---
title: Liquidations
slug: liquidations
docTags: 
createdAt: 2023-02-03T15:16:55.000Z
---

A **Liquidation** is the process where a **Vault** that fell below the **Minimum Collateral Ratio** is closed, its funds are withdrawn and the debt paid by an external **Participant**. **Liquidations**/**Liquidators** are key in keeping the stablecoins pegs because their job is maintaining the protocol with enough collateral to back up their price.

## When does a liquidation occur?

A **Vault's** **Liquidation** is open as soon as the collateral ratio of the **Vault** falls below the **Minimum Collateral Ratio** unless the protocol is in **Panic Mode** (learn more about it here).

The **Liquidation** occurs when a **Liquidator** or the **Safety Pool** pays out the **Vault's** debt by depositing the current debt's amount in the stablecoin denomination issued when the **Vault** was created.

This process   (The **Safety Pool** doesn't get charged by this fee) of the collateral withdrawn, the profit for the liquidator is the percentage between the debt's amount and the total collateral withdrawn.

You can calculate your expected profit like this:

:::CodeblockTabs
Liquidation cost and profit

```none
DV = Debt Value = $10,000
CD = Collateral deposited = $XLM 115,011.3301124
CP = Collateral price = $0.0936
CN = DV / CP = Collateral needed = $XLM 106,837.6068
FF = Flat fee = 0.005
FP = CP * FF = Fee paid = $XLM 575.0566506

CR = CD - FP = Collateral received = $XLM 114,436.2735

PC = CR - CN = Profit in collateral asset = $XLM 7,598.666662

Profit in terms of stablecoin = PC * CP = $711.2351996
```
:::

In the example above, a **Vault** with a debt of $10,000 was in **Liquidation** mode at a collateral price of $0.0936 and a deposit of $XLM 115,011.3301124. You as a L**iquidator**, pay back its debt by depositing $10,000 in the **Vault's** stablecoin denomination and you get back the collateral deposited ($XLM 115,011.330112) minus the current **Protocol's fee** ($XLM 575.0566506).

You ended up with a total of $XLM 114,436.2735 which is valued at $10,711.2352 and that means you profited from the **Liquidation** a total of  $711.2351996 in terms of your initial deposit.

## Can I lose funds while liquidating a Vault?

If you liquidate below 100% of the Collateral Ratio, you will end up with less value in collateral than the one you used to pay the **Vault's** debt and liquidate it. This scenario is unlike to happen because more **Liquidators** or the **Safety Pool** would have liquidated it already to get the profits.

In order yo avoid such loses we suggest always checking the current Collateral Ratio of the Vault before trying to liquidate it.