Keeper Bots
Keeper Bots are automated software agents that perform essential maintenance tasks for decentralized protocols, such as executing liquidations or rebalancing vaults. These bots monitor blockchain events and trigger smart contract functions when specific conditions, like a margin call threshold, are met.
By performing these actions, keepers ensure that the protocol remains functional and that bad debt is minimized. In return for their services, keepers often earn a portion of the liquidation penalty or a performance fee.
The competitive nature of these bots creates a market for speed and efficiency, where operators strive to minimize latency. Keeper infrastructure is vital for the health of DeFi, as it decentralizes the responsibility of risk management.
However, it also introduces dependencies on off-chain infrastructure and network performance.