What Is “Under-Collateralization” and What Is Its Consequence?

Under-collateralization occurs when the value of the collateral backing a debt or derivative position falls below the value of the liability. In a DeFi protocol, this means the system has "bad debt" that cannot be fully covered by the liquidated assets.

The consequence is a threat to the protocol's solvency, often requiring a bailout from a governance fund or a recapitalization event.

How Does This Problem Relate to the Finality of Settlement for Derivatives Contracts?
What Is the Systemic Risk of Bad Debt Spreading across Multiple Protocols?
What Is the Definition of “Under-Collateralized” in a Lending Protocol Context?
How Does the Issuance of New Tokens for Recapitalization Affect Existing Token Holders?
What Is a ‘Bad Debt’ Scenario in a Decentralized Futures Platform and How Does an Oracle Attack Cause It?
What Is the Security Risk of a Vault Holding a Single, Highly Volatile Asset?
What Was the Primary Consequence of the DAO Attack on the Ethereum Blockchain?
What Is the Role of the ‘Liquidation Penalty’ in Maintaining the Health of a Collateralized Debt Position (CDP)?

Glossar