Does Impermanent Loss Become Permanent upon Withdrawal from the Liquidity Pool?

Yes, the "impermanent" nature of the loss refers to the theoretical possibility of the token prices returning to their initial ratio before the liquidity provider withdraws. However, the loss is realized and becomes permanent the moment the liquidity provider removes their assets from the pool.

At withdrawal, the LP receives the current composition of the pool, which reflects the price divergence and thus the loss relative to simply holding the original assets. The term "impermanent" is only relevant while the assets are still staked.

Why Is the Loss Termed “Impermanent” If the Token Ratio Is Permanently Changed by Arbitrage?
What Is the Difference between Impermanent Loss and Actual Realized Loss for a Liquidity Provider?
What Is the Tax Reporting Challenge Posed by Impermanent Loss in DeFi Futures?
What Are the Risks of Being a Liquidity Provider to a DAO’s Pool?
In What Way Do Derivatives like Perpetual Swaps Relate to Liquidity Pool Risks?
Why Is the Loss Considered “Impermanent” and When Does It Become Permanent?
In What Scenarios Is Impermanent Loss Converted into Permanent Loss for a Liquidity Provider?
Is Impermanent Loss Ever Realized, and If So, When?

Glossar

Impermanent Loss

LiquidityRisk ⎊ Impermanent Loss quantifies the temporary divergence in value between holding assets in a decentralized liquidity pool versus simply holding those same assets in a non-interest-bearing wallet, resulting from price movements between the deposited pair.

Perpetual Swaps

Definition ⎊ Perpetual swaps are a type of derivative contract, highly popular in cryptocurrency markets, that allows traders to speculate on the future price of an asset without an expiration date.

Initial Ratio

Foundation ⎊ Initial Ratio, within cryptocurrency derivatives, fundamentally represents the proportional relationship established at contract inception between the underlying asset’s price and the derivative’s price, serving as a critical benchmark for subsequent valuation and risk assessment.

Opportunity Cost

Sacrifice ⎊ The concept of opportunity cost within cryptocurrency, options, and derivatives fundamentally represents the forgone benefit from selecting one strategy over another.

Liquidity Provider

Provision ⎊ A liquidity provider in cryptocurrency derivatives contexts furnishes capital to decentralized exchanges (DEXs) or automated market makers (AMMs), enabling trading by establishing bid-ask spreads; this process fundamentally addresses the inherent challenges of order book depth in nascent markets, and is critical for efficient price discovery.

Liquidity Pool

Pool ⎊ A liquidity pool, within the context of cryptocurrency derivatives and options trading, represents a centralized reserve of tokens locked in a smart contract, facilitating decentralized trading and price discovery.