Margin Liquidation
Margin liquidation is the process by which an exchange automatically closes a trader's position when their account equity falls below a required maintenance margin level. This safety mechanism is designed to prevent the exchange from incurring losses when a trader's position loses more value than the collateral held in their account.
In volatile crypto markets, liquidations can happen rapidly, often triggering a cascade effect where forced selling leads to further price drops and subsequent liquidations. Protocols often use an insurance fund to cover any deficit that occurs if a position cannot be closed at the desired price during extreme market stress.
Understanding the liquidation price of a position is a fundamental requirement for responsible leverage management.