How 8lends Makes Money
A $100,000 loan means a $3,000 commission for 8lends—but investors never pay the platform a cent beyond Base network gas. Here's who really pays.
8lends charges borrowers a 3% commission when a pool closes successfully, plus late-payment penalties as set out in the contract. Investors pay no fees to the platform—not for signing up, investing, receiving payouts, or withdrawing funds. The only cost investors face is the Base network's gas fees, which usually come to a few cents and go straight to the network, not to the platform. This setup keeps everyone's interests in line: the more successful projects there are, the better it is for the platform, for borrowers, and for investors.
How 8lends earns money
The platform has two income streams:
- A 3% commission from the borrower—charged once when the pool closes successfully, calculated on the amount raised (e.g. a $100,000 loan → $3,000 commission).
- Late-payment penalties—charged to the borrower under the smart contract terms if payments are overdue.
The platform has no other regular income from investors or from their returns.
What investors pay
| Transaction | 8lends Fee | What investors pay for |
|---|---|---|
| Signing up | $0 | — |
| KYC via Sumsub | $0 | — |
| Connecting a wallet | $0 | — |
| Investing in a project | $0 | Base network gas fee (~$1–$3 in ETH) |
| Receiving monthly interest | $0 | Gas fee when you claim |
| Repayment of the principal at the end of the term | $0 | Gas fee when you claim |
| Withdrawing USDC to an external wallet | $0 | Base network gas fee |
| Buying a position on the Secondary Market | $0 | Gas fee |
| Selling a position on the Secondary Market | 10% (from the seller) | Gas fee |
The 10% charged when you sell on the Secondary Market is the only time an investor ever pays the platform. A buyer on the Secondary Market pays nothing beyond the purchase price. More details — How the 8lends Platform Works: From Application to Investor Payouts.
Why do we work this way?
Many financial platforms charge both sides—the borrower for arranging the loan, and the investor for taking part. That can lead to a situation where the platform makes money on the transaction itself, no matter how things turn out for the investor.
8lends works differently. The platform collects its main commission only when a pool closes successfully. That means:
- If a project doesn't reach its target (Not Funded status), the platform doesn't get the 3% commission from the borrower and makes nothing from that attempt.
- If a project defaults, the platform also doesn't profit from it (the only income would be late fees, which barely cover the extra admin work).
- The more projects that succeed, the more the platform earns.
This gives 8lends a strong incentive to pick its borrowers carefully, because poor selection means more defaults, fewer successful closures, and less income.
Where does the 3% commission go?
The 3% taken from the pool covers the platform's running costs:
- Developing and maintaining the Web3 infrastructure (smart contracts, app.8lends.io)
- KYC provider Sumsub
- Smart contract audits by CertiK and Cyberscope
- Marketing and attracting new investors and borrowers
- Compliance and regulatory costs (AML/CFT program, reporting to FINTRAC)
- User support
- Legal support
Maclear AG, in its role as Collateral Agent, is paid separately for its services; its work isn't funded by the 8lends commission.
What the platform commission does NOT cover
- Investor returns: 19–25% per year is paid by the borrower, not the platform. The platform doesn't top up investor returns from its own pocket.
- Refunds if a default happens: those come from selling the collateral or through the third-party Buyback program—not from the platform.
- Investor taxes: you're responsible for handling the tax on your earnings in your own jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do investors really pay nothing to the platform except 10% when selling on the Secondary Market?
Yes. The platform only earns from the borrower (3% of the raised pool plus late fees) and from sellers on the Secondary Market (10% of the sale). Investors who invest and receive their payments on time pay the platform nothing. Gas fees go to the Base network, not to 8lends.
Why is the rate 19–25% if the platform only charges the borrower 3%?
The 3% is the platform's fee for arranging the financing (a one-off charge when the pool closes). The 19–25% is the annual interest rate that goes to investors. They're completely separate. From the borrower's perspective, the total cost of financing = (one-off 3% commission) + (19–25% per year × the loan term).
How much does the platform earn each month?
CLEARCHAIN CORP doesn't publish its detailed financials. The platform's track record as of May 2026: over $13M in loans issued since launch on 3 March 2025—that gives a rough sense of the scale.
Does Maclear AG get a share of the 8lends commission?
No. Maclear AG is paid separately for its work as Collateral Agent; it doesn't take a cut of the 8lends 3% commission. These are two separate companies with their own financial setups.
What if 8lends stops earning commissions and goes under?
Active loans will keep running through the smart contracts on Base, and they work independently of the platform's front-end. Maclear AG, as an independent Collateral Agent, will carry on managing the collateral. More detail
Does the borrower pay anything besides the 3% and the interest?
The borrower pays: a one-off 3% fee when the pool closes, the scheduled interest over the loan term, and any late fees (as laid out in the contract). Other costs the borrower might have (legal registration of collateral, asset valuation) are part of their own business expenses, not extra fees paid to the platform.
See also:
8lends is a platform operated by CLEARCHAIN CORP, registered with FINTRAC (Canada) as a Money Services Business. Maclear AG (Switzerland), a member of PolyReg SRO supervised by FINMA, acts as Collateral Agent. Regulatory framework as of September 2026.