Scoring methodology
We built crypto.loans because borrowers deserve better than affiliate-ranked lists. Our scoring framework treats cost and safety as equally important — together they account for 60% of every score. DeFi rates are sourced directly from on-chain smart contracts through automated pipelines, while CeFi rates are verified against each provider's official source and stamped with a verification date. Every data point is auditable.
The five scoring criteria
| Criterion | Weight | What we measure |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 30% | The true cost of borrowing — not just the headline APR, but origination and closing fees, early-repayment penalties, and on-chain gas. We measure competitiveness for typical loan sizes and LTVs against the rest of the market, and note whether rates are fixed, variable, or tiered and whether the lowest advertised rate is conditional on token holdings or portfolio size. |
| Safety | 30% | How safe your collateral is — custody model, audit history, proof-of-reserves, rehypothecation policy, insurance, and track record through past market stress. Self-custody, verifiable reserves, and no-rehypothecation guarantees score highest. This category carries equal weight to cost because post-FTX, the cheapest rate means nothing if the platform fails. |
| Flexibility | 15% | How well the platform adapts to your situation — supported collateral and borrow assets, the range of LTV options, repayment terms, loan minimums and maximums, fiat access, and platform-specific tools like cards, earn products, or e-mode. |
| Track record | 15% | How long the platform has operated and how it has behaved over time — years in service, incident and liquidation history, proof-of-reserves cadence, and how it handled past market stress. A long, clean record scores higher than an unproven launch. |
| Ease of use | 10% | What borrowers actually experience day to day — onboarding friction, KYC requirements, funding speed, the quality of the interface and documentation, and how clearly terms, rates, liquidation thresholds, and risks are disclosed. |
How we verify data
A score is only as good as the data behind it. We source and check our figures three ways:
- On-chain data. For DeFi protocols, borrow and supply rates are read directly from the blockchain, reflecting live, utilization-based pricing.
- Official documentation. For CeFi lenders, we verify rates, LTVs, fees, custody policies, and proof-of-reserves against each company's official site and disclosures, and we stamp every figure with a verification date.
- Hands-on testing. Where practical, we test the borrowing flow ourselves to confirm the experience, funding speed, and any friction matches what is advertised.
How often we update reviews
DeFi rates update continuously from on-chain sources. CeFi rates and platform details are re-verified on a regular cycle and whenever something material changes — a rate move, a new audit or proof-of-reserves report, a custody-policy change, or a regulatory development. Every review and rate carries a "verified" date so you always know how current the information is.
Affiliate disclosure
Some outbound links on this site are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you sign up through them. This is how we fund our research. It does not influence our scores, rankings, or which platforms we cover. We score on data, and platforms we have no affiliate relationship with are ranked on exactly the same basis as those we do — sometimes above them.
Suggesting a correction
Found a figure that looks out of date or wrong? We want to fix it. Email research@crypto.loans with the platform, the data point, and a source, and we will review and update it if confirmed. Accuracy is the entire value of this site, so corrections are always welcome.