Borrowing Against Crypto
Understand overcollateralised DeFi borrowing, LTV, health factors, variable interest, liquidation and the leverage created by borrowing without selling crypto.
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Borrowing against crypto lets a user obtain another asset while keeping exposure to posted collateral, but it creates leverage: debt remains fixed or accrues interest while collateral value can fall.
Learning objectives
- Calculate a simple loan-to-value ratio.
- Explain how borrowing creates leveraged exposure even without derivatives.
- Identify the pathways from collateral decline to liquidation.
What it is
A borrower deposits eligible collateral into a lending protocol and draws another asset up to limits determined by collateral type and protocol parameters. The loan is typically overcollateralised because crypto collateral can be volatile.
The borrower owes the borrowed asset plus accrued interest. If collateral value falls, debt rises, or risk parameters change, the position can approach a liquidation threshold.
How it works
If a user posts £20,000 of collateral and borrows £8,000, initial LTV is 40%. If collateral falls to £12,000 while debt remains around £8,000, LTV rises to about 66.7%.
Borrowing against a volatile asset is economically similar to retaining a larger gross exposure while adding a liability. If the borrowed funds are used to buy more of the same collateral, the user creates recursive leverage and magnifies both gains and losses.
Borrow rates can change rapidly. A position that is affordable at 3% may become unattractive at 20% during a utilisation spike. Long-held loans therefore need rate monitoring, not just liquidation monitoring.
Debt denomination matters. Borrowing a stablecoin introduces the stablecoin’s own peg and liquidity risk; borrowing another volatile asset creates a different P&L profile because the debt itself changes value.
How to analyse it
Treat borrowing as a balance-sheet position with assets, liabilities, interest and liquidation optionality—not as “free liquidity” extracted from holdings.
| Check | Why it matters | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Starting buffer | Higher LTV leaves less room for adverse moves. | Model collateral declines to the liquidation threshold. |
| Borrow-rate regime | Variable debt cost can change quickly. | Review utilisation and rate curve. |
| Collateral liquidity | Liquidators need executable markets. | Check market depth and concentration. |
| Debt asset risk | The borrowed asset can depeg or appreciate. | Stress both collateral and debt values independently. |
Use scenario analysis instead of one liquidation price. Include collateral gaps, oracle delays, accrued interest and possible parameter changes.
For correlated portfolios, several collateral positions can deteriorate together, so separate “safe” loans may still create portfolio-level leverage.
Worked example and thought exercise
You deposit £25,000 of ETH and borrow £10,000 of stablecoins: LTV is 40%. If ETH falls 30%, collateral value becomes £17,500 and LTV rises to about 57.1% before interest.
If the protocol’s liquidation threshold corresponds to 70% LTV, the remaining buffer is much smaller. Another 20% collateral fall would push the position close to or through liquidation depending on exact parameters.
Thought exercise: how does using the borrowed £10,000 to buy more ETH change the total economic exposure versus simply holding the original ETH?
Common mistakes and practical workflow
- Borrowing near the maximum permitted LTV.
- Ignoring variable interest-rate risk.
- Treating borrowed stablecoins as risk-free liabilities.
- Using borrowed funds to add correlated exposure without recalculating leverage.
Practical workflow
- Record collateral, debt asset and starting LTV.
- Calculate liquidation buffer under several price shocks.
- Monitor variable borrow cost and utilisation.
- Avoid assuming oracle or liquidation execution will be perfect.
- Set a deleveraging rule before the health factor becomes critical.
✅ Knowledge checkpoint
- Why does LTV rise when collateral falls?
- How can borrowing without selling create leverage?
- Why can variable rates become a material risk even if collateral price is stable?
- What extra risk arises if borrowed funds are used to buy more of the same collateral?
FAQs
❓ Why borrow instead of sell?
Borrowing can provide liquidity while retaining collateral exposure, but it adds debt, interest and liquidation risk.
❓ Is a low LTV safe?
It is safer than a high LTV, but not risk-free; extreme gaps, oracle issues or parameter changes can still matter.
❓ Can borrow rates change?
Yes. Many DeFi rates are algorithmic and respond to utilisation.
❓ What happens at liquidation?
Eligible collateral can be sold or transferred to liquidators under protocol rules to repay debt, often with a liquidation bonus or penalty.
📋 Summary
Borrowing against crypto preserves collateral exposure by adding a liability. The core discipline is maintaining enough collateral buffer for volatility, variable rates and imperfect liquidation conditions.
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