Over-Collateralization Models
Over-collateralization Models are a fundamental risk management design in decentralized finance where the value of collateral provided must exceed the value of the loan taken. This ensures that even if the value of the collateral asset drops, there is still enough value to cover the debt, protecting the lender and the protocol.
This model is widely used in decentralized lending platforms and for minting stablecoins. While it provides high security, it is inherently capital-inefficient compared to traditional banking, as it requires users to lock up more capital than they can access.
Innovation in this space is focused on reducing the required collateral ratios without compromising the safety of the system, often through the use of high-quality, diversified collateral assets. It is the cornerstone of trustless lending.