ARC: Risk Parameter Updates for Aave V2 and Aave Arc (Fireblocks) 2022-05-26

Simple Summary

A proposal to adjust nine (9) total risk parameters, including LTV, Liquidation Threshold, and Liquidation Bonus across three (3) Aave V2 assets.

In addition, this ARC proposes adjusting two (2) total risk parameters, including LTV and Liquidation Threshold, across one (1) Aave Arc (Fireblocks) asset.

Abstract

This proposal is a batch update of risk parameters to align with the Moderate risk level chosen by the Aave community. These parameter updates are a continuation of Gauntlet’s regular parameter recommendations. Following the recent market crash, our simulation engine has ingested the latest market data (outlined below) to recalibrate parameters for the Aave protocol. Please note that this set of parameter changes will be lowering liquidation threshold for LINK and WETH.

These parameter updates also represent Gauntlet’s first set of parameter updates for the Aave Arc market.

Motivation

This set of parameter updates seeks to maintain the overall risk tolerance of the protocol while making risk trade-offs between specific assets.

Gauntlet’s parameter recommendations are driven by an optimization function that balances 3 core metrics: insolvencies, liquidations, and borrow usage. Parameter recommendations seek to optimize for this objective function. Our agent-based simulations use a wide array of varied input data that changes on a daily basis (including but not limited to asset volatility, asset correlation, asset collateral usage, DEX / CEX liquidity, trading volume, expected market impact of trades, and liquidator behavior). Gauntlet’s simulations tease out complex relationships between these inputs that cannot be simply expressed as heuristics. As such, the input metrics we show below can help understand why some of the param recs have been made but should not be taken as the only reason for recommendation. The individual collateral pages on the Gauntlet Risk Dashboard cover other key statistics and outputs from our simulations that can help with understanding interesting inputs and results related to our simulations.

For more details, please see Gauntlet’s Parameter Recommendation Methodology and Gauntlet’s Model Methodology.

Supporting Data on Aave V2



Top LINK non-recursive supplies and collateralization ratios:

Top WBTC non-recursive supplies and collateralization ratios:

Top WETH non-recursive supplies and collateralization ratios:

Aave V2 Parameter Changes Specification

Our recent market downturn report showed that many collaterals are resilient to insolvencies, as our simulation models have predicted. Gauntlet’s simulation engine will continue to adjust risk parameters to drive increases in capital efficiency while maintaining protocol risk at safe levels.

Parameter Current Value Recommended Value
LINK Loan To Value 70% 67%
LINK Liquidation Bonus 6.3% 5.0%
LINK Liquidation Threshold 78% 75%
WBTC Loan To Value 70% 69%
WBTC Liquidation Bonus 6.5% 5.0%
WBTC Liquidation Threshold 75% 76%
WETH Loan To Value 82.5% 81%
WETH Liquidation Bonus 5.0% 4.0%
WETH Liquidation Threshold 85% 83%

See below volatility and exchange volume data from 05/13 to 05/26. These are valuable metrics to build intuition but are not the only inputs our simulations take into account to make parameter recommendations.

Symbol 05-26 Volatility 05-13 Volatility Volatility Change Weekly Average Daily Volume Change (%)
LINK 1.560317105 1.407103695 0.15321341 -67.2106437
WBTC 0.855923268 0.823403106 0.032520162 -64.0842057
WETH 0.90963415 0.832421096 0.077213054 -69.59337

Aave Arc (Fireblocks) Parameter Changes Specification

Our simulation platform indicates that increasing the capital efficiency of USDC collateral does not meaningfully increase the risk of insolvencies. Note that, on our dashboard, the Value at Risk (VaR) metric for Aave Arc is currently $0. This low risk of insolvencies is reflective of the fact that the majority of borrowing on the platform is collateralized by the same asset as the assets being borrowed. As lending market usage grows, our platform will continue to ingest up-to-date data, re-run risk simulations, and make future parameter change recommendations.

Parameter Current Value Recommended Value
USDC Loan To Value 85.5% 87.5%
USDC Liquidation Threshold 88% 90%

Risk Dashboard

The community should use Gauntlet’s Aave V2 Risk Dashboard to understand better the updated parameter suggestions and general market risk in Aave V2. Gauntlet has also launched the Aave Arc Risk Dashboard.

Value at Risk represents the 95th percentile insolvency value that occurs from simulations we run over a range of volatilities to approximate a tail event.

Liquidations at Risk represents the 95th percentile liquidation volume that occurs from simulations we run over a range of volatilities to approximate a tail event.

Aave V2 Dashboard

Next Steps

  • Initiate a Snapshot immediately since the community has recently weighed in on changes of this nature.
  • Targeting an AIP on 2022-05-31

By approving this proposal, you agree that any services provided by Gauntlet shall be governed by the terms of service available at gauntlet.network/tos.

6 Likes

Snapshot vote below:
https://snapshot.org/#/aave.eth/proposal/QmZvNZLEvpEvrmaKkzKUxUvpadT9rZHN4uSkKxzEuUnFSb

1 Like

Hello! Emma from Blockchain at Berkeley here. Wondering if positions that become in danger of liquidation post execution of this proposal will be immediately liquidated? How will the users holding these positions be protected from liquidation?

3 Likes

Tl;dr: Gauntlet will postpone these parameter changes to give the few (5) users additional time and notice to unwind positions that may be partially liquidated.

Given the current levels of risk in V2, our optimization engine recommends lowering liquidation threshold for LINK and WETH as described above. As such, this set of parameter changes may partially force-liquidate a few recursive borrow users on V2. Although it is essential to recalibrate risk on Aave to avoid potential liquidation cascades and insolvency, after gathering community feedback, we have decided to postpone these parameter changes. Our analysis shows that the potential forced liquidations will be very small. Gauntlet values transparency and is drafting a communications framework to better notify users of parameter changes like these moving forward.

We recommend that users abstain or vote No on the AIP below. We will return to the forums shortly to lay out a plan forward for these V2 parameter changes and the Aave Arc parameter changes in this AIP, which are unrelated to V2 changes.

https://app.aave.com/governance/proposal/?proposalId=78

2 Likes

The Aave Arc (Fireblocks) parameter recommendations above are separate from the V2 parameter changes. As such, we will be resubmitting an AIP tomorrow (6/7/2022) with the set of parameter changes for Aave Arc as outlined above.

1 Like