Definition ∞ Institutional credit risk pertains to the potential for financial loss arising from a counterparty’s failure to meet its contractual obligations within an institutional setting. This risk assessment involves evaluating the creditworthiness of corporate entities, governments, or other financial institutions. It considers factors such as financial stability, debt levels, and economic conditions. Managing this risk is central to financial stability.
Context ∞ As institutional participation in digital asset markets expands, the assessment of institutional credit risk in crypto lending and decentralized finance (DeFi) becomes increasingly critical. The lack of established credit rating agencies for many digital asset protocols and the volatility of crypto collateral introduce novel risk factors. News reports frequently cover concerns regarding default probabilities and collateral management within the evolving digital credit landscape.