Collateral Loan-to-Value Ratio
The collateral loan-to-value ratio, often abbreviated as LTV, represents the maximum amount of debt a user can borrow against the value of their deposited collateral. It is expressed as a percentage, where a higher LTV allows for greater leverage but also increases the proximity to the liquidation threshold.
For example, an LTV of 75 percent means that for every 100 dollars of collateral, a user can borrow up to 75 dollars in another asset. Protocols set these ratios based on the risk profile of the asset; stablecoins typically have higher LTVs than volatile altcoins.
This ratio is a foundational lever in the economic design of lending markets, directly influencing the total amount of leverage available in the system. Borrowers must actively manage their LTV to avoid being caught by sudden price corrections.
If the value of the collateral drops, the actual LTV increases, moving the position closer to the threshold where liquidation occurs. Managing this ratio is central to maintaining long-term solvency in decentralized credit markets.