Impermanent loss is the opportunity cost LPs face when pool prices diverge versus simply holding tokens.
It becomes permanent if you withdraw after divergence. Fees can offset IL in high-volume pools.
In research workflows, Impermanent loss is usually interpreted with Automated market maker, Yield farming, Liquidity, and Total value locked rather than as a standalone signal. Smart-contract, oracle, and governance risks are part of the product. Yield without understanding the mechanism is usually underpriced risk.