Ethereum Collateral

Definition ∞ Ethereum collateral refers to Ether (ETH), the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain, being deposited or locked into smart contracts to secure a loan or other financial position within decentralized finance protocols. Users pledge ETH as security to borrow other digital assets, typically stablecoins, or to participate in various yield-generating activities. The value of the collateral must exceed the borrowed amount to account for price volatility. This mechanism is fundamental to many DeFi lending platforms.
Context ∞ The role of Ethereum collateral is a central topic in DeFi news, especially concerning liquidations during market downturns and the efficiency of capital usage. Debates surround optimal collateralization ratios and the risks associated with volatile assets like ETH as security. Future developments include liquid staking derivatives being increasingly accepted as collateral, and the refinement of risk management models for diverse collateral types within decentralized lending markets.