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Cryptocurrency lending is a new application of decentralized finance that is sweeping the cryptocurrency universe. Cryptocurrency lending platforms make it easy for you to lend your cryptocurrency to other investors, developers or platforms instead of paying interest.

This guide will analyze Canada’s top 5 crypto lending platforms for 2023. We will also explain how cryptocurrency loans work and show you how to start today.

Best Crypto Lending Platforms in Canada List 2023

Listed below, you will find the best crypto lending platforms that you can get started with right now:

  1. AQRU – Overall Best Crypto Lending Platform in Canada
  2. Crypto.com – Best Canadian Crypto Lending Platform With Flexible Loan Periods
  3. Nexo – Best Crypto Lending Platform For Daily Interest Payments In Canada
  4. YouHodler – Best Lending Crypto Platform with an APY up to 12.3% In Canada

Would you like to learn more about crypto lending platforms? Consequently, we’ve put together brief reviews of each so you can see what each offers and decide which platform is right for you.

1. AQRU – Overall Best Crypto Lending Platform In Canada

AQRUcrypto lending stands out as one of the premier crypto lending platforms for individuals new to the world of cryptocurrency trading, offering an excellent opportunity to generate consistent passive income.

AQRU primarily caters to lenders, offering a straightforward and efficient lending process. To begin earning interest, users simply need to deposit their cryptocurrency on the platform.

The platform offers a maximum Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of 7% on USDC Maple, with a choice of five stablecoins. AQRU stands out for providing an uncomplicated and adaptable method for initiating interest earnings.

The platform fully collateralizes funds lent to both retail investors and institutions, ensuring the security of deposited funds. Despite its simplicity and safety, some users may find that the APY offered by AQRU could be higher.

Using this platform, lenders can make Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, USD Coin, and DAI loans at interest rates that reach as high as 12.0 6% APY. As well as this, each currency has a risk profile, and there is a specific interest rate associated with it, so it is very simple to put together a portfolio with different interest rates.

It is important to note that AQRU never locks any of your money, so you can withdraw cryptocurrencies whenever you wish and redeploy your portfolio at any time. The interesting thing about AQRU is that the platform allows you to easily move from fiat to cryptocurrency in one step, making it very easy for you.

The platform not only allows you to use your credit card, debit card, or bank transfer to deposit funds, but it also automatically converts them into cryptocurrency using MoonPay.

There is no fee for depositing in fiat currency, and there is no fee for withdrawing in fiat currency. You can use either of the five cryptocurrencies AQRU accepts to make a crypto deposit with AQRU.

lending crypto

Maximum Interest Rate Fees
6.0% APY None

Pros:

  • You can earn up to 6.0% APY
  • You can deposit fiat currency or cryptocurrency
  • There is no fee for depositing or withdrawing fiat currency
  • Interest is paid daily

Cons:

  • Supports lending for only 5 cryptos at this time
  • A minimum deposit requirement of $250,000
  • $20 for crypto withdrawals
  • Loan services are not provided

Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products.

2. Crypto.com - Best Canadian Crypto Lending Platform With Flexible Loan Periods

Crypto.comcrypto lending platform is a leading cryptocurrency lending company that makes it easy for cryptocurrency users to earn altcoins. There are some causes for this, including that this lending platform supports more than 50 different tokens and gives up to a 6.5% return on stablecoins.

We particularly like Crypto.com since they offer flexible loan terms or the option to lock in your crypto for 1, 3, or 6 months. If you want to lock your crypto, you can get a higher interest rate. There are penalties when you want to withdraw your crypto early.

One important point to recognize when it comes to Crypto.com's Bitcoin loans is that Crypto.com reserves the best Bitcoin loan rates for its users who hold at least $4,000 worth of CROs, Crypto.com's original cryptocurrency token. A simple calculator on Crypto.com will let you calculate just how much money you can earn when you lend different coins with different lock-in periods and CRO stakes through Crypto.com.

When it comes to AQRU, it is relatively easy to create and diversify a cryptocurrency portfolio with a wide range of currencies and interest rates. In addition to paying interest every week, Crypto.com allows you to monitor your profits via the Crypto.com mobile app or the Crypto.com website. Besides the app, Crypto.com offers the use of the Crypto.com exchange and other options, such as a cryptocurrency rewards credit card, making it an all-in-one platform for everything related to cryptocurrency.

best crypto lending platform

Maximum Interest Rate Fees
6.5% on on stablecoins, 8.0% for CROs None

Pros:

  • You can lend 50+ new cryptocurrencies
  • By locking in your crypto rates, you will be able to get higher rates
  • A great mobile app as well as other offerings

Cons:

  • CRO must be staked to get the best crypto lending rates
  • Withdrawal fees apply
  • Certain services are unavailable in the U.S.

Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products.

4. Nexo - Best Crypto Lending Platform For Daily Interest Payments In Canada

Nexobest crypto lending stands as a prominent crypto financial services and lending platform, boasting over 6 million users globally across 200 jurisdictions and processing a substantial $150 billion in five years.

The platform is dedicated to enhancing the financial landscape of digital assets by providing instantaneous crypto-backed loans independent of credit scores. With a Nexo cryptocurrency account, users can swiftly borrow in over 30 fiat currencies, USDT, or USDC

Additionally, the platform facilitates buying, selling, and swapping various major cryptocurrencies to augment one's portfolio, offering a comprehensive solution for all crypto-related needs.

To access credit on Nexo, users need to deposit supported tokens into the Nexo Wallet, which supports over 60 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Polygon (MATIC), Ripple (XRP), and more. ETH and LINK tokens within the Nexo account have the potential to earn interest of up to 8% APR, with the option to swap them for higher-yield assets boasting up to 17% APR.

Nexo users can earn rewards from crypto swapping, receiving up to 0.5% in crypto rewards for every swap. Furthermore, crypto assets can be utilized as collateral to instantly borrow fiat cash or stablecoins at 0% APR.

The loan limit is calculated based on the value of assets in the account, and the automated lending system allows users to access additional credit as their assets appreciate. Nexo has implemented a multichain bridge to facilitate quicker transactions at lower fees.

Initially exclusive to Ethereum-Polygon bridging of MATIC tokens, the bridge has expanded to include other ERC-20 tokens like LINK, AAVE, SUSHI, and stablecoins such as USDT, USDC, and DAI.

The Nexo cross-chain bridge enables users to manage their assets in the Nexo Wallet, offering time and cost savings. Additionally, Nexo allows crypto holders to earn high-yield interest as passive income, extracting value from idle savings.

lending crypto platforms

Maximum Interest Rate Fees
16.0% APY on USDT None

Pros:

  • Fee-free trades (covered by spreads) for simplified accounting
  • Convenient access to the value of your crypto via Nexo Borrow
  • Nexo Pro offers precision trading with minimal fees
  • Free withdrawals (subject to loyalty level restrictions)

Cons:

• Elevated NEXO token buy-in thresholds needed to attain the top loyalty levels
• The 12-month NEXO token price has declined by over 50% compared to BTC
• Unavailability of several essential products in major markets, including the US
• Minimum withdrawal limits in place (0.001 BTC, 0.01 ETH)

Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products.

5. YouHodler - Best Lending Crypto Platform with an APY up to 12.3% In Canada

YouHodlercrypto lending programs is another one of the most popular lending sites in Canada today. You can lend across 50 coins of many different types on this site, which is comparable to Crypto.com in terms of flexibility.

• ETH: 4% APY
• BTC: 3% APY
• USDT: 8% APY
• AVAX: 9.5% APY

One of the things that make YouHodlr unique is the fact that it has a few peculiarities. First, you have to utilize cryptocurrencies in your savings account as collateral for cryptocurrency loans. This is such a great deal because you are effectively using your Crypto in duplicate, i.e., once for earning interest and again for securing the loan with the same account.

The YouHodler app also gives you the option of redeploying or withdrawing your funds at any time, so you can redeploy your wallet whenever you want. In addition, the interest earned on cryptocurrencies is paid every week, which means that it is possible to earn compound interest immediately.

In addition to its security policy, we appreciate that YouHodler has one worth $150 million. This offers a lot of confidence when making loans through the platform since you can ensure that the funds are guaranteed if there is a hack.

top crypto lending platforms

Maximum Interest Rate Fees
9.5% APY for AVAX None

Pros:

• User-friendly design and a focus on a customer-centric experience
• Availability of a mobile application for convenient use on the go
• Diverse product range catering to both traders and borrowers
• Competitive yield rates offered on savings

Cons:

• There is no lock-in option for higher rates
• Maximum loan term capped at 364 days
• Unavailability in several countries, including the United States
• Minimum deposit requirement of $100 in fiat

Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products.

Best Crypto Lending Platforms in Canada - Rates Comparison

In the table following, you can see a simple summary of the top cryptocurrency lending websites, along with the interest rates they offer.

Tokens for Lending Maximum Interest Rate (APY)
AQRU BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, DAI 12.0%
Crypto.com CRO, BTC, ETH, LTC, VET, LINK, DOT, XRP, USDT, USDC, DAI, ATOM, BCH, ADA, XLM, WBTC, ALGO, PAXG, UNI, SOL, FIL, NEAR, LUNA, SAND, FTM, DYDX, KSM, and AVAX 14.0%
BlockFi No longer operational
Nexo USDT, USDC, DAI, USDP, TUSD, XRP, LTC, LINK, BCH, XLM,UST, USDX, EURX, GBPX, BTC, ETH, NEXO, AXS, FTM, MATIC, DOT, LUNA, AVAX, KSM, ATOM, BNB, ADA, SOL, TRX, EOS, PAXG, DOGE 36.0%
YouHodler USDT, USDC, TUSD, DAI, BUSD, HUSD, BNB, ADA, BTC, EURS, ETH, LINK, UNI, COMP, MKR, SUSHI, YFI, SNX, OMG, PAXG, DOGE, LTC, XRP, XLM, ZRX, BNT, DASH, TRX, EOS, BCH, AAVE, DOT, HT, XTZ, BAT, USDP, REP, AVAX, BTT, 1INCH, FTT, NEAR, ZIL, EGLD, CAKE, FIL, ATOM, SRM, FTM, LUNA 12.3%

Types of Cryptocurrency Lends

The cryptocurrency lending process can be carried out in several different ways. This guide will discuss the most common ways of lending cryptocurrencies and their differences.

Lending Crypto From a Site

Our analysis selected the cryptocurrency lending platforms that correspond with those that provide cryptocurrency loans through their websites. Although, unlike traditional exchange platforms, these platforms do not hold your cryptocurrency on your behalf; instead, they keep it on-call in an account, and it is borrowed on your behalf, with a portion of the interest paid by borrowers going to you.

Lending Crypto to a Platform

Through this type of cryptocurrency lending, the user stakes their cryptocurrency to guarantee the validity of new transactions made through their blockchain. A newly minted coin is given to users when a transaction on the blockchain has been validated. As a reward for their wager, a portion of the blockchain's reward is returned to them in the form of interest.

Your cryptocurrency will be blocked for several days or even several weeks at the same time. If you withdraw your new crypto before the end of the blocking period, you will not receive any interest until the blocking period. Therefore, the best period to bet on a cryptocurrency is when you plan to make the most money from it over the long run. This is the time when you are expecting its value to increase.

Peer-to-Peer Crypto Lending

This is basically a crypto peer-to-peer loan that you make directly to another individual within the world of Bitcoin peer-to-peer lending. If you are lending cryptoassets, you may find that this method involves the highest degree of risk. If the borrower is unable to repay, it won't be easy to get your money back.

One of the great advantages of cryptocurrency peer-to-peer loans is that, compared to traditional loans, they offer some of the lowest interest rates on the market. Therefore, cryptocurrency peer-to-peer loans are one of the best investments out there today. Using a decentralized lending exchange, it is possible to search for potential borrowers and set up a loan repayment schedule.

Bitcoin Lending Interest Rates Explained

what is crypto lending

The interest rate to be earned on the borrower's loan needs to be taken into account when comparing Bitcoin lending platforms and the currencies to be lent in. This is because cryptoloan rates can vary widely between platforms and can fluctuate immediately depending on whether the demand for cryptoloans increases or decreases over time.

These rates are typically calculated as annual percentage yields or APYs (annual percentage yields). Therefore, it is possible to earn a return if you lend crypto throughout the year based on the cryptocurrency interest rate. It is important to note that you will only get a fraction of the APY if you lend your crypto for a shorter period of time.

How to Lend Cryptocurrency in Canada

Below, our guide will show you how to get started with AQRU, the top-rated website for Bitcoin lending in Canada, as well as much more.

Step 1: Open an Account

If you want to set up a new lending account, please go to AQRU.io and click "Sign Up." After that, enter your email address, select a password, and click Create Account.

crypto lending explained

Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products.

Step 2: Deposit Funds

Deposits at the AQRU are free of charge through credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers, or cryptocurrencies. Please choose your deposit method and enter the amount you wish to deposit. You will be required to initiate a transfer from your crypto wallet to deposit crypto if you intend to deposit crypto.

lending crypto assets

Step 3: Lend Cryptos

After terminating the above steps, you are ready to lend out your cryptocurrencies to AQRU as soon as you are finished with them. First, select the coin you wish to lend based on the interest rates displayed, then choose the amount you wish to lend based on the interest rate displayed. Remember that AQRU allows you to lend multiple coins simultaneously, which means you can create a portfolio of different crypto lends with different interest rates and risk profiles.

lending platform crypto

Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products.

Is it Safe to Lend Crypto?

Generally speaking, lending crypto is relatively safe, although it shouldn't be as safe as traditional fiat lending through a bank. Unlike savings accounts, a crypto lending account is not protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

As a result, the top crypto lending platforms ensure that your funds are protected every step of the way. For example, most of these lenders use crypto wallets to store client funds throughout the lending process. In addition, platforms like AQRU have insurance policies that will help replace your money if you lose it due to a hack or other mishap.

You should also keep in mind that lending out Crypto can also lead to losing money. There is no guarantee that your repayments will be made, and you can lose some or all of your principal if your lender defaults - that is especially true if you are lending Bitcoin peer-to-peer, where you depend on one borrower to make the repayments. In the case of cryptocurrency loans, you may also lose money if the price of the coins you are holding drops, even if you are still earning interest on your crypto loan.

Conclusion

A cryptocurrency lending company makes it easy to earn interest on your cryptocurrency holdings. If you decide to put your crypto to work right now, here are the 5 best crypto lending platforms in Canada where you can start.

AQRU is one of our top recommendations; this company accepts fiat deposits and offers rates as high as 12.0% APY. Therefore, AQRU is one of our top recommendations.

AQRU – Best Platform to Lend Cryptocurrencies in Canada

crypto staking and lending

Cryptoassets are highly volatile unregulated investment products.

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Carlos Sereno Freelance Writer

Carlos Sereno Freelance Writer

Carlos is an experienced content writer who specializes in cryptocurrency and forex content. After spending time as an active trader himself, he has a good understanding of TradingPlatforms and best practices and uses this to create informative content for TradingPlatforms.

Carlos has also written for Rather Labs Inc., Daily Forex Ltd., and Tradeview Markets. He has a plethora of experience in both forex and cryptocurrency and is able to explain complex terms in a user-friendly way. 

As well as writing content, Carlos is a skilled researcher who regularly investigates new crypto projects to understand their potential. He uses these skills within his content writing work to provide an analytical overview and helpful insight to readers.