I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.
See all posts Frank GogolWhat is Crypto Lending?
Updated on January 7, 2024
Written by
Written by
Reviewed by
Rohit Mittal
Reviewed by
Rohit Mittal
Rohit Mittal is the co-founder and CEO of Stilt. Rohit has extensive experience in credit risk analytics and data science. He spent years building credit risk and fraud models for top U.S. banks. In his current role, he defines the overall business strategy, leads debt and capital fundraising efforts, leads product development, and leads other customer-related aspects for the company. Stilt is backed by Y Combinator and has raised a total of $275M in debt and equity funding to date.
See all posts Rohit MittalAt a Glance
- Crypto lending is a type of decentralized finance where investors lend their cryptocurrencies to borrowers in exchange for interest payments.
- Lenders can deposit their cryptocurrencies into lending platforms and receive monthly or weekly interest.
- Borrowers can stake their cryptocurrencies as collateral, and the lending process involves a third party connecting lenders and borrowers.
- Rates and returns vary depending on the platform and the type of cryptocurrency, with borrowers and lenders needing to choose reliable platforms and consider key factors like loan-to-value ratio.
Most of the time, people who are into crypto are told to hold their assets until price appreciation applies to the currency they chose. But while this is the case, you may not be on terms with leaving your currency in your wallet, especially when the interest rates are low. This is when you start thinking of ways to help grow your digital currency, and one of the ways you can do that is through crypto lending. But what exactly is crypto lending and what does it involve, though? Let’s find out!
What Is Crypto Lending?
Crypto lending refers to a type of Decentralized Finance that allows investors to lend their cryptocurrencies to different borrowers. This way, they will get interest payments in exchange, also called “crypto dividends”. Many platforms that specialize in lending crypto also accept stablecoins, on top of cryptos.
It is already known that cryptocurrency is becoming more and more popular as a payment method. That’s not all there is to it, as it can be a great investment opportunity too. The assets can get more value while you hold them without plans of selling them, and that is what crypto lending allows you to do.
Let’s give an example of how this works. You may have 20 bitcoins. You plan to get a steady passive income with them, so you have the chance to deposit them into a crypto lending platform wallet. As such, every month or week, you will receive interest. The interest rates can differ. They can either go from 3% to 7%, or they can go quite higher, up to 17% in some cases.
When it comes to crypto lending, borrowers also have the chance to stake their cryptocurrency as guarantees of loan repayment or as security. Thus, the investors will be able to sell the crypto assets in case the borrower doesn’t pay off the loan anymore, meaning that they can recover the losses.
Platforms do have the chance to recover their losses most times though because they ask borrowers to stake 25-50% of the loan in crypto. This can truly come in handy since borrowers might not pay off the
How Crypto Lending Works
Crypto lending happens through a third party that connects the lenders and borrowers. The lenders represent the first party involved in crypto lending. They might be crypto aficionados who want to grow the output of the assets or people who hold onto cryptocurrencies waiting for a value boost.
The 2nd party is the crypto lending platform, where the lending and borrowing transaction unfolds. Lastly, the borrowers represent the 3rd party of the process, and they are the ones who will get the funds. They could either be businesses that need funding or people who look for funding.
The crypto lending process happens in a few steps:
- The borrower goes to a platform and requests a crypto loan
- The borrower stakes the crypto collateral as soon as the loan request is accepted by the platform. Until he is able to fund back the entire loan, the borrower will not have the opportunity to get back the stakes.
- Using the platform, the lenders will automatically fund the loan, which is a process that investors cannot see.
- Investors will receive regular interests as payments
- When the borrower manages to pay off the whole loan, he will get back the crypto collateral he wanted.
Every platform comes with its own way of lending crypto, but overall, this is how the process unfolds.
Keep in mind that there are risks involved with crypto
Travis Gatzemeier, founder of Kinetix Financial Planning, explains that the downside of crypto is that if prices fall, then you may have to pledge more: “That is going to be the main disadvantage of crypto. It’s not a normal, stable asset that you’re using to borrow.”
Crypto Lending Rates
Each platform has different rates for crypto lending. So, how much you get in return for your investment will automatically depend on the platform you settled for. There is a specific ROI for every crypto lending platform, and there are also different risks depending on the platform. So, it is important to consider different platforms in order to spread the risks. This will also help you have some diversity in your investments.
When it comes to crypto lending, there is a usual yearly yield that can be expected. For crypto coins, it is from 3% to 8%, whereas for stablecoins, it varies from 10% to 18%. There are different rates per coin for every investment platform. You’ll have to select a platform depending on the coins you are holding if you want your returns to be optimized.
How to Borrow Cryptocurrency
To borrow cryptocurrency, you have to make sure you choose the right platform. There are many platforms out there that are letting you borrow crypto, but you need to go around a lot until you find a trustworthy one. So, you need to first make sure a platform is safe and legit, and only then proceed to borrow a loan.
Once you find a reliable platform, you need to look at whether you can borrow the type of crypto you want to lend. Not every platform will have all cryptos available. Also, you need to find out the yearly returns on the crypto you want to lend.
Taking out a crypto loan is very easy compared to traditional
How to Lend Your Cryptocurrency
You can lend your cryptocurrency and earn some interest in return, which is what makes this practice so appreciated. Think of it as using a savings account. With a savings account, you stash the money while the credit union or bank pays certain interest on the balance. This way, it can use the money to issue
To lend your cryptocurrency, you have to find a good and trustworthy platform for this. Then, you need to think of the exchange you want, respectively fixed or flexible exchange. Next, you have to determine the coins you want to lend. This depends on the conditions of the market, as well as the returns you desire and how well you tolerate risk.
Once you give a crypto loan, you will stake your crypto collateral and then wait for investors to fund the loan. The investors will receive interest, and once the loan is paid back by the borrower, the crypto collateral is returned.
Read More
- How to Make Money with Cryptocurrency
- How to Withdraw from Binance
- How to Transfer From Coinbase to Coinbase Pro
- How to Transfer from Coinbase to Binance
- How Does Cryptocurrency Gain Value?
- How to Read Crypto Charts
The Bottom Line
Crypto lending is a way for you to earn some interest with cryptocurrency if you have it sitting in your wallet and don’t plan on selling your assets. This way, your digital currencies can offer you some value in return. So, it is a great opportunity to make some money, especially if you need extra funds to cover different expenses or pay debts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is crypto lending?
Crypto lending is a practice where individuals or institutions lend their cryptocurrencies to borrowers in exchange for interest payments.
How does crypto lending work?
Crypto lending works by connecting lenders and borrowers through lending platforms or decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. Lenders provide their cryptocurrencies as collateral, and borrowers can borrow these assets by providing collateral or meeting certain requirements.
What are the benefits of crypto lending?
Some benefits of crypto lending include earning interest on idle crypto assets, diversifying investment portfolios, and accessing liquidity without selling crypto holdings.
Is crypto lending safe?
Crypto lending carries certain risks, including the potential for default by borrowers, smart contract vulnerabilities, and market volatility. It’s important for lenders to assess the risks and choose reputable lending platforms.
How are interest rates determined in crypto lending?
Interest rates in crypto lending are typically determined by supply and demand dynamics on lending platforms. Factors such as the availability of lending capital and borrowers’ demand for specific cryptocurrencies can influence interest rates.
Are there any risks for borrowers in crypto lending?
Borrowers in crypto lending may face risks such as margin calls if the value of their collateral falls below a certain threshold. Additionally, borrowers need to carefully manage their loan-to-value (LTV) ratios to avoid liquidation.
Can I lend any cryptocurrency?
The availability of lending options depends on the lending platform or DeFi protocol you choose. Generally, popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and stablecoins have more lending options.
How do I choose a crypto lending platform?
When choosing a crypto lending platform, consider factors such as reputation, security measures, interest rates, available cryptocurrencies, and the platform’s regulatory compliance.
What happens if a borrower defaults on a loan?
If a borrower defaults on a loan, lenders may lose some or all of their lent assets. Some lending platforms have mechanisms in place to mitigate default risks, such as liquidation processes or insurance funds.
Is crypto lending regulated?
Regulations surrounding crypto lending vary by jurisdiction. Some countries have specific regulations for lending platforms, while others may consider crypto lending under existing financial regulations. It’s important to understand the legal and regulatory implications in your jurisdiction.
Frank Gogol
I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.