Collateral Burn

Definition ∞ Collateral burn describes the permanent removal of digital assets designated as collateral from circulation. This process typically occurs within a decentralized protocol when a loan is repaid or a position is closed, and the collateral is no longer needed. The burning mechanism permanently reduces the total supply of the collateral asset. It serves to manage the economic dynamics of a protocol, often affecting token scarcity and value.
Context ∞ The utility of collateral burn often relates to stabilizing algorithmic stablecoins or managing protocol-owned liquidity. Debates frequently involve the specific conditions under which burning is initiated and its long-term impact on tokenomics. Future developments may include more dynamic burning strategies tied to market conditions or protocol health metrics.