Featured

Updated Rates for BTC, ETH, LINK, LTC, and PAXG Effective May 1, 2021

Published, 26 April, 2021

Due to shifting market conditions, BlockFi will be adjusting the APY for several supported cryptocurrencies starting May 1, 2021. These changes will affect Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Chainlink (LINK), Litecoin (LTC), and PAX Gold (PAXG).

Here are the upcoming changes that will take effect on 5/1.

Bitcoin Updates

Ether Updates

Additional Updates

Please note that our rates page will be updated on 5/1 to reflect these adjustments.

Why Are We Making These Changes?

At BlockFi, we set rates by looking at where we can find compelling risk-adjusted returns with a minimal tolerance for loss. As market dynamics change, our rates also change to reflect the current market conditions. This ability to adjust rates with market conditions is important, particularly within the rapidly shifting Bitcoin market.

To better understand these changes, we should first look at funding rates, which are payments made to traders who hold long positions on crypto (i.e. those who’ve bet that the price will go up) and short positions on crypto (i.e. those who’ve bet that the price will go down). Last year, those funding rates were relatively low, so we were able to keep BTC APY for the highest tier at around 3%. But since the price of Bitcoin has increased so dramatically in 2021, the funding rate has gotten much higher, dramatically increasing the size of the payments made on long positions.

These conditions derive from low demand to borrow BTC in a bull market, since many market participants want to borrow USD to buy more BTC instead. After Bitcoin rose above $20,000 last year, demand for borrowing BTC gradually faded, hence the market rate fell. In order to maintain a healthy and sustainable lending/borrowing business model, we elected to lower our BTC yields instead of taking on more risk.

Putting Principles Into Practice

Let’s take a quick look at some of the economic principles underlying our decisions. An inflationary currency like USD generally requires a positive interest rate to maintain purchasing power over time (in the absence of central bank intervention, of course). On the flip side, a deflationary currency like BTC should theoretically have 0 or even negative interest rates. That’s because the purchasing power of that deflationary currency should hold over time.

We can look at the decentralized finance (DeFi) space for empirical evidence. Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) is an ERC20 token backed by Bitcoin that enables clients to use tokenized Bitcoin and trade it on decentralized exchanges. Currently, the supply of WBTC to Compound, which is a decentralized blockchain-based protocol that enables crypto lending and borrowing, is yielding a rate of 0.31%. That yield is near zero, which is in line with our hypothesis.

All in all, shifting market dynamics, including a lack of low-risk BTC carry trades and reduced demand for borrowing BTC are the factors driving our rate changes. This update reflects current market conditions and enables us to maintain a healthy and sustainable business model while continuing to deliver high-quality, long-term service for our clients.

If you’d like to learn more about the crypto lending market and how BlockFi manages risk, take a listen to this interview with our Chief Risk Officer Rene van Kesteren, and this interview with our Founder and CEO Zac Prince. Want to know more about how we’re building a path to the future? Check out the details about our latest Series D fundraising round.

Disclaimer: Nothing contained in this announcement should be construed as a solicitation of an offer to buy or offer, or recommendation, to acquire or dispose of any security, commodity, investment or to engage in any other transaction. The information provided in this announcement is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person or entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation. This announcement is not directed to any person in any jurisdiction where the publication or availability of the announcement is prohibited, by reason of that person’s nationality, residence or otherwise. Neither BlockFi nor any of its affiliates or representatives provide legal, tax or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions. Digital currency is not legal tender, is not backed by the government, and crypto interest accounts are not subject to FDIC or SIPC protections.

For more information, please see BlockFi’s Terms of Service.BlockFi Lending LLC NMLS ID#1737520 | BlockFi Trading LLC NMLS ID#187313

Last updated on April 26th, 2021

As of February 14, 2022, the BlockFi Interest Account (BIA) is no longer available to new clients who are US persons or persons located in the US and existing US clients with BIA accounts are unable to transfer new assets to their BIAs. Learn More.

BlockFi Lending LLC NMLS ID#1737520 | NMLS Consumer Access

BlockFi Trading LLC NMLS ID#1873137 | NMLS Consumer Access

Digital currency is not legal tender, is not backed by the government, and crypto accounts held with BlockFi are not subject to FDIC or SIPC protections. Digital currency values are not static and fluctuate due to market changes. Not all products and services are available in all geographic areas and are subject to applicable terms and conditions. Eligibility for particular products and services is subject to final determination by BlockFi. Rates for BlockFi products are subject to change.

BlockFi Rewards Credit Card: For more information, please see BlockFi’s Terms of Service. BlockFi is not a Bank. Cards are issued by Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa® USA Inc. Rewards are not offered by Evolve Bank & Trust and are instead offered and managed by BlockFi.

BlockFi International Ltd. holds a Class F digital assets business license under the Digital Assets Business Act, 2018 (as amended) and is licensed by the Bermuda Monetary Authority to conduct the following digital assets business activities: (i) issuing, selling or redeeming virtual coins, tokens or any other form of digital assets (ii) operating as a digital asset exchange (iii) providing custodial wallet services (iv) operating as a digital asset derivative exchange provider and (v) operating as a digital assets services vendor.

See blockfi.com/terms for more information.

BlockFi Lending LLC NMLS ID#1737520 | NMLS Consumer Access

BlockFi Trading LLC NMLS ID#1873137 | NMLS Consumer Access

See blockfi.com/terms for more information.

Updated Rates for BTC, ETH, LINK, LTC, and PAXG Effective May 1, 2021

Share article

Share article