Auto-Deleveraging (ADL) is a risk management mechanism that activates during extreme market conditions. It’s used only when other protective systems (like liquidation and insurance) cannot cover losses in time.
While Aster aims to minimize the chances of ADL occurring, understanding how it works can help traders prepare and manage their risk.
How does ADL work?
When a position is liquidated but the execution price is worse than the bankruptcy price (the price at which a trader’s losses equal their collateral, meaning their margin balance is zero), the system absorbs the remaining loss.
However, if the liquidation can’t be completed before the mark price hits the bankruptcy price, the system triggers ADL. This forcibly reduces the size of opposite-side positions held by other traders, starting with those who are most profitable and highly leveraged.
How ADL priority is determined
The system uses a ranking system based on a trader’s profit and leverage. This determines the order in which users are affected if ADL is triggered.
Here’s how the system calculates the ADL priority: