Looking to take out a crypto loan? Here’s what you need to know

Loans based on cryptocurrencies have become a mainstay of the decentralized finance (DeFi) universe ever since the smart contract-based lending/borrowing platforms began offering the service to crypto users. The Ethereum network, the first blockchain that scaled the smart contract functionality, sees most of the total value locked (TVL) on DeFi protocols dominated by cryptocurrency lending platforms.

According to data from DeFi Pulse, the top 4 of 10 DeFi protocols are lending protocols that account for $37.04 billion in TVL, just 49% of TVL of the entire DeFi market on the Ethereum blockchain. Ethereum leads in terms of being the most utilized blockchain for the DeFi market and the TVL on the network. Maker and Aave are the biggest players here, with a TVL of $14.52 billion and $11.19 billion, respectively.

Even on other blockchain networks like Terra, Avalanche, Solana and BNB Chain, the adoption of cryptocurrency-based loans has been one of the main use cases of smart contracts in the world of DeFi. There are about 138 protocols that provide crypto loan-based services to users, amounting to a total TVL of $50.66 billion, according to DefiLlama. Apart from Aave and Maker, the other prominent players in this protocol category across blockchain networks are Compound, Anchor Protocol, Venus, JustLend, BENQI and Solend.

Johnny Lyu, the CEO of crypto exchange KuCoin, talked to Cointelegraph about the choice of blockchain networks for crypto lending. He said:

“I would say the ideal blockchain for loans and DeFi does not exist, as each has its own advantages. At the same time, the leadership of Ethereum is undeniable due to many factors.”

However, he didn’t negate the possibility of the emergence of a truly ideal blockchain for DeFi. Kiril Nikolov, DeFi strategist at Nexo — a cryptocurrency lending platform — seconded this view. He told Cointelegraph:

“The short answer is ‘no.’ Most blockchains are crypto lending-friendly. However, among the primary properties to watch for are liquidity and reliability, while a secondary determining factor might be network fees.”

Considering that the liquidity and reliability of the Ethereum platform are the highest right now due to it being the most utilized blockchain within DeFi, one could consider taking advantage of the same and making it the blockchain of choice.

Prominent players 

To start with, a borrower needs to choose between the major lending protocols on the network such as Maker, Aave and Compound. While there are a plethora of crypto lending platforms, in this piece, the most prominent ones are considered for the sake of ease of explaining and relatability. 

Cryptocurrency lending essentially enables users to borrow and lend digital assets in return for a fee or an interest. Borrowers need to deposit collateral that will instantly allow them to take a loan and use it for the objectives of their portfolio. You can take loans without any collateral, known as flash loans, on platforms like Aave. These loans need to be paid back within the same block transaction and are mainly a feature meant for developers due to the technical expertise required to execute them. Additionally, if the loaned amount is not returned plus the interest, the transaction is canceled even before it is validated.

Since crypto-based loans are completely automated and simple for the average retail investor and market participants, in general, they provide an easy way to earn annual percentage yields on the digital assets they are hodling or even accessing cheap credit lines.

One important aspect of collateralized loans is the loan to value (LTV) ratio. LTV ratio is the measurement of the loan balance in relation to the value of the collateral asset. Since cryptocurrencies are considered to be highly volatile assets, the ratio is usually on the lower end of the spectrum. Considering Aave’s current LTV for Maker (MKR) is 50%, it essentially means that you can borrow only 50% of the value as a loan in…