In the fast-moving world of decentralized finance (DeFi), transparent, accurate, and composable data is critical — especially for builders. Whether you're building a DeFi dashboard, portfolio tracker, research tool, or automated bot, you need access to reliable real-time metrics.
This is where DeFiLlama becomes an essential tool in every developer’s kit.
In this article, we'll break down how developers can use DeFiLlama’s APIs, GitHub resources, and open infrastructure to integrate high-quality DeFi data into their apps and workflows.
What Is DeFiLlama?
DeFiLlama is the largest open-source DeFi analytics platform. It tracks:
Total Value Locked (TVL)
Lending & borrowing protocols
DEX volumes
Stablecoin flows
Protocol revenue
Layer 1 & Layer 2 adoption
Airdrop activity
DeFi exploits
Unlike closed dashboards, DeFiLlama is fully open, requires no registration, and does not collect user data.
Developers can query real-time TVL, explore protocol metadata, or plug data directly into any frontend or backend service.
Why Developers Use DeFiLlama
🛠 Free, no-token, no-auth APIs
📈 Cross-chain support (Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, BNB, etc.)
📚 Complete documentation and GitBook
🧩 Modular integration into dApps, bots, analytics, and dashboards
🔄 Open-source adapters that developers can contribute to
Core APIs You Should Know
- TVL API Retrieve global or chain-specific TVL data.
Params:
chain — filter by blockchain
project — filter by protocol name
This is useful for creating real-time DeFi dashboards or monitoring liquidity trends.
- Protocols List Get metadata about every integrated DeFi protocol.
Returns protocol name, slug, chains supported, logo, and more.
- DEX Volume API Track daily trading volumes across major DEXs and chains.
Useful for comparative analytics, charting UI, or LP optimization tools.
- Stablecoins API Monitor minting/burning and movement of stablecoins by chain.
DefiLlama Build Use Cases
Here are a few things you can build using DeFiLlama data:
A real-time cross-chain DeFi dashboard
DAO treasury dashboard with protocol risk overlays
Airdrop eligibility monitor
Smart LP bots based on inflow/outflow alerts
Yield comparison tools across protocols
Token liquidity heatmaps for stablecoins
How to Contribute
DeFiLlama’s integrations are open to the community. You can write adapters in JavaScript or TypeScript for new protocols that want to be listed.
To contribute:
Fork the GitHub repo
Add your adapter file
Test locally
Submit a pull request
Engage with maintainers via the project's GitHub discussions
DefiLlama FAQ
Q: Are there rate limits?
No strict rate limits apply for most endpoints, but heavy usage should cache results or contact maintainers for stability.
Q: Can I use this data commercially?
Yes. The data is open for public and commercial use. No token or payment required.
Q: How often is data updated?
Data is typically updated every 5–15 minutes, depending on the protocol.
Q: Are prices live or lagged?
Prices and TVL are updated using on-chain events and subgraph data. It's not tick-by-tick, but nearly real-time for most use cases.
Final Thoughts
If you're building anything involving DeFi analytics, protocol monitoring, or real-time liquidity tracking, DeFiLlama gives you a massive head start — without lock-in, tokens, or licensing fees.
In a space full of noise, DeFiLlama continues to provide builders with clean, open, verifiable infrastructure.
🔗 Get started: https://defillama-tvl.com
📘 Docs: https://defillama-or-home-website.gitbook.io/defillama-website
🐙 GitHub: https://defillama-site.github.io
📣 Twitter: https://x.com/TVL_DefiLlama
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