Glossary
Key terms and definitions for the Stake DAO ecosystem.
Core Concepts
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| sdToken | Liquid representation of a locked governance token (e.g., sdCRV, sdBAL). Issued 1:1 when depositing into a Liquid Locker. |
| veToken | Vote-escrowed token. Governance tokens locked for a duration to gain voting power (e.g., veCRV, veBAL). |
| veSDT | Vote-escrowed SDT (Sunset). SDT locked for up to 4 years to gain governance power and boost rewards. New locks disabled. |
| vlSDT | Vote Locked SDT. SDT staked with flat 1:1 voting power and 8-week unstake queue. Replaces veSDT. |
| Liquid Locker | Smart contract that locks governance tokens permanently and issues liquid sdTokens in return. |
| Gauge | Smart contract that distributes reward emissions to stakers. Gauges receive allocations based on governance votes. |
| Boost | Increased reward rate from holding veTokens (or vlSDT). Maximum boost is typically 2.5x base rewards. |
| Unstake Queue | 8-week waiting period for vlSDT withdrawals. Voting power is removed immediately on unstake request. |
| BoostRegistry | Contract that tracks flat boost delegations for vlSDT, replacing veBoost's decaying system. |
| BoostMarketplace | Order book for buying and selling vlSDT boost through BoostRegistry. |
Votemarket
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Campaign | A vote incentive program created by a protocol to attract votes to specific gauges. |
| Vote Incentive | Token rewards offered to voters in exchange for directing their voting power to a gauge. |
| Epoch | A voting period, typically one week, after which gauge weights are updated and rewards distributed. |
| Bounty | Reward pool for a specific gauge within a campaign. |
Governance
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Gauge Controller | Contract that manages gauge weight voting and emission allocations on underlying protocols. |
| Vote Replication | System that mirrors sdToken holder votes to the underlying protocol's governance. |
| Meta-governance | Ability for sdToken holders to vote on underlying protocol proposals (e.g., sdCRV holders voting on Curve proposals). |
| Quorum | Minimum voting participation required for a proposal to pass. |
Strategies
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Strategy | Smart contract that optimizes LP token yields by leveraging Liquid Locker boost. |
| OnlyBoost | Strategy type that optimizes boost by distributing deposits across Stake DAO and Convex based on their veCRV balances. |
| Harvest | Action that claims and compounds earned rewards back into a strategy. |
| Performance Fee | Percentage of strategy yields taken as protocol revenue. |
Lending
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Wrapper Token | Non-transferable token that represents RewardVault shares 1:1 and serves as lending collateral. |
| RewardVault | Strategy vault where LP tokens are staked and rewards accrue. |
| LLTV | Liquidation Loan-to-Value. The collateralization threshold that triggers liquidation. |
| Health Factor | Safety metric derived from collateral value and debt; below threshold, liquidation can occur. |
| Oracle | Pricing contract that values LP collateral using Curve EMA data and Chainlink feeds. |
| Liquidation | Process where a position is partially repaid by a liquidator in exchange for seized collateral. |
Tokens
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| SDT | Stake DAO governance token. Staked as vlSDT (or, historically, locked as the now sunset veSDT) to access utility. |
| LP Token | Liquidity provider token representing a share of a DEX pool. |
| Gauge Deposit Token | Token received when staking in a gauge, representing the staked position. |
Infrastructure
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Depositor | Contract that handles token deposits into Liquid Lockers and mints sdTokens. |
| Masterchef | Contract that manages SDT emission rates and distribution to pools. |
| Whitelist | Registry of approved smart contracts that can interact with certain protocol functions. |
| LaPoste | Cross-chain bridge infrastructure for Votemarket V2. |
| Protocol Timelock | Governance contract enforcing 48-hour delay on protocol changes. Provides transparency and user protection. |
| Guardian | Role that can execute emergency security functions (pause, shutdown) without timelock delay. |