Ranking protocols by security longevity, audit history, and time since launch. Essential for risk analysis.
As of our latest index update, we are actively tracking 5 major protocols with a cumulative total of 64 security audits. The current market leader for trust metrics is Maker DSR, achieving a composite score of 183.
Diligence Highlight: While Maker DSR holds the advantage of longevity (6 years in operation), Compound V3 has demonstrated the highest "Security Density," averaging 5 audits per year of operation. This suggests an aggressive commitment to code safety relative to its lifespan.
Trust is Time (The Lindy Effect): The Index heavily weights the time a protocol has been operating successfully without major exploits. In DeFi, the "Lindy Effect" suggests that the future life expectancy of a non-perishable thing like a smart contract is proportional to its current age.
Audit Density vs. Quality: We combine the historical audit record (a proxy for security diligence) with our active safety score. This active score is aggregated hourly via our indexer, ensuring that recent on-chain liquidity metrics and utilisation rates impact the trust rating.
When utilising high-yield protocols, you are exposed to "Smart Contract Risk"—the possibility that the code governing the protocol contains a bug that can be exploited by unauthorised actors. This Index serves as a preliminary screening tool. Protocols with scores below the market average (currently 117) should be approached with caution.
For a direct comparison of how these safety scores correlate with Total Value Locked, cross-reference this data with our Protocol Leaderboard. Understanding which protocols attract the most capital despite lower security scores can reveal market inefficiency.
No single metric can predict a "Black Swan" event. We recommend using this Trust Index to weight your portfolio. Consider allocating a larger percentage of capital to high-trust protocols like Maker DSR, while treating newer protocols as "venture" bets with strictly limited capital exposure.
Disclaimer: This index is for educational purposes only. Audit counts and launch dates are verified periodically but may not reflect real-time changes. Past performance is not indicative of future security. Terms of Service apply.