Definition ∞ Flash loan attacks are a type of exploit in decentralized finance (DeFi) where an attacker borrows a large amount of cryptocurrency without collateral. This loan is executed and repaid within a single blockchain transaction. The attacker uses the borrowed funds to manipulate asset prices on various decentralized exchanges. This manipulation allows them to profit from temporary price discrepancies before repaying the loan.
Context ∞ Flash loan attacks frequently feature in crypto news due to their capacity to cause significant financial losses for DeFi protocols. Current debates often concern the vulnerabilities in smart contract logic that permit such attacks and the need for more robust oracle designs. Future developments include improved security audits, real-time monitoring systems, and the implementation of circuit breakers to detect and prevent these rapid, manipulative actions.
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