Crypto Lending in the Lens of Banking
1. What is Crypto Lending Crypto lending is the practice of lending digital assets to other parties through specialized platforms, in exchange for interest or fees. In banking terms, it resembles credit and deposit products : one party acts as the lender, while the other is the borrower. The lender earns interest, and the borrower gains liquidity without selling their crypto holdings. 2. The History of Crypto Lending Crypto lending began around 2017–2018, alongside the rise of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) . Platforms such as BlockFi, Celsius, and Aave pioneered crypto-based lending services. Lending evolved into two main models: CeFi (Centralized Finance) managed by companies, and DeFi (Decentralized Finance) powered by smart contracts. 3. How Crypto Lending Works Lenders deposit their crypto assets into a platform. Borrowers request loans, usually backed by collateral in other cryptocurrencies. The system (either centralized or decentralized) sets interest rates, ...