Investing Up to $500 Without KYC on 8lends

One $500 investment or five of $100 — the no-KYC threshold is cumulative per account. Cross it, and Sumsub KYC kicks in before your next move.

8lends gives you the opportunity to invest up to $500 without KYC, lowering the entry barrier for newcomers. Wallet verification for AML compliance is still required for every investment made without KYC and is only available within the $500 limit. Verifications are processed automatically through Sumsub KYT, which screens wallet addresses for links to sanctions, mixers, the darknet, and criminal activity. The minimum investment is 100 USDC.

Basic parameters

Parameter	Value
no-KYC limit	up to $500 cumulatively over the entire time on a single account
Minimum investment	100 USDC
AML wallet check	mandatory for every investment up to 500 USDC made without KYC verification
AML provider	Sumsub KYT (Know Your Transaction)
KYC provider	Sumsub (after exceeding $500)
AML check time	seconds — minutes
Supported networks	Base (Coinbase L2)
Investment currency	USDC
Upon exceeding $500	KYC mandatory before the next investment

What no-KYC up to $500 means

On most crypto platforms, KYC is a mandatory step for any amount. 8lends applies a differentiated approach: up to $500 KYC is not required, above that it is mandatory.

The logic behind the threshold:

$500 is a cumulative limit, not a per-investment limit. You can make one investment of $500 or five investments of $100 each — the key thing is that the total amount over the entire time on a single account does not exceed $500
The limit does not reset over time; it is cumulative per account.
If you attempt to exceed the limit, the platform will prompt you to complete KYC before accepting your next investment.

This format does not waive regulatory requirements — it uses the simplified due diligence (SDD) mechanism, permissible for low-value transactions under the AML rules of most jurisdictions.

⚠️ The AML wallet check is only required if you haven't completed KYC verification and are investing up to 500 USDC. If you've completed KYC, there's no AML wallet check. KYC and the AML wallet check are two different levels of verification: KYC verifies your identity using your documents, while AML screens your wallet address against risk databases.

How the AML wallet check works

The AML wallet check is a verification of a crypto wallet for connections to problematic sources of funds. On 8lends it is performed automatically via Sumsub KYT (Know Your Transaction) for each investment.

Stages of the check

Stage 1. The investor connects the wallet to the platform and initiates an investment.
Stage 2. The smart contract records the wallet address.
Stage 3. The Sumsub KYT API makes a request and checks the address against risk databases.
Stage 4. A risk score and risk categories (if any) are returned.
Stage 5. If the risk score is acceptable, the investment goes through. If it exceeds the thresholds, the funds are returned.

The entire process is automatic and takes from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. The investor does not need to take any action — they only see the final result.

What the AML wallet check examines

Risk category	Sources	What it means
Sanctions	OFAC (USA), UN, EU, HM Treasury (UK)	The wallet is connected to a person/organization under international sanctions
Mixers	Tornado Cash, Samourai Wallet, other privacy services / CoinJoin	The address has interacted with services for anonymizing crypto transactions
Darknet	Hydra, Genesis Market, other closed marketplaces	The address has a history of interaction with darknet services
Ransomware	Specific attack wallets	The address is connected to known ransomware operations
Hacks	Databases of exchange and protocol hacks	The address has received stolen funds
Scams	Known fraudulent schemes	The address is connected to rug pulls, phishing, fraud schemes
High-risk jurisdictions	FATF blacklist/greylist	The address conducts activity in jurisdictions with high AML risk

What happens if a wallet is flagged

Funds are automatically returned to the sender's address — The investment is not made — no position is created in the smart contract — Bonuses are not credited (neither the First Investment Bonus nor Proof of Loan) — A notification is sent to your 8lends personal account

⚠️ AML checks may be performed automatically or manually if additional review is required. The results are final, are not subject to individual discussion, and cannot be appealed through a standard process.

When KYC becomes mandatory

Investment amount	KYC	AML wallet check
0–$500 over the entire time	✗ not required	✓ mandatory
$500 and above	✓ mandatory via Sumsub	✓ mandatory

What happens as you approach the limit

If you have invested $400 without KYC and want to invest another $200 → the cumulative amount of $600 will exceed $500 → the platform will ask you to complete KYC before the second investment — After passing KYC, the restrictions are lifted — you can invest any amounts — KYC is enabled once — you do not need to go through it again

How long KYC takes

3-5 minutes via Sumsub — Documents: passport, ID card, residence permit, or driver's license — Selfie / liveness check — Sumsub supports 14,000+ document types from 220+ countries and territories

Why 8lends offers this option

Lowering the entry barrier for newcomers who want to try the platform without full verification — Onboarding speed — from registration to the first investment in 10–15 minutes without dealing with documents — The opportunity to build trust with a small amount before full verification — Accessibility for users for whom KYC may take time for technical reasons (lack of the necessary documents on hand, temporary restrictions) — Competitive advantage: most major P2B/RWA platforms require KYC from the first dollar

Regulatory context

Why $500 is an acceptable threshold:

AML standards (FATF Recommendations) allow simplified due diligence for low-value transactions — SVG VASP regulation (Alpha Systems LLC under the supervision of FSA) includes corresponding thresholds for simplified identification — Maclear AG (Switzerland, a member of PolyReg SRO under FINMA) uses similar approaches for its low-value operations — The FATF Travel Rule baseline applies to transactions above $1,000 / €1,000 — our threshold of $500 is below this value

What this does NOT mean:

This is not the absence of compliance — the AML check remains mandatory for each investment — This is not the possibility of anonymity — each transaction is recorded on the Base blockchain and is publicly verifiable — This is not an exemption from taxes — tax obligations depend on the investor's jurisdiction

Who it suits

Newcomers to Web3 investing who want to test the platform with a small amount — Users without KYC documents on hand — you can start right away and do KYC later — Those testing the interface — going through the full cycle of investment → payout → return on a small amount — Those who are unsure — to see how the platform works in real use before making a serious investment

Who it does NOT suit

Investors with serious capital — it is better to pass KYC right away and invest without restrictions — Users with a problematic wallet history — the AML check will reject the investment regardless of the amount — Those who plan to build a long-term portfolio — the $500 limit will not allow diversification — Institutional/corporate investors — they have their own KYB procedure

Comparison with other P2B/RWA platforms

Platform	Minimum	KYC	no-KYC option
8lends	100 USDC	from $500	✓ up to $500
Goldfinch	$1	via Persona UID NFT, mandatory	✗
Centrifuge	from $1K (retail accredited tier)	KYC onboarding, mandatory	✗
Maple (Cash Management)	for accredited investors	KYC + US Reg D	✗
Maclear (fiat)	€50	mandatory right away	✗

What does NOT change with no-KYC

All other investment parameters are identical for no-KYC and with KYC:

APR: 19–25% per annum in USDC
Loan term: 4–16 months
Payouts: monthly interest + return of principal at the end of the term
First Investment Bonus: $30 USDC for the first investment (credited automatically)
Proof of Loan: 4% in 8LNDS tokens for each investment, with perpetual vesting
Buyback: works for projects with the program (loan principal in full under the program's terms)
Referral program: available from the first investment
Secondary Market: available for selling a position before the end of the term
Withdrawal: withdrawal of funds is permissionless and does not require platform approval

Frequently asked questions

Can you really invest without KYC? Yes, up to and including $500 over the entire time on a single account. The AML wallet check remains mandatory — it is an automatic process that does not require any action from the user.

What is the difference between KYC and AML? KYC (Know Your Customer) is the identification of the investor's identity via documents (passport, selfie). AML (Anti-Money Laundering) is the verification of a wallet address for connections to sanctions, mixers, the darknet. On 8lends, KYC is required only above $500, while AML applies to every investment automatically.

What happens if the AML check is not passed? Funds are automatically returned to the sender's address, and the investment is not made.

If I invested $400 without KYC and then want to invest another $200 — what happens? The cumulative amount will exceed the $500 limit → the platform will offer you to pass KYC before the second investment. After passing KYC, the restrictions are lifted — you can invest any amounts.

Is the $500 limit per investment or per account? Per account — it is a cumulative limit over the entire time. You can make one investment of $500 or several small ones — the key thing is that the total amount does not exceed $500. After exceeding it, KYC is required.

What if I have a MetaMask with a history of DeFi operations — will it pass AML? It depends on the wallet's history. Ordinary DeFi operations through major public protocols (Uniswap, Aave, Compound, Curve and the like) in most cases do not trigger high-risk flags. But if the wallet had an indirect connection to mixers or sanctioned addresses — even through intermediate transactions — the AML system may reject the investment. The exact result cannot be predicted — each check is individual.

How long does the AML check take? From a few seconds to a couple of minutes. The investor does not take any actions — the check runs automatically.

Will I receive the First Investment Bonus of $30 if I invest without KYC? Not right away. Under the platform's current rules, the $30 USDC welcome bonus is not credited to no-KYC investments. After passing KYC, the bonus is credited retroactively — for the first investment made earlier without KYC. That is, the bonus is not lost, but it requires KYC for activation.

Does Proof of Loan +4% also work without KYC? Yes, perpetually. Each investment automatically credits +4% in 8LNDS tokens via the Reward System smart contract — regardless of whether the investor has passed KYC or not.

Can I withdraw money without KYC? Yes. Withdrawal of funds (withdraw) on 8lends is permissionless and does not require platform approval. You call the withdraw function directly from your wallet. KYC is not needed either for investing up to $500 or for withdrawal.

Is it safe to invest without KYC? From a regulatory standpoint — yes, it is an acceptable format for low-value transactions. From a personal risk standpoint — the main investment risk (the borrower's credit risk) does not depend on whether KYC is in place. All protection mechanisms (RWA collateral, Maclear AG as Collateral Agent, Buyback for individual projects) work the same way.

What specific AML system does 8lends use? 8lends uses Sumsub KYT (Know Your Transaction). Sumsub is a licensed compliance provider used by hundreds of crypto companies. Their KYT system is integrated with all major risk databases (OFAC, UN, EU and the like).

Why is KYC needed at all for amounts above $500? KYC is mandatory under the AML legislation of most jurisdictions (including Switzerland, where Maclear AG operates, and SVG, where Alpha Systems LLC operates). The $500 threshold is the minimum up to which simplified due diligence is permissible; above it, full identification of the investor is required.

Can I pass KYC in advance, without waiting for the limit? Yes, and it is recommended if you plan to invest seriously. You can submit KYC at any time: at registration, after the first investment, before reaching the limit. After passing KYC, all restrictions are lifted.

⚠️ The information in this article is a general description of 8lends' current policy. Specific parameters may be updated — check the exact conditions in the platform's Terms of Service. The $500 limit is an 8lends policy, not a general regulatory norm. The AML wallet check via Sumsub KYT is a mandatory compliance mechanism; refusal of an investment in the case of a flagged wallet is not subject to appeal through a standard procedure.