# Glossary Source: https://docs.settlemint.com/docs/architecture/start-here/glossary Definitions of key DALP architecture terms, token standards, identity concepts, operating components, and settlement primitives. DALP architecture terms map to concrete product boundaries: tokens, identities, compliance rules, settlement flows, execution components, and EVM chain connectivity. Use this glossary when a term appears in an architecture page and you need the exact platform meaning. Related pages: [Architecture map](/docs/architecture/start-here), [System context](/docs/architecture/start-here/system-context), [ERC-3643 compliance standard](/docs/architecture/components/asset-contracts/erc-3643-compliance-standard), and [SMART Protocol integration (ERC-3643)](/docs/architecture/components/asset-contracts/smart-protocol-integration). ## How to use this glossary [#how-to-use-this-glossary] Start with the term table when you need a definition. Use the standards table when you need to map a DALP concept to an Ethereum or identity standard. Follow the next-step links when you need the architecture page that explains the term in context. ## Platform and token model [#platform-and-token-model] | Term | Definition | | ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **DALP** | Digital Asset Lifecycle Platform. SettleMint's platform for issuing, managing, and servicing tokenized financial instruments across their full lifecycle. | | **SMART Protocol** | SettleMint Adaptable Regulated Token. The protocol framework for regulated token behavior, compliance modules, and identity interfaces based on ERC-3643. | | **ERC-3643** | Ethereum standard for regulated tokens with conditional transfers based on investor eligibility and identity verification. DALP uses ERC-3643 concepts through SMART Protocol asset contracts. | | **Asset type** | A base deployable asset type such as bond, equity, fund, stablecoin, deposit, real-estate, or precious-metal. DALP uses the type to route asset creation to the matching factory and validation rules. | | **Asset class** | A higher-level product grouping used by the asset catalogue and templates. System asset classes include fixed-income, equity, funds, cash, real-assets, and structured. | | **Asset factory type ID** | The on-chain factory identifier used when DALP deploys an asset. Most IDs match asset types, and `dalp-asset` is a synthetic factory type for generic asset creation rather than a standalone asset class. | | **Factory pattern** | Deployment pattern where factory contracts create new asset, addon, or infrastructure contract instances from approved configuration. Factories are registered so DALP can deploy assets consistently. | | **Denomination asset** | The settlement currency or token configured for an asset's financial operations, such as distributions, offerings, yield claims, or redemptions. | | **Token feature** | Runtime-configurable token capability registered through the Configurable extension. Features can be added after deployment when the asset policy and deployed contracts support them. | | **Addon** | Operational contract capability that extends assets beyond the core SMART Protocol. Addons are registered through the Addon Registry and include Airdrop, Vault, XvP Settlement, Token Sale (DAIO), and Yield. | ## Identity and compliance terms [#identity-and-compliance-terms] | Term | Definition | | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **OnchainID** | On-chain identity framework implementing ERC-734 key management and ERC-735 claim management. OnchainID stores verifiable claims about users and entities. | | **Identity Registry** | Per-system contract that maps wallet addresses to OnchainID identity contracts. The registry manages verification status and supports wallet recovery workflows. | | **Trusted Issuer** | An approved issuer of verifiable claims for specific claim topics. Trusted issuers are registered in the Trusted Issuers Registry, and more than one issuer can cover the same topic. | | **Claim Topic** | A category of verifiable attestation, such as KYC status, nationality, accreditation, or another eligibility rule. Tokens reference claim topics to express required participant claims. | | **Compliance Module** | A pluggable on-chain rule evaluated during regulated token operations. Examples include country allow or block lists, identity verification, transfer limits, and time-based lockups. Multiple modules compose into an asset's compliance policy. | ## Execution and chain infrastructure [#execution-and-chain-infrastructure] | Term | Definition | | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Key Guardian** | Secure cryptographic key storage component. Key Guardian abstracts custody backends such as local encrypted keys, DFNS MPC wallets, Fireblocks vaults, and hardware security modules. | | **Transaction Signer** | Execution component that prepares transactions, estimates gas, assigns nonces, delegates signing to the custody provider, and manages broadcast and confirmation. | | **Execution Engine** | Durable workflow layer for long-running platform operations such as signing, broadcasting, retrying, and reconciling blockchain outcomes. | | **Virtual Object** | A keyed durable state machine in the Execution Engine. A virtual object preserves workflow state across process restarts for operations such as signing and multi-step execution. | | **Dead Letter Queue** | Holding area for operations that exhaust retry attempts in the Execution Engine. Operators investigate these items before retrying or closing them. | | **Chain Indexer** | Service that listens to on-chain events from SMART Protocol contracts, translates them into structured data, and persists them to the application database. | | **Chain Gateway** | Multi-network connectivity layer for EVM RPC access. Chain Gateway abstracts network-specific details such as gas models and confirmation depth behind DALP's chain access layer. | | **Feeds System** | Market data infrastructure that provides price and FX rate feeds through a central FeedsDirectory. The feeds system is Chainlink-compatible and supports global and token-specific feeds. | ## Settlement and distribution terms [#settlement-and-distribution-terms] | Term | Definition | | ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **XvP Settlement** | Cross-value proposition settlement addon for coordinating token exchanges between parties. DALP uses the primitive for delivery-versus-payment and payment-versus-payment token flows. Configured local legs complete together or the exchange does not complete. | | **DAIO** | Digital Asset Initial Offering. Primary distribution mechanism for moving newly issued assets to verified investors with settlement, lock-up enforcement, and soft-cap refund mechanics. | | **Airdrop** | Token distribution addon that delivers tokens to recipient addresses according to a configured strategy. Airdrop integrates with the compliance layer for eligibility checks. | | **Vault** | Multi-signature treasury management addon for holding and governing settlement currency or digital assets with configurable approval thresholds. | ## Standards referenced by the architecture [#standards-referenced-by-the-architecture] | Standard | Full name | Usage in DALP | | ------------ | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | | **ERC-20** | Fungible token standard | Base token compatibility for SMART tokens | | **ERC-165** | Interface detection | Programmatic capability queries on SMART tokens | | **ERC-734** | Key management | On-chain identity key management in OnchainID | | **ERC-735** | Claim management | Verifiable claims on identity contracts | | **ERC-2771** | Meta-transactions | Gasless transaction support through trusted forwarders | | **ERC-3643** | Regulated security tokens | Foundation for SMART Protocol compliance architecture | ## Next steps [#next-steps] * [System context](/docs/architecture/start-here/system-context) shows how these terms relate to the platform architecture. * [Asset model](/docs/architecture/start-here/asset-model) explains asset classes, templates, factories, and deployed assets. * [Key flows](/docs/architecture/start-here/key-flows) shows these components in asset issuance, compliance transfer, treasury distribution, and settlement flows. * [Components](/docs/architecture/components) covers responsibilities for each major component.