Gearbox Protocol is a DeFi primitive built on the Ethereum blockchain that offers "generalized leverage." It operates through two main components: passive liquidity providers who earn yield by supplying assets, and active users (traders, farmers) who borrow these assets to create leveraged positions. These positions are managed within isolated "Credit Accounts," which are smart contracts that can interact with a curated list of other trusted DeFi protocols like Uniswap, Curve, and Lido. This composable nature allows for sophisticated leveraged strategies, such as yield farming or spot trading, without users needing to hold the borrowed assets directly in their own wallets, enhancing capital efficiency and security within the DeFi ecosystem. The protocol is governed by the Gearbox DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization).