Vault
A smart contract that automates a yield strategy — users deposit, the contract executes.
Examples: Yearn yVaults, MetaMorpho vaults, Beefy / Convex auto-compounders. Vault risk = strategy risk + smart-contract layer + curator / strategist trust. Flagship vault curators (Yearn, Steakhouse, Gauntlet) publish risk frameworks alongside performance.
Related terms
- YearnThe original DeFi yield aggregator — yVaults route deposits into the highest-risk-adjusted-yield strategies.
- MorphoA modular lending primitive — Morpho Blue isolates each market, with curators (e.g. MetaMorpho) building risk-managed vaults atop.
- CuratorA vault or lending-market manager that allocates user deposits across underlying markets — the human / DAO judgement layer above the protocol.