Forced Liquidation Thresholds
Forced liquidation thresholds are the specific price points at which a protocol automatically initiates the sale of a borrower's collateral. These thresholds are determined by the loan-to-value ratio and the maintenance margin requirements of the lending protocol.
When the value of the collateral falls to this predetermined level, the smart contract executes the liquidation process without human intervention. This ensures that the protocol remains solvent even if the borrower cannot repay the loan.
However, these thresholds can be gamed by attackers who intentionally drive the price of an asset down to trigger liquidations and profit from the resulting price volatility. This makes the selection of these thresholds a critical security and economic decision.
It requires a deep understanding of market volatility and asset behavior to set thresholds that are both protective and fair to the borrower.