DeFi

Leverage

Using borrowed funds to amplify trading exposure beyond deposited capital. In perps, 10x leverage means $100 collateral controls a $1,000 position. Gains and losses are multiplied proportionally. If losses approach the collateral amount, the position is liquidated. Higher leverage increases both potential returns and liquidation risk.

IDleverage

Plain meaning

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Using borrowed funds to amplify trading exposure beyond deposited capital. In perps, 10x leverage means $100 collateral controls a $1,000 position. Gains and losses are multiplied proportionally. If losses approach the collateral amount, the position is liquidated. Higher leverage increases both potential returns and liquidation risk.

Mental model

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Think of it as a market mechanic used to price, route, or move capital through liquidity apps.

Technical context

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AMMs, routing, liquidity, lending, and trading infrastructure.

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Leverage (leverage)
Category: DeFi
Definition: Using borrowed funds to amplify trading exposure beyond deposited capital. In perps, 10x leverage means $100 collateral controls a $1,000 position. Gains and losses are multiplied proportionally. If losses approach the collateral amount, the position is liquidated. Higher leverage increases both potential returns and liquidation risk.
Related: Perpetuals (Perps), Margin, Liquidation
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Concept graph

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Branch

Perpetuals (Perps)

Derivatives contracts that track an asset's price without expiration, enabling leveraged long/short positions. On Solana, Drift Protocol and Jupiter Perps are the leading perps platforms. Traders deposit collateral and open positions at up to 10-100x leverage. Funding rates keep the contract price aligned with the spot price.

Branch

Margin

The collateral deposited to maintain a leveraged position. Initial margin is the minimum to open a position; maintenance margin is the minimum to keep it open. If the margin ratio drops below maintenance due to unrealized losses, the position faces liquidation. Margin can be cross (shared across positions) or isolated (per-position).

Branch

Liquidation

The process of repaying a borrower's debt by selling their collateral when their position's LTV exceeds the liquidation threshold. Liquidators (typically bots) repay a portion of the debt and receive the collateral at a discount (liquidation bonus, typically 5-10%). Liquidation keeps lending protocols solvent. On Solana, liquidation bots compete via Jito bundles.

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DeFi

Perpetuals (Perps)

Derivatives contracts that track an asset's price without expiration, enabling leveraged long/short positions. On Solana, Drift Protocol and Jupiter Perps are the leading perps platforms. Traders deposit collateral and open positions at up to 10-100x leverage. Funding rates keep the contract price aligned with the spot price.

DeFi

Margin

The collateral deposited to maintain a leveraged position. Initial margin is the minimum to open a position; maintenance margin is the minimum to keep it open. If the margin ratio drops below maintenance due to unrealized losses, the position faces liquidation. Margin can be cross (shared across positions) or isolated (per-position).

DeFi

Liquidation

The process of repaying a borrower's debt by selling their collateral when their position's LTV exceeds the liquidation threshold. Liquidators (typically bots) repay a portion of the debt and receive the collateral at a discount (liquidation bonus, typically 5-10%). Liquidation keeps lending protocols solvent. On Solana, liquidation bots compete via Jito bundles.

DeFi

Limit Order (On-Chain)

An on-chain order to buy or sell a token at a specific price or better, executed automatically when the market reaches the target price. Jupiter Limit Orders use a keeper network that monitors prices and executes orders. Unlike CEX limit orders, on-chain limits may have partial fills and rely on available DEX liquidity at the trigger price.

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DeFilaunchpad

Launchpad

A platform that facilitates new token launches by providing infrastructure for initial token sales, price discovery, and liquidity bootstrapping. On Solana, launchpads include Jupiter LFG (community-voted launches), Raydium AcceleRaytor, and Pump.fun (bonding curve model). Launchpads typically handle token distribution, initial DEX liquidity provision, and anti-bot measures for fair participation.

DeFiliquidation

Liquidation

The process of repaying a borrower's debt by selling their collateral when their position's LTV exceeds the liquidation threshold. Liquidators (typically bots) repay a portion of the debt and receive the collateral at a discount (liquidation bonus, typically 5-10%). Liquidation keeps lending protocols solvent. On Solana, liquidation bots compete via Jito bundles.

Related terms

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DeFiperpetuals

Perpetuals (Perps)

Derivatives contracts that track an asset's price without expiration, enabling leveraged long/short positions. On Solana, Drift Protocol and Jupiter Perps are the leading perps platforms. Traders deposit collateral and open positions at up to 10-100x leverage. Funding rates keep the contract price aligned with the spot price.

DeFimargin

Margin

The collateral deposited to maintain a leveraged position. Initial margin is the minimum to open a position; maintenance margin is the minimum to keep it open. If the margin ratio drops below maintenance due to unrealized losses, the position faces liquidation. Margin can be cross (shared across positions) or isolated (per-position).

DeFiliquidation

Liquidation

The process of repaying a borrower's debt by selling their collateral when their position's LTV exceeds the liquidation threshold. Liquidators (typically bots) repay a portion of the debt and receive the collateral at a discount (liquidation bonus, typically 5-10%). Liquidation keeps lending protocols solvent. On Solana, liquidation bots compete via Jito bundles.

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DeFi

AMM (Automated Market Maker)

A protocol that enables token swaps using algorithmic pricing against pooled liquidity instead of matching individual buyers and sellers. AMMs use mathematical formulas (typically constant product x*y=k) to determine prices based on the ratio of tokens in a liquidity pool. On Solana, major AMMs include Raydium, Orca, and Meteora.

DeFi

CLMM (Concentrated Liquidity Market Maker)

An AMM design where liquidity providers concentrate their capital within specific price ranges instead of across the full 0-to-infinity range. CLMMs dramatically improve capital efficiency—LPs earn more fees per dollar deposited within their active range. If the price moves outside the range, the position becomes inactive. Orca Whirlpools and Raydium CLMM are leading implementations on Solana.

DeFi

Liquidity Pool

A smart-contract-held reserve of two or more tokens that enables trading via an AMM. Users deposit token pairs in specified ratios to become liquidity providers and earn trading fees. Pools are identified by their token pair and fee tier. Pool depth (total value locked) determines price impact for trades.

DeFi

LP Token

A token issued to liquidity providers representing their proportional share of a pool's reserves and accrued fees. LP tokens can be burned to withdraw the underlying assets. The value of LP tokens changes as the pool's token ratios shift and fees accumulate. LP tokens are often stakeable in yield farming programs for additional rewards.