TVL stands for “Total Value Locked” and is one of the metrics we use to compile the DeFi bundle alongside market capitalization and trading volume. The TVL is used to measure the total value of assets deposited or committed to a specific platform, protocol or smart contract. Assets can include collateral for loans, used for staking or yield farming, or redeployed to participate in other DeFi products and services. This metric is used to measure the overall health and activity of a DeFi project or ecosystem. It is an important measure of the number of users and to what extent they trust a particular platform or protocol. A high TVL suggests that many users trust the platform and that many assets are locked in, which can lead to more users and more assets. In contrast, a low TVL may indicate low interest in the platform or security concerns.