01 / Source
Where does the return come from?
Ask whether the rate is paid from lending demand, protocol incentives, validator activity, or a promotional budget. The source changes the risk story.
Field guide / chain manual
Read the chain before you chase the yield.
Crypto interest can look simple on the surface. The route underneath — custody, liquidity, and rules — deserves a closer read.
02 / Access
Who holds the keys?
Custody is a first-order question. Understand withdrawal windows, account controls, supported networks, and what happens if a service pauses.
03 / Friction
What sits between you and out?
Fees, lockups, minimums, network costs, and conversion spreads can quietly reshape an attractive headline rate.
A five-question preflight
- Can I explain the yield mechanism in one sentence?
- Can I exit when I need to?
- What is insured, and what is not?
- Which fees are charged in practice?
- What would make this rate change tomorrow?
Make the comparison useful
A clean comparison is not about crowning a universal winner. It is about putting like-for-like details beside each other, then checking whether the route matches your time horizon and tolerance for surprises.
Start with the board, move to the terms, and use the Signal Wire for context. If the answer still feels rushed, that is useful information too.