The need for extra money always arises suddenly. Illness, home or car repairs, and tuition fees require a lot of money. You are unlikely to have friends quickly ready to lend you a bag with five or six zeros. You can take out a loan. But in this case, you should be prepared to collect many documents, interviews, and refusals. Banks are cautious about giving large loans to people. And what to do in this case?
There is an exit. If you have virtual assets, then cryptocurrency loans will help you. It is a good option for those not ready to sell coins and wants to get extra money. Let’s understand all the features of crypto loans and the possible risks of this decision.
What is a Cryptocurrency Loan?
A cryptocurrency loan is a financial instrument that allows you to receive additional money. Unlike a bank loan, in cryptocurrency loans, you leave your virtual assets as an outpost. You will receive the tokens back after you fully pay off the lender.
The loan’s cost depends on the cryptocurrency’s current exchange rate. The importance of the token also plays a significant role. For example, the credit for Ethereum will be significantly larger than for Dogecoin. The price of a loan depends directly on the lender. It is essential to understand that he sets the rules of this game. Therefore, if the conditions do not suit you, contact another lender. Many companies provide such a service, so you will definitely find the right option.
You can take a cryptocurrency loan for up to five years. At the same time, the interest rate is significantly lower than that of a classic banking product.
Separately, it is worth noting that not every lender can issue a loan crypto in dollars or other fiat currency. Alternatively, you can use stablecoins that are pegged to the dollar. And then exchange the coins for cash.
What are the types of cryptocurrency loans?
Before applying for a cryptocurrency loan, it is worth considering its types. There are two options for crypto borrowing:
- CeFi.
- DeFi.
Most cryptocurrency loans are centralized, i.e., CeFi. It means that the lender keeps your digital assets until you pay off the loan in full. If you don’t make payments or pay interest, the lender can take your help themselves. It is a digital analog of bank loans.
Decentralized finance (DeFi) uses smart contracts. They control the fulfillment of all the conditions of the loan. At the same time, tokens can remain with you. But if you are late in payment or violate the loan agreement terms, the lender can limit your cryptocurrency. This option is more acceptable for users, but has a significantly higher interest rate since the lender risks his funds more.
There is also a third type of cryptocurrency loan — a flash loan. Its essence is that users repay the debt in one payment. This option has the highest interest rate and relatively high risks for lenders. But sometimes, this is the only way to get the right amount of money. A quick cryptocurrency loan is often used to profit from the difference in the cryptocurrency rate.
How to Get a Cryptocurrency Loan
To get a cryptocurrency loan, you need to buy coins. It is the most critical condition. It is also important to clarify which digital assets your lender accepts. Plus, it is worth knowing the loan repayment terms, interest rates, and periods. It is necessary to choose the best option for additional financing.
Then you need:
- create an account on the lender’s website;
- fill in all personal information;
- apply for cryptocurrency loan;
- wait for the decision of the creditor.
The application must specify the amount and terms of the loan. Applications are processed very quickly. You will receive an answer within a few minutes. Cryptocurrency lenders transfer money quite quickly. Maximum — you will receive the required amount in 24 hours. But, as practice shows, this process takes much less time.
Who can Take a Cryptocurrency Loan?
As you know, anyone with tokens can take a cryptocurrency loan. Lenders do not check solvency and do not require a certificate of income. You can easily use tokens to get Bitcoin loans.
Now you can say, “Why do I need a loan if I can just sell my assets?”. It sounds quite logical. But remember market volatility and transaction costs. Plus taxes. When converting, you will lose a certain amount of money. When lending, you are guaranteed to receive the amount that you require. In addition, after payment, you will receive your coins back.
Cryptocurrency loans are ideal for those who want to maintain complete privacy. You do not need to go through checks; leave numbers of guarantors. Transactions with virtual ones make it possible to preserve the anonymity of all financial transactions.
You need to leave your property as collateral for a large bank loan. But not everyone has a house or a car. In addition, the property’s value may not always correspond to the pledge amount. Using cryptocurrency, you will receive money even if you do not have collateral for the bank.
Benefits and Risks of a Cryptocurrency Loan
The main advantage of cryptocurrency borrowing is the absence of various checks. It allows you to keep your financial problems secret and maintain complete confidentiality. Plus, it saves a lot of time. You do not need to draw up documents confirming the place of work and that you can definitely return the money.
Borrow cryptocurrency has other advantages:
- no need to sell digital assets;
- no credit check;
- the ability to quickly receive money;
- flexible terms;
- low-interest rate;
- suitable for any purpose.
The lender doesn’t care why you need the money. You can use them for almost any purpose. Unlike a bank loan, no one checks your payments and asks why you require additional funding.
We have already said that there are a vast number of cryptocurrency lenders. You can leave a request on the website of several companies to compare all the conditions and choose the best conditions.
Now let’s move on to the cons. And the most significant: for a cryptocurrency loan, you require a cryptocurrency. Logically, if you cannot leave a digital asset as collateral, the lender will not give you money.
It is also worth considering that additional insurance may be required if the market is highly valid. Usually, lenders ask for other coins or another type of asset.
With CeFi lending, your assets remain with the lender. That is, you can not use them in any way. And if you miss a payment or do not fulfill the contract terms, the creditor can freeze and keep them. Therefore, you must adhere to all the terms of the contract. It is also worth keeping receipts for all transactions to confirm the payment.
Separately, it is worth noting that cryptocurrency lenders have much less control than traditional banks. It will be pretty difficult to prove your case if an error occurs. Plus, there is nobody that controls the activities of cryptocurrencies. That is, there is no one to turn to for protection.
An operation with digital assets is always a risk. Hackers try to hack into exchanges, lenders’ websites, and users’ personal wallets. Therefore, you should carefully study the protocol system without the selected company to avoid losing your coins. You should additionally read the reviews of other users to find out the real attitude of the lender to the borrowers.
Is it worth taking a cryptocurrency loan?
Cryptocurrency lending will help you get money and keep assets. Choosing a suitable lender who will accept your coins and offer the best terms is essential. You should not apply for a loan from a company you see first. Compare all terms, terms, and interest rates. It will help determine the best option. With the help of a cryptocurrency loan, you can cope with all financial difficulties and remain anonymous.