Every borrower on 8lends goes through a five-stage due diligence process run by the Maclear AG team (→ Article 1). More than 40 criteria are checked: financial strength, credit history, collateral liquidity, business model, and documentation. Based on this assessment, a credit rating (→ Article 1) from AAA to D is assigned. Fewer than 10% of applications make it through and get listed on the platform. The screening follows the Swiss regulatory framework—PolyReg SRO (→ Article 1), supervised by FINMA (→ Article 1).
5 stages of due diligence
Each application passes through five stages, one after the other. If the borrower fails at any stage, the application is rejected.
Stage 1. Basic company checks
— Confirmation the company actually exists and is legally registered
— Incorporation documents, registration papers
— Any licences and permits needed for its operations
— Ownership and control structure
— Identification of the UBO (→ Article 1)—the ultimate beneficial owner
— Screening against sanctions lists and PEP (→ Article 1) registries
— Checking directors and UBOs for PEP connections
Stage 2. Financial statements
— Audited or certified financial statements for the last 2–3 years
— Analysis of revenue, profit, and profitability
— Breakdown of assets and liabilities
— Cash flow (both operating and non-operating)
— Tax returns and proof of filing
— Debt-to-equity ratio
— Interest coverage ratio
Stage 3. Credit history
— The company's credit history with banks and other lenders
— Credit history of its owners and key people
— History of late payments, restructurings, and defaults
— Current outstanding loans
— Legal disputes (both ongoing and concluded)
— Checks with national credit bureaus
Stage 4. Collateral and security
— Identifying the assets that will serve as collateral
— Confirming the borrower actually owns them
— Independent market valuation
— Liquidity analysis—how quickly the assets could be sold
— LTV calculation (→ Article 1)—the loan amount relative to the collateral value
— Checking it's legally possible to register a charge in the borrower's jurisdiction
— Collateral management plan should a default occur
Stage 5. Business model and intended use of funds
— Clear purpose of the loan (what the money will be used for)
— Repayment plan (where the money to repay will come from)
— Market and competitive position
— Quality of management and the team's experience
— How realistic the business forecasts are
— Stress testing (how the company would handle a 20–30% drop in revenue)
— Compliance with ESG standards where applicable
Credit rating AAA–D
After due diligence, the borrower receives a credit rating (→ Article 1) ranging from AAA to D. This is the main factor that decides whether a project is accepted onto the platform and what interest rate it carries.
AAA — minimal risk: highest financial strength, excellent collateral, spotless history
AA, A — low risk: strong performance, minimal risks
BBB, BB — moderate risk: good performance with some specific points to watch
B, CCC — elevated risk: risk factors present (investors should take note)
CC, C — high risk: NOT listed on the platform
D — rejected: application refused, not published
Projects rated C, CC, and D are not accepted. Only projects with an acceptable level of risk appear on 8lends.
Who carries out the due diligence?
Due diligence is done by the team at Maclear AG, the Swiss company that acts as Collateral Agent for 8lends (→ Article 1).
— Regulatory framework: member of PolyReg SRO, supervised by FINMA
— Experience: the team has assessed borrowers since the Maclear platform launched in 2022
— AML audit: Grant Thornton AG
— Standards: Swiss AML legislation and international lending best practices
That means every 8lends borrower is screened to Swiss standards, no matter which country they're based in.
Why is the screening so strict?
Strict screening is a fundamental investor protection measure: it's far better to turn down a questionable application than to deal with a default later. The platform's track record as of May 2026: zero defaults since launch on 3 March 2025.
What investors see before they invest
Each project's profile shows:
— A short description of the business and what the loan is for
— Credit rating (AAA–CCC)
— Loan amount and interest rate
— Loan term (4–16 months)
— Collateral type and valuation
— Project LTV
— Whether a Buyback badge (→ Article 1) is present
— Pool collection progress
— Borrower's jurisdiction
Investors make their own decisions based on this information. 8lends does not give investment advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who actually screens borrowers—8lends or Maclear?
Screening is done by the Maclear AG team. It's a Swiss company operating under the Swiss regulatory framework (PolyReg SRO / FINMA). On 8lends, Maclear AG acts as an independent Collateral Agent. The same team handles borrower assessment for both platforms.
Can I see the borrower's financial statements?
Key financial figures are shown on each project card: financial performance (income and losses for previous years), planned revenue (forecasts incorporating the funds raised), margin analysis, use of loan proceeds (what the money will be spent on), collateral details and value, credit rating, and LTV. The full due diligence package (bank statements, tax returns, audited reports, contracts with counterparties) is held by Maclear AG as Collateral Agent—this is the borrower's trade secret. Additional documents may be available through support if they're genuinely critical for your investment decision.
What if the borrower has a poor credit history?
The application is rejected at the financial analysis and credit check stage—this is one of the key filters every borrower must pass before being listed. Fewer than 10% of applications get through the whole review. If a borrower's credit history has some blemishes but is acceptable overall, they'll receive a lower rating (e.g. BB or B) and will typically need to provide higher-quality collateral or pay a higher interest rate.
What is a UBO and why check it?
UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner) means the real person who ultimately owns or controls a company. Identifying the UBO is required by international AML standards. It confirms that the company isn't backed by PEPs, sanctioned individuals, or suspicious entities.
What if the borrower is based somewhere that makes document checks difficult?
Maclear AG verifies that the borrower's jurisdiction allows: 1) official sources to confirm documents, 2) legal registration of the collateral, and 3) foreclosure of the collateral should a default occur. If those conditions aren't met, the application is rejected at stage 1 or 4.
Can a borrower apply again?
Yes, as long as they have a good credit history on 8lends. Borrowers who have successfully repaid previous loans may get a better rating for new applications and access to more favourable interest rates.
What if the platform's requirements change?
Due diligence standards are updated as we gain more experience and the regulatory landscape evolves. Active projects that passed the criteria in place when they were listed aren't re-assessed. Updated requirements only apply to new applications.
See also: How the 8lends platform works → Article 4. Does 8lends use collateral → Article 7.4. What happens in the event of default → Article 7.5. Who is behind 8lends → Article 3. Glossary → Article 1.
Risk Disclosure: Investing on 8lends involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. The absence of platform fees does not reduce the credit risk of the borrower. Returns are not guaranteed. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. 8lends is a platform operated by Alpha Systems LLC, a registered VASP supervised by the FSA of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Maclear AG (Switzerland), a member of PolyReg SRO supervised by FINMA, acts as Collateral Agent. Regulatory framework as of May 2026.