What Is “Over-Collateralization” and Why Is It Common in DeFi Options?

Over-collateralization means the value of the collateral locked in the smart contract is significantly greater than the value of the loan or the derivative exposure. It is common because DeFi lacks the legal recourse of traditional finance.

The extra collateral acts as a safety buffer against volatile price swings and ensures the debt can be covered even with rapid market drops. It reduces the risk of bad debt for the protocol.

What Is the Risk of a “Flash Loan Attack” in DeFi?
How Does the Interest Rate on an NFT Loan Compare to a Fungible Token Loan?
How Does an NFT-backed Loan Compare to a Traditional Margin Loan on a Security?
How Do Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Protocols Use Over-Collateralization to Manage Risk in Derivatives?
How Does Over-Collateralization Protect a Derivative Smart Contract?
Why Is Over-Collateralization Necessary in Many DeFi Protocols?
What Is a Flash Loan and How Is It Often Used in MEV Strategies?
What Is the Flash Loan Attack Vector in Liquidation?

Glossar