Bonding Curve
A bonding curve is a mathematical function that defines the relationship between the price of a token and its supply or the reserves within a pool. As more tokens are bought or minted, the price increases along the curve, and as they are sold, the price decreases.
This mechanism is used in many decentralized exchanges and token launch platforms to provide continuous liquidity and automated price discovery. Bonding curves eliminate the need for an order book, as the price is always determined by the current state of the supply or reserves.
They are a powerful tool for bootstrapping new assets, though they can be exploited if the curve is not designed to prevent front-running or extreme volatility. The choice of curve shape significantly impacts the protocol's liquidity and risk profile.