Liquidation Incentives Game Theory

Mechanism

Liquidation incentives function as the primary coordination engine in decentralized finance by aligning private profit motives with protocol solvency. When a borrower’s collateral ratio falls below a defined maintenance threshold, smart contracts emit a signal that triggers an auction process. This architecture attracts arbitrageurs who provide immediate liquidity to settle undercollateralized positions, thereby insulating the system from cascading bad debt.