DeFi

Flash Loan

An uncollateralized loan that must be borrowed and repaid within the same transaction. If the loan isn't repaid by transaction end, the entire transaction reverts atomically. Flash loans enable arbitrage, collateral swaps, and self-liquidation with zero capital. On Solana, Solend and MarginFi offer flash loans; they're also used in sandwich attacks.

IDflash-loan

Plain meaning

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An uncollateralized loan that must be borrowed and repaid within the same transaction. If the loan isn't repaid by transaction end, the entire transaction reverts atomically. Flash loans enable arbitrage, collateral swaps, and self-liquidation with zero capital. On Solana, Solend and MarginFi offer flash loans; they're also used in sandwich attacks.

Mental model

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Think of it as a market mechanic used to price, route, or move capital through liquidity apps.

Technical context

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AMMs, routing, liquidity, lending, and trading infrastructure.

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Flash Loan (flash-loan)
Category: DeFi
Definition: An uncollateralized loan that must be borrowed and repaid within the same transaction. If the loan isn't repaid by transaction end, the entire transaction reverts atomically. Flash loans enable arbitrage, collateral swaps, and self-liquidation with zero capital. On Solana, Solend and MarginFi offer flash loans; they're also used in sandwich attacks.
Related: Lending Protocol, Arbitrage
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Concept graph

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Branch

Lending Protocol

A DeFi protocol that enables users to deposit tokens to earn yield and borrow tokens against collateral. Key Solana lending protocols include Solend, MarginFi, Kamino, and Save (formerly Solend v2). Lending rates float based on utilization (borrowed/deposited). Deposits receive interest-bearing receipt tokens representing their share.

Branch

Arbitrage

The practice of profiting from price differences for the same asset across different markets. On Solana, arbitrage bots exploit price discrepancies between DEXs (e.g., SOL/USDC on Orca vs Raydium) or between spot and perpetual prices. Arbitrage is often executed via Jito bundles for guaranteed atomic execution and front-running protection.

Next concepts to explore

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DeFi

Lending Protocol

A DeFi protocol that enables users to deposit tokens to earn yield and borrow tokens against collateral. Key Solana lending protocols include Solend, MarginFi, Kamino, and Save (formerly Solend v2). Lending rates float based on utilization (borrowed/deposited). Deposits receive interest-bearing receipt tokens representing their share.

DeFi

Arbitrage

The practice of profiting from price differences for the same asset across different markets. On Solana, arbitrage bots exploit price discrepancies between DEXs (e.g., SOL/USDC on Orca vs Raydium) or between spot and perpetual prices. Arbitrage is often executed via Jito bundles for guaranteed atomic execution and front-running protection.

DeFi

Fractional Ownership

Division of a high-value asset into smaller token units, each representing proportional ownership. Enables investment in real estate, art, private equity without full asset purchase. Standard SPL token mechanics naturally support fractional representation.

DeFi

Fixed Income

Asset class comprising debt instruments paying regular, predetermined interest and returning principal at maturity. Includes government bonds, corporate bonds, T-bills, and money market instruments. Solana's RWA ecosystem is primarily fixed-income-focused.

Commonly confused with

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DeFifair-launch

Fair Launch

A token distribution method where there is no pre-mine, private sale, or insider allocation—all participants have equal opportunity to acquire tokens from the start. Fair launches aim to prevent concentrated ownership and VC dumping on retail buyers. On Solana, Pump.fun's bonding curve model approximates a fair launch, though early buyers still have a price advantage.

Related terms

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DeFilending

Lending Protocol

A DeFi protocol that enables users to deposit tokens to earn yield and borrow tokens against collateral. Key Solana lending protocols include Solend, MarginFi, Kamino, and Save (formerly Solend v2). Lending rates float based on utilization (borrowed/deposited). Deposits receive interest-bearing receipt tokens representing their share.

DeFiarbitrage

Arbitrage

The practice of profiting from price differences for the same asset across different markets. On Solana, arbitrage bots exploit price discrepancies between DEXs (e.g., SOL/USDC on Orca vs Raydium) or between spot and perpetual prices. Arbitrage is often executed via Jito bundles for guaranteed atomic execution and front-running protection.

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DeFi

AMM (Automated Market Maker)

A protocol that enables token swaps using algorithmic pricing against pooled liquidity instead of matching individual buyers and sellers. AMMs use mathematical formulas (typically constant product x*y=k) to determine prices based on the ratio of tokens in a liquidity pool. On Solana, major AMMs include Raydium, Orca, and Meteora.

DeFi

CLMM (Concentrated Liquidity Market Maker)

An AMM design where liquidity providers concentrate their capital within specific price ranges instead of across the full 0-to-infinity range. CLMMs dramatically improve capital efficiency—LPs earn more fees per dollar deposited within their active range. If the price moves outside the range, the position becomes inactive. Orca Whirlpools and Raydium CLMM are leading implementations on Solana.

DeFi

Liquidity Pool

A smart-contract-held reserve of two or more tokens that enables trading via an AMM. Users deposit token pairs in specified ratios to become liquidity providers and earn trading fees. Pools are identified by their token pair and fee tier. Pool depth (total value locked) determines price impact for trades.

DeFi

LP Token

A token issued to liquidity providers representing their proportional share of a pool's reserves and accrued fees. LP tokens can be burned to withdraw the underlying assets. The value of LP tokens changes as the pool's token ratios shift and fees accumulate. LP tokens are often stakeable in yield farming programs for additional rewards.