Minimum Maintenance Margin
The minimum maintenance margin is the lowest amount of equity a borrower must maintain in their position relative to the value of their collateral to avoid being liquidated. This threshold is higher than the initial margin required to open a position.
If the equity in the position falls below this level due to price movements, the protocol initiates an automated liquidation process to protect the lender from default. This mechanism acts as a safety trigger to ensure that the protocol can always recover the value of the loan even if the collateral price drops rapidly.
The maintenance margin is a crucial parameter in the design of lending protocols, balancing the need for capital efficiency with the necessity of system solvency. Setting it too low increases the risk of under-collateralized loans, while setting it too high may limit user participation.
It is a critical component of risk management for both individual positions and the overall health of the protocol.