DeFi Liquidation Cascades

Liquidation

⎊ DeFi liquidation events represent the forced closure of positions within decentralized finance protocols when the collateral backing a loan falls below a predetermined threshold, initiating a chain reaction across interconnected protocols. This process is fundamentally driven by over-collateralization, where borrowers must deposit assets exceeding the loan value to mitigate risk for lenders, and the maintenance of specific collateralization ratios is paramount. Consequently, a significant price decline in the collateral asset can trigger automated liquidations to safeguard protocol solvency, often executed by liquidators incentivized through discounts on the collateral. The speed and interconnectedness of DeFi amplify the potential for cascading failures, where one liquidation triggers others, impacting market stability.