Terra/UST Collapse Ripple Effects
Code: NT-116
Tags: #stablecoins #terra #risk
Language: en
Situation Report
UST depegged after large withdrawals from Anchor, and the Luna Foundation Guard’s BTC reserves failed to restore confidence. The death spiral erased ~$40B in market value within days.
Architecture Notes
UST relied on the LUNA mint/burn mechanism plus 20% Anchor yields to attract deposits. Once redemptions exceeded on-chain liquidity, slippage amplified the peg break and validators struggled to keep up with the transaction load.
Operational Impact
Exchanges halted trading multiple times, and cross-chain bridges like Wormhole paused transfers to prevent exploit attempts. Venture funds and treasuries exposed to Anchor yield strategies had to mark down positions sharply.
Forward Watch
Regulators accelerated stablecoin frameworks, while on-chain analysts monitored other algorithmic designs (FRAX, USDN) for similar reflexivity risks.