DeFi Contagion

Definition ∞ DeFi contagion refers to the rapid spread of financial distress or instability from one decentralized finance protocol or asset to others within the broader DeFi ecosystem. This occurs when the failure of one project triggers a cascade of negative effects across interconnected platforms. Such events often result from shared liquidity pools, inter-protocol lending, or linked collateral structures. Understanding this risk is vital for assessing systemic stability in decentralized markets.
Context ∞ The interconnectedness of decentralized finance protocols means that vulnerabilities in one area can quickly impact others. A notable concern is the potential for liquidity crises or large-scale liquidations to spread, causing significant market disruption. Regulators and developers are examining mechanisms to mitigate DeFi contagion, including improved risk assessment models and circuit breakers. The stability of the DeFi sector depends on addressing these systemic vulnerabilities.