At first glance, YouHodler and Crypto.com are very similar products with a few intersecting features. However, after digging deeper into both products, one will find two completely different platforms with unique visions. Which one is for you depends on personal preference but let’s try to break up the pros and cons of each as best possible so you can make a well-informed decision.

YouHoder vs Crypto.com: What are they all about?

YouHodler is a FinTech platform that has a main focus on crypto-backed loans in fiat (USD, EUR, CHF, GBP), crypto (BTC), and stablecoins (USDT, USDC, TUSD, PAXG, DAI, HUSD). The platform also has universal conversion between all assets on the platform in addition to high-yield savings accounts and some other creative trading tools we’ll get into later.

YouHodler supports all the top 15 coins/tokens and user’s digital assets are guarded with Ledger Vault’s advanced security and custody option. YouHodler is an active member of the Crypto Valley Association and the Blockchain Association of the Financial Commission.

Crypto.com is a cryptocurrency and payment platform that over the years, has evolved into a wide range of products that help promote the adoption of crypto on a grander scale. Currently, Crypto.com has an exchange, a Metal Visa card with 5% cashback on all spending, digital asset savings accounts, crypto credit, and a wallet. They also have two tokens (CRO and MCO).


YouHodler vs Crypto.com: Comparing the core features

Crypto-backed loans: Use the top 15 coins/tokens as collateral for an instant loan in fiat, crypto or stablecoins. YouHodler features the highest loan to value ratio in the industry (90%) and loan fees range from 1% - 7%. There are three different loan plans to choose from all with flexible management options

Savings accounts: Earn interest in crypto and stablecoins with compounding interest rates up to 12% APY. Payouts are weekly and users can still use other features of the platform while continuing to earn interest.

Multi HODL: A 100% original feature powered by YouHodler’s crypto lending engine. With this tool, users can take a “chain of loans” that help them either buy more crypto or sell more crypto to profit depending on which market direction they choose. Combined with savings accounts, Multi HODL helps users earn interest on an indefinite amount of crypto in what YouHodler calls “Limitless Savings Accounts”

Turbocharge: Similar to MultiHODL but less flexible. Turbocharge helps users take a chain of loans to buy more crypto using and multiply their portfolio using a small initial amount of collateral.

Conversion - Universal conversion capabilities between all crypto, fiat, and stablecoin on the platform.

Crypto.com

Exchange - Crypto.com features a crypto-to-crypto exchange. To access the full benefits of the exchange, users must download the app first.

Crypto.com wallet - This is a separate, non-custodial wallet that needs another app. Since it’s non-custodial, the wallet lets you take full control of your private keys, however, you cannot access other Crypto.com services with this app. You must link the wallet app to your main Crypto.com account to transfer funds.

Savings accounts - Here, users can earn up to 8% p.a. On cryptos like BTC and up to 12% p.a. On stable coins like USDT.

The main app - The foundation of the entire Crypto.com ecosystem is in the app itself. Available for iOS and Android, the app gives users full access to all the features. Crypto.com’s native token (MCO and CRO) is used in this app for a variety of purposes. By staking the MCO token, users can get more benefits on the app like higher returns and rewards on the Crpyto.com card.

YouHodler vs Crypto.com: Pros and Cons

YouHodler Pros

• An easy to use app with clear, beautiful design
• Created by a reputable team with vast experience in FinTech and crypto
• Daily compounding interest 
• 90% LTV on loans
• Access to high-Interest rates on 12% without needing to stake some native token
• $150 crime pooled insurance by Ledger Vault
• No hidden fees (transparent fee structure)
• No credit checks on loans. Flexible repayment plans
• A good relationship with Swiss institutions which are famous for 
• reputation
• 24/7 customer support
• Unique and creative features not found anywhere else

Crypto.com Pros

• Complete crypto ecosystem
• Crypto-powered debit card with attractive rewards
• Earn interest on deposits up to 12%
• High-speed crypto exchange with low fees
• Frequent promotions for users
• Unlock higher interest rates with native token
• Nice interface
• Global service

YouHodler Cons

• Android app can be buggy at times
• Does not provide service to USA citizens
• No crypto debit card

Crypto.com cons

• Not much transparency in where Crypto.com’s funding came from
• Complicated two token system
• To get the full advertised benefits of the platform, users must buy MCO and CRO.
• YouHodler vs Crypto.com: Unique Features

YouHodler has a couple of unique features not found on other platforms. We mentioned them earlier, Multi HODL and Turbocharge. Multi HODL is sort of an automated margin trading tool that helps users long and short the market with just a click of a button. Included in Multi HODL is the ability to choose your multiplier amount (up to x20) and also set Take Profit and Margin Call levels so you are always sure you exit the market at just the right time. It’s a great way to take advantage of both directions in the market at any time with a wide variety of assets.



Crypto.com’s unique feature is obviously the Visa card. This sexy, metal pre-paid card makes it more rewarding and easier to spend cryptocurrency in the real world. When you top up the card, your crypto is converted to USD at current market rates with no fees and then loaded up into the card. The card can then be used anywhere a Visa prepaid card is used and as stated earlier. There are certain MCO/cashback rewards on nearly every purchase with the card. While the card is free, the type of card and the rewards that come with it all depend on how much MCO you stake.

YouHodler vs Crypto.com: security

YouHodler claims that all operations on the platform are 100% secure and they follow industry best practices in regards to IT security, access rights, data protection, and data encryption. YouHodler stores its fiat funds at reputable bank accounts in Europe and Switzerland and partners with trust fiat payment providers only.

In addition, YouHodler users Ledger Vault’s leading IT infrastructure to safely keep its crypto-assets with a multi-sig, self-custody management solution including a $150 million crime insurance pool. YouHodler performs regular security audits.

Crypto.com also has a strategic partnership with Ledger and Ledger Vault with a $100 million direct insurance policy led by Arch Underwriting at Lloyd’s Syndicate 2012. 100% of Crypto.com user assets are stored in offline cold wallets.

Any funds that are held in hot wallets are for corporate funds only and are simply there to ensure day-to-day operations are running smoothly for customers. Crypto.com keeps the fiat currency of its customers in custodian bank accounts that are fully regulated and secured. For US residents, the USD balances are covered by FDIC insurance up to $250,000.

YouHodler vs Crypto.com: affiliate program/refer a friend


Both YouHodler and Crypto.com have an affiliate program or refer a friend program in some format. YouHodler definitely seems geared towards the more professional affiliate marketers of the world. They have an independent platform that helps affiliates monitor their referrals behavior closely and track earnings in real-time. Multiple plans are available to choose from and YouHodler provides a variety of marketing creatives to help affiliates advertise YouHodler effectively and get paid or it. Taking numbers, YouHodler pays crypto or cash for every person that follows think link and becomes an active client. Affiliates can earn up to $100 for each active clients and payouts are every 30 days.


Crypto.com, on the other hand, has a rather simple refer-a-friend program. Users simply refer a friend with a referral link and then they get $50 if that person completes KYC on Crypto.com. However, here is where it gets tricky. Users only get paid in the CRO token which is locked in the CRO wallet and can only be unlocked if the user stakes CRO for an MCO visa card.
Youhodler vs Crypto.com: The Final Verdict

This one is not an easy decision. At first glance, both platforms have a beautiful, easy to use interface that fits all skill sets. Both savings account offers are attractive and high-yielding and they both offer a wide range of cryptocurrency assets to choose from. The reputation from both teams is fantastic and their security offers make users feel safe. There is no doubt that these two platforms are major pillars of the industry and far from any shady, low-budget startup operations. Honestly, you can’t go wrong choosing either option but there are a few key differences that cause us to lean towards YouHodler.

For one, YouHodler seems inspired. Their innovative features like Multi HODL and Turbocharge, in addition to all the customizable tools found within those features, are something other platforms don’t have. YouHodler is not a copycat of other lending platforms but a unique service doing their own thing in their own way. This is an exciting characteristic of the platform and makes one look forward to the future of this creative team. Furthermore, YouHodler doesn’t have any strange promotional “quid-pro-quo” deals as Crypto.com has. The fact that Crypto.com advertises so many wonderful benefits but forces you to buy one of its two tokens comes across as a bit dishonest and profit-driven. Essentially, that sums up the end of this comparison.

Despite its many productive features, Crypto.com seems driven by profit and self-promotion while YouHodler seems driven by innovation. For that reason, we think YouHodler wins this round.

Read Next: YouHodler vs BlockFi

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Author: Ryan Kalbari
Toronto Newsdesk / Bitcoin Loan Reviewer

The great naturalist, geologist, and biologist Charles Darwin once said “it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one the is most adaptable to change.” The reason for bringing this quote up in the discussion of YouHodler vs SALT Lending is that we have two different FinTech platforms here. One has adapted to change quite nicely within the crypto industry, evolving it’s services and features constantly to meet the need of the community. The other, once a strong leader in the space is resisting the trend, resiting evolution, and perhaps falling by the wayside as a result. By the end of this feature-to-feature comparison, you’ll be able to easily decipher which one is which.

YouHodler vs. SALT Lending: Crypto loans
Both YouHodler and SALT Lending got their start in crypto-backed loans. SALT, first opening in 2016 was one of the early adopters of crypto lending and since then, has successfully found a community of crypto HODLers in the U.S.A that want access to cash without having to sell their crypto assets. YouHodler, starting in 2018 is a relative newcomer to the scene but in the past two years, has expanded vigorously throughout Europe and South America offering their unique brand of crypto financial services.

However, since crypto loans are where both platforms started off, let’s compare the two. According to SALT Lending’s loan calculator, users can enjoy:

• 12 different cryptocurrencies as collateral.
• Loans between $5,000 - $25 million USD
• Loan terms of 3 - 12 months
• Loan to value ratio (LTV) of 30% - 70%
• Repayment options of interest only or principal + interest
• Loan interest rates of 5.95% - 11.95%
• Get loans in USD only

As with most lending platforms, no credit checks are required to apply for a loan, and SALT states that “borrowers in certain jurisdictions can expect approval within as little as 24 hours. The origination of each loan will vary from case to case and is largely dependent on your jurisdiction and loan type.”

As for availability, SALT offers its services to the following countries: United States, Bermuda, Brazil, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Now let’s see how YouHodler stacks up with its crypto loan offerings. According to their site, users can enjoy the following:

• 14 + different cryptocurrencies as collateral options
• Loans between $100 - $30,000 (higher amounts available upon request)
• Loan terms of 1 month - 6 months
• LTV from 50% - 90%
• Interest rates from 1.70% - 7.50% (paid one time at the end of the loan term)
• Get loans in USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, USDT, and BTC

Like SALT, YouHodler does not require credit checks, and loans are approved and delivered instantly to the client. YouHodler is available worldwide but states they cannot service the following countries:

USA, Bangladesh, China, Iraq, Pakistan, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria.

YouHodler vs SALT Lending: Cryptocurrency savings accounts

In previous reviews, we typically put each platform in a head-to-head deep-dive analysis of each feature. However, SALT Lending is unique compared to its competitors. Unique in that it failed to evolve (remember our friend Darwin’s quote up above). Where platforms like YouHodler continue to evolve, adding in-demand features like savings accounts, exchange capabilities, margin trading tools, and more, SALT seems resistant. At the time of writing this article, SALT does not offer anything beyond the classic, crypto-backed loans. Hence, from this point forward, we will do our best to offer a comparison given the information provided.

Perhaps one of YouHodler’s most famous features is the platform’s cryptocurrency savings accounts. They offer to compound interest rates up to 12% on stablecoins, higher than any other platform in the industry. Users can choose from 14 different crypto coins/tokens and stablecoins to earn interest on with limits up to $100,000.

What’s unique about their savings accounts is that they are fully integrated directly into the wallet itself. Therefore as soon as you deposit into the platform, you immediately start earning interest. Interest payments are calculated every four hours and paid out weekly. Another innovative aspect of YouHodler savings accounts is that users can actually earn interest on amounts above the $100,000 limit using their “Multi HODL” tool.

Simply put, if you have $100,000 in a savings account and open a Multi HODL position worth $20,000, that means you can earn interest on the full $120,000 while the Multi HODL deal is open. Confused on what a Muti HODL is? Let’s move on to that.

YouHodler vs SALT Lending: Crypto multiplication tools

Once again, SALT Lending will not be featured in this segment because they do not have such tools. YouHodler, on the other hand, offers 100% original innovations like Multi HODL and Turbocharge. Both features are based on the “chain of loans” principle. Instead of taking a loan and using that loan to go buy more crypto on an exchange to use as collateral for another loan manually, YouHodler decided to automate this entire process using these two features.

With the click of a button, users can initiate a chain of loans that helps them either buy more crypto or sell more crypto depending on the market direction at the time. So whether it’s a bear market or a bull market, users can creatively take advantage of volatility and multiply their portfolio. Included in features are several management tools to help one manage their position better. Users can set their “multiplier” amount to increase or decrease the number of loans in the chain and also manage the loans with automatic “Close Now” “Take Profit” and “Adjust Margin Call” capabilities.

YouHodler vs SALT Lending: Insurance
SALT offers comprehensive crime insurance over users’ collateral and cyber liability insurance that protects users in the event of an internet-based attack in regards to private information. SALT does not say any specific amount for their insurance plan but on the site, they do say all “assets are 100% covered as long as they’re on our platform. Plus, as the holder of the policy, we have the ability to increase our insurance coverage as our company grows, meaning we can stay true to our commitment to ensure your assets 100%.” As for crypto storage, SALT states that all funds are stored in offline, cold storage vaults.

According to YouHodler, “We use industry best practices when it comes to crypto storage. Funds are never stored 100% in hot wallets. Instead, we use a mixture of both hot and cold wallet storage which are secured to protect users’ funds. In addition, YouHodler is proud to say that we incorporate Ledger Vault’s technology into the platform which produces advanced custody options for all users.”

YouHodler’s cooperation with Ledger Vault brings its users $150 million in pooled, customized crime insurance. This insurance program covers a wide variety of risks such as employee theft, third-party theft, physical breach of hardware security and theft of private keys/master seeds
YouHodler vs SALT Lending: Affiliate programs/refer-a-friend

Both platforms offer an affiliate program/refer-a-friend program in some capacity. Let’s review. SALT has a relatively straightforward refer-a-friend program. Simply share your referral code or link with a friend and SALT will send you and your friend $50 in Bitcoin as soon as that friend takes an active loan.

YouHodler’s affiliate program is a bit more advanced and seems targeted towards progressional affiliate marketers. They use an independent platform that helps you better monitor your referrals behavior and track your earnings in real-time. There are a few different options one can choose from, all offering a plethora of marketing creatives to help you advertise YouHodler in your style and get paid for it. YouHodler pays crypto or cash for every person that follows your link and becomes an active client. Depending on which plan you choose, affiliates can earn up to $100 for each active client. Payouts are automatically deposited every 30 days.

YouHodler vs SALT Lending: The Final Verdict
Let’s start with the positives of both platforms. It’s very encouraging to see both platforms take security and insurance so seriously. It goes without saying that this is a top-three concern for most people in the crypto market. We’ve all heard the horror stories of CEO’s faking their own death and sailing off into the sunset with millions of Bitcoin. However, that seems highly unlikely with these two platforms as they have a good reputation, solid partnerships, and strong security measures to prevent any such event from happening.

As for the crypto-backed loans, SALT is the platform for the whales, offering far higher loan amounts than YouHodler. That being said, they cannot compete with YouHodler’s industry best 90% LTV, lower interest rates, and a larger amount of collateral options. So if you’re a whale, living in the USA, then SALT is for you. For everyone else, YouHodler prevails in this category.

As for the rest of the features, SALT really can’t compete since they do not offer savings accounts like YouHodler’s 12% stablecoin savings accounts nor do they offer any sort of trading/multiplication tools like YouHodler’s Multi HODL, Turbocharge and exchange features. It’s pretty difficult to give SALT a fair review in this case.

SALT does one thing and they do it really well. However, they failed to evolve with its competitors in the market and create a more diverse financial platform. YouHodler has done that and more and because of their ability to adapt and innovate, they are the superior platform in this case.

Read Next: YouHodler vs Celsius Network


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Author: Ryan Kalbari
Toronto Newsdesk

A year ago, this review would never have been possible. However, as both YouHodler and BlockFi quickly evolve their products, there are more overlaps between the two platforms than ever before. In one corner, we have the New York-based BlockFi. A regulated institution in the highly regulated state of New York backed by some big-name investors. In the other corner, we have the Europe-based YouHodler. An ever-evolving FinTech platform with strong connections in Switzerland’s “Crypto Valley” and some unique features not seen anywhere else. Now it’s time to compare these two beasts of blockchain and see which one comes out on top.

What is BlockFi? 



BlockFi labels themselves as a “wealth management” platform offering products crypto investors need such as cryptocurrency savings account, crypto-backed loans, and exchange capabilities. They also claim to be the “first and only interest-earning crypto account to offer compound interest and trading,” a statement that will certainly be challenged by the end of this article.

Founded in 2017 by Zac Prince and Flori Marquez, BlockFi started out as a credit service provider for crypto assets. At the moment, the company is the only independent lender with institutional backing from investors from Valar Ventures, Galaxy Digital, Fidelity, Akuna Capital, SoFi, and Coinbase Ventures. BlockFi claims its mission is to “redefine banking.”

What is YouHodler?



A year younger than BlockFi, YouHodler is a FinTech platform focusing on crypto-backed lending solutions, crypto/fiat/stablecoin conversions, high-yield savings accounts and creative asset utility solutions. Based in Europe, YouHodler offers loans in USD, EUR, CHF and GBP currencies and deals with the top 20 cryptocurrencies for collateral and other uses on the platform.

Users crypto assets are securely guarded with Ledger Vault’s advanced custody and security options and the team comes from a strong background in Commercial Finance, FX/CFD trading, e-commerce, blockchain, and distributed ledger technology. Unlike other platforms in the industry, YouHodler claims to bridge the gap between both old traditional finance and the new era of blockchain technology to bring a more efficient financial ecosystem for the world.

YouHodler vs BlockFi: Core features

BlockFi
Crypto interest accounts for BTC, ETH, USDC, and more where users can earn compounding interest up to 8.6% annually.
Currency trading lets users exchange crypto pairs between BTC, ETH, LTC, USDC, and GUSD. BlockFi uses Gemini as a primary custodian.
Crypto backed loans with 50% loan to value ratio, 4.5% interest rate and up to the 12-month duration
No credit checks
Fast loan processing

YouHodler
Cryptocurrency and stablecoin savings accounts (up to 12% APR)
Compounding interesting
14+ coins/stablecoins/tokens to earn interest on
Crypto-backed loans with 90% loan to value ratio, three different loan plans and direct to bank account/bank card withdrawal
Original crypto “multiplication” tools like Multi HODL and Turbocharge with fewer fees than margin trading platforms

YouHodler vs BlockFi: Pros and Cons

BlockFi Pros
No need to stake native tokens to get higher interest rates on savings accounts
Reputable team with regulation and good backers
Wallets insured by AON and stored by Gemini, regulated exchange in New York.
No minimum amount on savings accounts
Accept USA citizens
Web, iOS and Android app

YouHodler Pros
The highest interest rate on savings accounts (12% APR)
No need to stake native tokens to get higher interest rates on savings accounts
Highest loan to value ratio in the industry (90%)
A constantly growing list of collateral options (20 +)
Instant loans without any credit checks and four fiat options (USD, EUR, GBP, CHF)
24/7 customer support with live agents
Unlimited loan terms
Weekly interest payouts
Low minimum loan amount ($100)
Option to receive loans in Bitcoin (BTC)
Web, iOS and Android app
$150 million pooled crime insurance from Ledger Vault
Creative tools like Multi HODL that help users profit in both bull and bear markets

BlockFi Cons
Basic website
Complaints of up to 7 days to withdraw assets
Interest compounding monthly
High minimum loan amount ($5,000)
Low loan to value ratio (50%)
Not many collateral options (3)
Loan term-limited to 12 months
Only one option to receive a loan in (USD)
No platform credit card available

YouHodler Cons
Not available in the USA or China.
Higher fees on loans than BlockFi
No platform credit card available
Android app can be buggy at times

YouHodler vs BlockFi: Unique traits

Both YouHodler and BlockFi offer some unique calling cards that help them stand out from the rest. BlockFi, for example, was one of the first platforms to ever introduce cryptocurrency savings accounts and crypto-backed loans. Because of this early start, they found instant success due to their good product, competitive interest rates, and reputable investors.

YouHodler is unique because it really grabbed the attention of the industry with its incredibly high-interest rates on savings accounts and record-high loan to value ratio on loans. Aside from that, YouHodler’s development team created two features that are 100% original and cannot be found anywhere else. Multi HODL and Turbocharge use the “chain of loans” principle to help users buy and sell more crypto for their benefit in both bullish and bearish market situations. YouHodler continues to evolve its platform in a way that cannot be defined in a single category, which makes it dangerous to its competitors.

YouHodler vs BlockFi: affiliate programs

Affiliate programs are gaining popularity in the crypto industry and its a great way for clients to get involved and also make a passive income from their online marketing initiatives. Of course, not all affiliate programs are created equal and that’s especially true for BlockFi and YouHodler. Here’s a quick rundown of each one.

BlockFi offers commission for affiliates that drive costumes to take a loan, open a saving account or use their trading feature. For a loan, the terms are as follows:

Customer takes a loan from $5,000 - $10,000 - affiliate gets $20
Customer takes a loan from $10,000 - $50,000 - affiliate gets $100
Customer takes a loan over $50,000 - affiliate gets $500

For savings accounts the affiliate gets $10 for every client that opens a savings account worth $100 - $1000. From there, there are additional tiers where the affiliates can earn more depending on if the client opens larger savings accounts.

You can see the full details of BlockFi’s affiliate program here

YouHodler’s affiliate program on the other hand seems a lot more simple and straightforward. The program features high payouts, monthly payments, with CPA model  available. Affiliates can get up to $100 cash for each lead or active client they invite to YouHodler, regardless of which feature they use. Multi-step CPA model allows affiliates to get paid for every step of the user’s post-registration lifecycle. The program also seems a bit more flexible, allowing users to choose different affiliate plans that suit their skills and interests.

YouHodler vs BlockFi: Safety and security

BlockFi and YouHodler are both platforms that have a great reputation when it comes to safety and security measures. BlockFi offers two-factor authentication (2FA) on its site and all their wallets are provided by Gemini Custody, one of the leading providers of wallet insurance which is regulated in the USA.

YouHodler, on the other hand, takes security a little step further with 3FA. The third factor being the ability to lock withdrawals in the account, just as one could do with a traditional bank account. This adds an additional layer of security to ensure no one can withdraw funds from YouHodler except the user and the user alone. Additionally, YouHodler uses Ledger Vault’s technology infrastructure to safeguard crypto assets with a multi-authorization self-custody management solution and $150 million pooled crime insurance.

All credit card operations on the platform fall under PCI Security Standards and all crypto operations are in accordance with Cryptocurrency Security Standard (CCSS). The team runs security audits on a regular basis and for dispute resolution, they are members of the Blockchain Association which assist clients with disputes if they feel they’ve been wronged. For an additional layer of credibility, YouHodler is an active member of the Crypto Valley Association in Switzerland.

YouHodler vs BlockFi: The Final Verdict

This is a tough one to decide since the two platforms both offer great features backed by an impressive reputation. For those based in the USA, BlockFi is the obvious choice since YouHodler cannot service those clients at this time. However, for those everywhere else, it’s hard to ignore YouHodler’s savings accounts with high earning potential and innovative features like Multi HODL.

Overall, YouHodler’s interface does seem more user friendly for all skill types and they really make it easy to ‘HODL”, earn and multiply crypto all in one easy to use application. Combine that with the great customer support, 90% LTV, top-tier security, and regular platform updates then I think for this round, YouHodler squeaks by BlockFi but we will certainly keep an eye on both platforms in the year to come to see how they stack up.

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Author: Ryan Kalbari
Toronto Newsdesk

It honestly surprises me at this point when I hear someone who's generally deeply involved and invested in the crypto world, and they've sold their coins instead of kept them by using them to get loans when they needed money.

For some perspective, on a 6 month loan you would have taken it out with Bitcoin in the $5000's.  Depending on how much cash you took out and spent, Bitcoin trading in the mid $8500's today means if you took out $3000 USD, your loan could already be fully paid off just by the increase in bitcoin's value - now your loan is paid back, AND you get all your crypto back.
Oh, and I should probably mention - it's all tax free!  A loan is not considered income in the vast majority of countries.

Someone please explain to me - why isn't everyone doing this?

Curious, I browsed several crypto themed online communities trying to gather what some misconceptions may be.  I spotted many people seeking a bitcoin loan shark, or try to get a bitcoin loan without collateral.   Well, that won't happen, there's no anonymous bitcoin loan or way to get an instant bitcoin loan from someone offering one when you have no collateral.

There is instant bitcoin loan verification however - moving into 2020 the number lenders to choose from is growing fast. 

Also growing in popularity - people getting a loan to buy bitcoin, with bitcoin!  It's a trick those who use generally keep quiet about.

While you'll never find crypto loans without collateral, there's so many quality crypto lending platforms you don't need to worry about putting the collateral up.   Because of smart contracts and blockchain, there's no such thing as an 'unsecured crypto loan'.

However, the thing that shocks people who have taken out loans, or earned interest on funds they lent out - the flexibility in the crypto loan world.

No penalties for paying a loan off early, and in most cases if you're doing an interest earning program - the profits become available every month!  No waiting for an investment to 'mature' - you get paid as you go.

As for where to start, we currently recommend:

If you're outside the US: YouHodler.

Inside the US: BlockFi.

Both have solid reputations, and enough past/present users that we've heard a lot of feedback