# Market Risk

hBTC employs on-chain strategies that involve borrowing, yield generation, and exposure to market-driven variables. Strategy performance is therefore subject to **market conditions, funding dynamics, liquidity availability, and protocol-specific parameters**, all of which may change unpredictably over time.

Market dislocations, rapid price movements, shifts in interest and funding rates, or changes in on-chain liquidity conditions may adversely affect returns and increase risk, including during periods of elevated volatility or stress.

{% hint style="info" %}
While the protocol is designed to manage risk systematically, **strategy and market risks cannot be fully eliminated**, and adverse conditions may result in reduced returns or losses.
{% endhint %}

#### Spread Risk

hBTC strategies are exposed to **interest spread risk**, where realized yield may become insufficient relative to financing (borrow) costs. Sustained periods of unfavorable spreads may reduce returns or necessitate partial or full position closures to limit losses.

**Mitigation:**\
The protocol employs [**Interest Spread Control**](https://docs.hermetica.fi/hbtc/how-it-works/risk-controls#id-3-interest-spread-control) mechanisms to monitor spread regimes and reduce or exit exposure during persistently negative conditions. A dedicated **Reserve Fund** is maintained to buffer short-term adverse periods, subject to available capitalization.

#### Liquidation Risk

Strategies that utilize money markets introduce **liquidation risk**, particularly during periods of sharp price movements, market stress, or oracle failures. While leverage controls are designed to reduce this risk, they cannot fully eliminate tail risk under extreme market conditions.

**Mitigation:**\
The protocol employs [**Leverage Control**](https://docs.hermetica.fi/hbtc/how-it-works/risk-controls#id-1-leverage-control) mechanisms to continuously monitor and manage leverage exposure; with multiple fallback and alert systems to respond to rapidly changing conditions.


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