How to Make Your First Investment on 8lends Step by Step

Wallet connected, KYC done, USDC ready — then two MetaMask clicks stand between you and a funded project on Base. Here is exactly what each screen asks.

Investing in a project on 8lends takes 1–2 minutes once your wallet is connected, KYC is completed (if required), and USDC has been purchased. The process consists of three steps: choosing a project on the Projects page, entering the amount (minimum 100 USDC), and confirming two transactions in your wallet — approve USDC and the investment itself. After the pool closes, the project moves to the Funded stage, and the funds go to work with the borrower. From that moment, interest and bonuses begin to accrue.

Video Tutorial

The investment process is shown in the 8lends video guide:https://youtu.be/wABYaut7zVc.

The video shows the real steps in the interface: where to find the list of projects, how to open a project card, and which windows appear in MetaMask. This text is a companion to the video for clarifying details.

What to Check Before Investing

Wallet connected to 8lends
KYC completed via Sumsub if you plan to invest over $500
Your wallet balance has the required amount in USDC (minimum 100) + $2–5 in ETH for gas
The network in your wallet is switched to Base

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1. Open the Projects Section

Go to app.8lends.io with your wallet connected
Open the Projects section in the main menu
A list of projects with Open status will appear — these are the projects you can currently invest in

Projects section — list of open projects with brief parameters (1/2)

Projects section — list of open projects with brief parameters (2/2)

Step 2. Review the Project Card

This is the most important step — don't skip it. Open the card of a project you like and check:

Borrower name and business sector
Credit rating — AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CCC
APR rate (19–25%)
Loan term — 4 to 16 months
Pool size — the amount the borrower wants to raise
Already raised — how much has been collected at the time of viewing
Protection type — whether there is Buyback or only standard RWA collateral
LTV — the loan-to-collateral-value ratio
Collateral description — exactly what is pledged
Due diligence documents — the Maclear AG report
Payment terms — monthly interest + bullet payment of the principal at the end of the term

This stage is analytical. Don't rush. The more thoroughly you review it, the more informed your decision will be. For more on how to assess risk

project card with APR, term, rating, LTV, and the Invest now button

Step 3. Click Invest now and Enter the Amount

On the project card, click Invest now
An amount input window will open
Enter the investment amount in USDC (minimum 100, with no upper limit imposed by the platform — only the size of the remaining pool)
Check the box to agree to the Terms & Investor Agreement
Click Confirm

amount input window — Amount field, agreement checkbox, Confirm button

Step 4. Confirm Two Transactions in Your Wallet

This is the technical part — the wallet will ask you to confirm two actions in a row:

Transaction 1 — Approve USDC

This is permission for the 8lends smart contract to use your USDC
It is confirmed once for a new smart contract; it is not required for subsequent investments in the same contract
Gas fee — a few cents

MetaMask — Spending cap request for the USDC amount

Transaction 2 — The Investment Itself

This is the transfer of USDC into the project via the smart contract
Gas fee — a few cents
It is confirmed each time you invest

MetaMask — Transaction request for the investment

Step 5. Receive Confirmation

After both signatures, a successful investment screen will appear with:

The investment amount
The transaction ID on the Base network
The address of the project's smart contract
A link to basescan.org for on-chain verification

final screen — You have successfully invested

What Happens After the Investment

If the Pool Is Not Yet Closed (Open Stage)

Your investment is reserved in the pool
Interest is not yet accruing — the pool is still being collected
If the pool does not reach the required amount before the deadline (Not Funded stage), the USDC is returned to your wallet automatically

If the Pool Closed Successfully (Funded Stage)

The funds go to work with the borrower
From this moment, interest begins to accrue (monthly)
First Investment Bonus $30 (for the first investment from 100 USDC) is credited
Proof of Loan +4% in 8LNDS is credited
The first interest payment — one month after the pool closes
Principal repayment — bullet payment at the end of the term

investor dashboard — active investment with Funded status, APR, expected return (1/2)

investor dashboard — active investment with Funded status, APR, expected return (2/2)

For more on the payment structure. For more on receiving repayments.

Where to View Your Investments

8lends personal account — the My Investments or Dashboard section
basescan.org by your wallet address — all transactions on-chain

Frequently Asked Questions

Why two transactions instead of one? This is the ERC-20 token standard: first you grant the smart contract permission (Approve) to use your USDC, then the smart contract transfers it to the project. This is a safeguard: the contract cannot debit funds without your explicit permission. Approve is done once for a new smart contract; it is not required for subsequent investments in the same contract.

What is the Spending cap in the Approve window? This is the limit you allow the smart contract to use. By default, 8lends requests permission for the amount of the specific investment — this is safer than unlimited. If you are offered to set a larger amount or unlimited, this is convenient for future investments without repeated approvals, but it increases risk in case the contract is compromised. The decision is yours.

What if I entered the wrong amount? If the transaction has not yet been signed — simply cancel it in your wallet (the Reject button). If it has already been signed and the funds have gone to the project — it cannot be canceled. You can sell the position via the Secondary Market, but this incurs a 10% fee charged to the seller.

How much does it cost to invest in one project? Minimum — 100 USDC. Maximum — limited only by the size of the project's remaining pool. The platform does not charge a fee to the investor — you will only pay Base network gas (a few cents).

Can I invest in several projects at once? Yes. Each investment is a separate transaction. If you plan to make several investments, it is more cost-effective to first make an investment in one project (one Approve), then invest in another (a new Approve, if it is a different smart contract). Diversification is recommended.

What if the pool doesn't close and the project doesn't raise the amount? If the project moves to the Not Funded stage, the USDC is automatically returned to your wallet. No losses, except for the gas fee on the original transaction.

When will I see interest in my account? The first interest payment — one month after the pool closes (Funded stage). This is the same logic as with bonuses: interest accrues from the moment the money is actually working, not from the moment you "put it in the pool." For more details

Can I withdraw an investment before the pool closes? No, not in the current version of the platform. After the transaction is confirmed, the funds remain in the pool's smart contract until it closes. If the pool does not close — the return is automatic. If it closed — you can sell the position via the Secondary Market.

What does "Confirm Terms & Investor Agreement" mean? This is agreement with the 8lends user agreement and investor terms. The document describes the rights and obligations of both parties, the risks of investing, and the legal conditions. It is recommended to read it before your first investment.

How can I verify that the investment actually went through? There are three ways: (1) the success screen in the platform itself, (2) the My Investments section in your 8lends personal account, (3) the transaction ID on the Base network — open basescan.org, paste the ID, and you'll see the on-chain confirmation.

What to do if a transaction is "stuck"? If a transaction is sent but takes a long time to confirm — this is usually a matter of gas. The Base network is fast, and transactions confirm in seconds. If it's stuck — check your internet connection. As a last resort, you can "speed up" the transaction through your wallet settings (Speed up in MetaMask).