocol to lend & borrow at scale.

Example:

Relevant events for Aave: Mint / Burn events, SToken / VToken contracts

Aave dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/aave

Relevant events for Compound: AccrueInterest event, CEther / CErc20 / CErc20Delegator contracts

Compound dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/compound

Relevant events for Euler: AssetStatus event, Euler contract

Euler dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/euler

Assets staked (liquid staking derivative)

What is this metric: User deposits staked by a liquid staking protocol.

How it is calculated: Value of funds staked across the protocol's smart contracts.

Why do we show it: Shows how much value stakers are willing to stake through a protocol, i.e. if there is trust in the liquid staking protocol to stake at scale.

Example:

Relevant events for Lido Finance: PostTotalShares event, Oracle contract

Lido Finance dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/lido-finance

Relevant events for StakeWise: DepositAdded event, Solos contract

StakeWise dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/stakewise

Relevant events for Ankr: StakeConfirmed event, ETHStaking contract

Ankr dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/ankr

Transfer volume (cross-chain bridging)

What is this metric: Tokens transferred through a cross-chain bridging protocol.

How it is calculated: Value of tokens transferred through a cross-chain bridge.

Why do we show it: Shows how much bridge users are willing to transfer through a bridging protocol, i.e. if there is trust in the bridging protocol to transfer at scale.

Example:

Relevant events for Stargate: Swap / SendToChain events, Pool / StargateToken contracts

Stargate dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/layerzero/stargate

Relevant events for Synapse: TokenDeposit / TokenDepositAndSwap / TokenRedeemAndSwap / TokenRedeem / TokenRedeemV2 / TokenRedeemAndRemove events, SynapseBridge contract

Synapse dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/synapse

3. Financial data

Fees

What is this metric: Fees paid by end users.

How it is calculated: Value of the aggregate fees paid by end users, sourced from onchain data.

Why do we show it: Shows if users are willing to pay to use a protocol, i.e. if there is product market fit (especially if there are no token incentives).

Example:

Relevant events for Synthetix: PositionModified event, FuturesMarket contract + all sUSD token transfers to the FeeCollector contract

Synthetix dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/synthetix

Relevant events for Perpetual Protocol: PositionChanged event, ClearingHouse event

Perpetual Protocol dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/perpetual-protocol

Relevant events for LooksRare: RoyaltyPayment event, Exchange contract

LooksRare dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/looksrare

Relevant events for Venus: AccrueInterest event, vBNB / VBep20Delegate contracts

Venus dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/venus

Relevant token transfers for Lido Finance: All stETH token transfers to the Lido DAO treasury contract

Lido Finance dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/lido-finance

Supply-side fees

What is this metric: Portion of fees paid to service providers.

How it is calculated: Value of the fees paid to service providers (LPs, lenders, creators, etc.), sourced from onchain data.

Why do we show it: Shows what percentage of the fees the protocol passes on to service providers.

Example:

SushiSwap dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/sushiswap

BENQI dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/benqi

Goldfinch dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/goldfinch

Revenue

What is this metric: Portion of fees kept by the protocol (and its tokenholders).

How it is calculated: Value of the fees kept by the protocol (and tokenholders), sourced from onchain data.

Why do we show it: Shows what percentage of the fees the protocol captures for itself.

Example:

MakerDAO dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/makerdao

Trader Joe dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/trader-joe

Radiant Capital dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/radiant-capital

Token incentives

What is this metric: Governance tokens distributed to users (token-based compensation).

How it is calculated: Value of a protocol’s governance tokens that have been claimed by users, sourced from onchain data.

Why do we show it: Shows how much the protocol is subsidizing the use of the protocol by issuing tokens to its users, i.e. how much existing tokenholders are being diluted.

Example:

Relevant events for SushiSwap: Harvest event, MasterChefV2 / MiniChef contracts

SushiSwap dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/sushiswap

Relevant events for Gains Network: ReferralFeeCharged event, GNSTradingCallbacksV2 / GNSTradingCallbacksV3 contracts

Gains Network dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/gains-network

Relevant events for Maple Finance: RewardPaid event, MplRewards contract + MPL token transfers to liquidity providers addresses

Maple Finance dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/maple-finance

Relevant events for Index Cooperative: INDEX token transfers from the RewardDistributor contracts

Index Cooperative dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/index-cooperative

Relevant events for Hop Protocol: RewardPaid event, StakingRewards contract

Hop Protocol dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/hop-protocol

Earnings

What is this metric: Net income of a protocol (excl. operating expenses).

How it is calculated: Revenue - token incentives, sourced from onchain data.

Why do we show it: Shows how much the protocol earns after token incentives, i.e. if the protocol has an economically sustainable business or not.

Example:

MakerDAO dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/makerdao

SpookySwap dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/spookyswap

X2Y2 dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/x2y2

4. Valuation data

P/F ratio (fully diluted)

What is this metric: Valuation multiple, based on the fees paid by end users.

How it is calculated: Fully diluted market capitalization / annualized fees.

Why do we show it: Shows how many years it would take for the fees to "repay" the fully diluted valuation.

Example:

Stargate dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/layerzero/stargate

PoolTogether dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/pooltogether

Mycelium dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/mycelium

P/F ratio (circulating)

What is this metric: Valuation multiple, based on the fees paid by end users.

How it is calculated: Circulating market capitalization / annualized fees.

Why do we show it: Shows how many years it would take for the fees to "repay" the circulating valuation.

Example:

Ethereum Name Service dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/ethereum-name-service

Lyra dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/lyra

Kleros dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/kleros

P/S ratio (fully diluted)

What is this metric: Valuation multiple, based on the revenue earned by the protocol.

How it is calculated: Fully diluted market capitalization / annualized revenue.

Why do we show it: Shows how many years it would take for the revenue to "repay" the fully diluted valuation.

Example:

Hop Protocol dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/hop-protocol

NEAR Protocol dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/near-protocol

Notional Finance dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/notional-finance

P/S ratio (circulating)

What is this metric: Valuation multiple, based on the revenue earned by the protocol.

How it is calculated: Circulating market capitalization / annualized revenue.

Why do we show it: Shows how many years it would take for the revenue to "repay" the circulating valuation.

Example:

Optimism dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/optimism

Rarible dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/rarible

Filecoin dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/filecoin

5. Cash management data

Treasury

What is this metric: Assets in the protocol's treasury (incl. unallocated governance tokens).

How it is calculated: Value of the tokens held across a protocol's treasury contracts, sourced from onchain data.

Why do we show it: Shows how much the protocol is generating in business income and how it manages its treasury over time.

Example:

Rook dashboard

Example:

Uniswap dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/uniswap

Example:

Ethereum Name Service dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/ethereum-name-service

6. Alternative data

Daily active users

What is this metric: Unique addresses that use the protocol's service during a 24h period.

How it is calculated: Number of unique addresses interacting with the protocol's business relevant smart contracts, sourced from onchain data.

Why do we show it: Important to know if there are 3 vs. 300k users, gives a better understanding of the supply & demand-side dependencies.

Example:

Relevant events for GMX: IncreasePosition / DecreasePosition / Swap events, Vault contract

GMX dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/gmx

Relevant events for Across: FilledRelay / DepositRelayed events, EthereumSpokePool / ArbitrumSpokePool / OptimismSpokePool / PolygonSpokePool / BridgePoolProd contracts

Across dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/across

Relevant events for Blur: OrdersMatched event, BlurExchange contract

Blur dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/blur

Active developers

What is this metric: Core developers that contribute to the protocol's public GitHub repositories.

How it is calculated: Number of distinct users that made 1+ commits to the protocol's public repositories during the past 30 days, sourced from GitHub.

Why do we show it: Important to know if there are 10 vs. 100 core developers, gives a better understanding of the contributor dependencies.

Example:

Flashbots dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/flashbots

Sound dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/sound

The Graph dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/the-graph

Code commits

What is this metric: New commits to the protocol's public GitHub repositories.

How it is calculated: Number of commits to the protocol's public repositories, sourced from GitHub.

Why do we show it: Important to know if there are few vs. many regular commits, gives a better understanding of the pace of development.

Example:

Gitcoin dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/gitcoin

Zcash dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/zcash

1inch dashboard: https://tokenterminal.com/explorer/projects/1inch

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