Stock token and perpetual glossary
Look up unfamiliar terms from stock token prices and our guides. Every term has its own link for sharing.
- Stock token (tokenized stock)
A tokenized product providing exposure to a stock or ETF. Its legal structure, backing, redemption rights and shareholder rights depend on the offering documents; the label alone does not establish share ownership.
- On-chain stocks
A description of blockchain-based access to stock-related products, not a legal ownership category. Identify whether the actual instrument is a spot token or a derivative.
- On-chain US stocks
A common label for blockchain-accessible US equity products. Our topic covers US stock and ETF tokens with on-chain markets; it does not stand for every equity market or every stock perpetual.
- Stock perpetual
A derivative without a fixed expiry that references stock-related prices. You hold a contract position, not the underlying share or spot token. Margin, funding and corporate-action adjustments follow the contract's rules.
- Reference price
The stock price we use for premiums: the median of the index prices of stock perpetuals across venues. It usually stays near the last close while the market is closed.
- Index price
A reference price computed by the venue from stock quotes and used for funding. Rules differ slightly by venue; when the market is closed it may use the last close or the venue's own off-hours pricing.
- Mark price
The price a venue uses for unrealized profit and loss and liquidation checks, usually combining the index price and contract trades so that a single odd trade cannot trigger liquidations.
- Funding rate
The rate longs and shorts periodically pay each other on perpetuals. When positive, longs pay shorts; when negative, shorts pay longs. Each payment = position value × funding rate. Most venues settle every 8 hours.
- Leverage
The multiple by which a position exceeds your margin. At 10x, $1,000 of margin opens a $10,000 position, and profit and loss are on $10,000.
- Margin
The funds you put up to open a contract position, which absorb losses. If losses push margin below the maintenance requirement, the position is liquidated.
- Liquidation
When the price moves against you and margin can no longer support the position, the venue closes it. Higher leverage puts liquidation closer; opening gaps on stock contracts are a common trigger.
- Open interest
The total value of open positions in a contract. Higher open interest means more capital involved and usually better liquidity.
- 24h volume
The value traded in the last 24 hours, in US dollars. We use it for sorting and to judge whether a price is reliable: thinly traded tokens can show stale prices.
- Liquidity
How easily you can trade near the current price. For on-chain tokens, look at pool liquidity in dollars; on exchanges, order book depth and volume. With thin liquidity, large orders move the price.
- Bid-ask spread
The gap between the best bid and best ask, a hidden trading cost. The tighter the spread, the closer buying and selling prices are.
- Slippage
The difference between the expected and actual fill price, common with market orders and on-chain swaps. The thinner the liquidity and the larger the order, the bigger the slippage.
- xStocks
A stock token series issued by Backed, with an x after the ticker (such as TSLAx), trading on Solana and other chains and on exchanges such as Bybit, Gate and MEXC. Dividends are reinvested as more shares.
- Ondo tokenized stocks
Stock tokens issued by Ondo Global Markets, with on after the ticker (such as TSLAon), on Ethereum, BNB Chain, Solana and other chains. Dividends are also reinvested.
- bStocks
Stock tokens listed by Binance, with pairs such as TSLABUSDT. Product rules and dividend handling follow Binance's terms.
- Official contract address
A token's unique address on a blockchain. Copycat tokens are common, so always buy using the address published by the issuer; every stock page on this site lists them.
- Decentralized exchange (DEX)
A trading venue run by smart contracts with no account needed; you connect a wallet to swap on-chain tokens. On-chain perpetual exchanges such as Hyperliquid and Aster are also DEXs.
- Pre-IPO perpetual
A perpetual derivative on expectations before a company lists publicly. Quote units and reference methods are venue-specific; opening a position does not grant shares or an IPO allocation. Other pre-IPO notes and tokens require separate analysis.
- American depositary receipt (ADR)
A certificate that lets a foreign company trade in the US, such as TSMC's TSM or Toyota's TM. ADRs and home-market shares may be priced on different bases, so we list them separately.
- Pre-market, after-hours and overnight
US trading outside regular hours: pre-market 4:00–9:30 ET, after-hours 16:00–20:00, overnight 20:00–4:00. Volume is thinner and prices can swing more.
- Identity verification (KYC)
The process by which a venue verifies your identity and residence. Centralized exchanges generally require KYC for stock products and reject users from restricted regions.
Market data comes from each venue's public feeds and is for reference only, not investment advice. Stock tokens and stock perpetuals are volatile and high risk, and some venues or products are unavailable in certain countries and regions. Check local rules and the venue's terms before trading.