Cure Period

A cure period is the window of time a lender gives you to respond to a margin call (by adding Bitcoin collateral or repaying part of the loan) before it liquidates your collateral. It is one of the most important and least-advertised terms in a Bitcoin loan.

Why the length matters

Bitcoin can move 20% in a day. A longer cure period (say 72 hours) gives you time to move funds, react to a temporary dip, or wait for a price recovery. A short cure period of a few hours, or none at all, means a sharp overnight drop could trigger liquidation before you are even awake to respond.

How cure periods vary

Some lenders specify a fixed window (for example, 48 hours from the margin-call notification). Others use a tiered alert system, with warning notifications at one LTV and a hard margin call at a higher LTV, which effectively gives you a longer runway. A few automated platforms liquidate at the threshold with little or no cure period.

What to check before borrowing

Confirm the exact cure window, how you will be notified (email, SMS, or in-app), and whether the lender offers an auto-top-up from a linked balance. The comparison data on this site notes each lender's cure-period terms where they are disclosed.