Liquidity Crisis

Definition ∞ A liquidity crisis is a situation where a market or financial system experiences a severe shortage of readily available assets that can be easily converted into cash without significant price impact. In the cryptocurrency space, this can affect exchanges, decentralized finance protocols, or specific digital assets, leading to price volatility and trading disruptions. Understanding these events is critical for assessing market stability.
Context ∞ The cryptocurrency market has experienced periods of pronounced liquidity strain, often triggered by major protocol failures, large-scale asset withdrawals, or a general loss of confidence. These events can rapidly propagate through interconnected DeFi protocols, impacting the ability to trade or redeem assets. Market participants closely monitor indicators of liquidity and the potential for contagion effects.