What Is 8lends? How the Web3 Crowdlending Platform Works
Every 8lends loan is vetted by Maclear AG across 40+ parameters, and fewer than 10% of applicants pass. So far: 1,800+ investors, $13M+ funded, zero defaults.
8lends is a Web3 RWA and P2B crowdlending platform launched on March 3, 2025. The platform operates on the Base blockchain, with all investments and repayments made in USDC.
Investors lend to small and medium-sized businesses and earn 19–25% annual interest in USDC. Every loan is backed by real collateral and undergoes due diligence by Maclear AG, which evaluates borrowers across more than 40 risk and business parameters.
Today, 8lends has more than 1,800 investors, over $13 million in funded loans, more than $4.3 million repaid, and zero defaults. The minimum investment is 100 USDC.
What Is 8lends in Simple Terms?
8lends connects investors with small and medium-sized businesses looking for financing. Businesses gain access to capital faster than through traditional banks. Investors earn fixed monthly income in USDC by funding real companies.
Here's how it works:
- A business submits a financing application.
- Maclear AG reviews the company across 40+ criteria, including financial stability, credit history, collateral, business model, and documentation. Fewer than 10% of applicants are approved.
- Once approved, the business is listed on the platform with a fixed interest rate and term (usually 4–16 months).
- Investors fund the project through a smart contract on the Base network. The minimum investment is 100 USDC.
- Once the fundraising target is reached, the pool closes and the funds are transferred to the borrower.
- The borrower makes monthly interest payments throughout the loan term.
- The principal is repaid in full when the loan matures.
All transactions are recorded on the Base blockchain and can be independently verified through basescan.org.
Who Is Behind 8lends?
8lends operates through two independent companies with separate responsibilities:
| Company | Jurisdiction | Role |
|---|---|---|
| CLEARCHAIN CORP | Canada, British Columbia | Operator of the 8lends platform. Responsible for general operations, the platform interface, KYC/KYB and AML/CFT. Registered with FINTRAC as a Money Services Business. |
| Maclear AG | Basel, Switzerland | Collateral Agent. Responsible for borrower due diligence, collateral verification, collateral management, and recovery procedures in the event of default. Member of PolyReg SRO, operating within the Swiss regulatory framework supervised by FINMA. |
The platform builds on the experience of Maclear AG, a Swiss crowdlending company operating in Europe since 2020.
8lends is the Web3 evolution of that model: the same approach to borrower screening and collateral protection, but built on blockchain infrastructure and available to investors from all over the world.
What Are RWA Lending and P2B Lending?
8lends combines two investment models: RWA lending (Real-World Asset lending) and P2B lending (Peer-to-Business lending).
- RWA lending means that each loan is secured by real business assets. It's important to distinguish between these two approaches to RWA in Web3: RWA tokenization (converting a real asset into a tradable token — the Ondo or BlackRock BUIDL model) and RWA-backed lending (using a real asset as collateral for a loan). 8lends sticks to the second approach: investors lend to businesses, while real assets serve as collateral and help guarantee repayment.
- Collateral on 8lends may include commercial real estate, warehouses, production equipment, vehicles, inventory, accounts receivable, and company shares. Each type of collateral has its own liquidity profile and expected recovery rate in the event of default.
- This distinguishes 8lends from other crypto-backed DeFi platforms such as Aave and Compound, where loans are secured by volatile crypto assets, and from RWA tokenization platforms such as Ondo and Centrifuge, where investors buy tokens rather than issue loans.
- P2B lending means that private investors lend directly to businesses. There is no bank in the middle. Each investor funds a part of the loan through a smart contract, and the borrower receives the money right from the investor pool.
The combination of RWA and P2B gives investors fixed returns in USDC backed by real business activity instead of crypto volatility.
How 8lends Differs from Other Crowdlending Platforms
| Criteria | 8lends |
|---|---|
| Loan Type | RWA-backed business loans |
| Type | P2B (investors lend directly to businesses) |
| Yield | 19–25% per year in USDC |
| Loan Term | 4–16 months |
| Payments | USDC (1 USDC ≈ 1 USD) |
| Infrastructure | Smart contracts on Base |
| Minimum Investment | 100 USDC |
| Investor Fees | No platform fees (network gas fees only) |
| Transparency | All transactions are public and seen on [basescan.org](https://basescan.org/) |
| Smart Contract Audits | [CertiK](https://www.certik.com/) + [Cyberscope](https://www.cyberscope.io/audits/8lends) |
How 8lends Differs from Maclear
Both platforms use the same borrower screening process and collateral framework managed by the Maclear AG team.
The main difference is the infrastructure and investor access:
| Criteria | [Maclear](https://www.maclear.ch/) | 8lends |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | EUR | USDC |
| Yield | 14–16% (up to 16.5% with bonuses) | 19–25% |
| Payments | SEPA bank transfers | Smart contracts on Base |
| Minimum Investment | €50 | 100 USDC |
| Investor Geography | Europe (SEPA account required) | Global (except restricted jurisdictions) |
| Borrowers | Primarily European SMEs | SMEs from all over the world |
The platforms are independent but complementary. Maclear investors can use 8lends as an additional source of dollar-denominated income.
If you have already completed KYC on Maclear, you can transfer it to 8lends through a special form without going through the verification process again.
Who Can Invest on 8lends?
- You must be at least 18 years old (or the legal age of majority in your country, if higher)
- Residents of most countries are eligible, except sanctioned jurisdictions, including Russia, the United States, Belarus, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Cuba, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Mali, Afghanistan, and Lebanon
- Completion of KYC through Sumsub, which usually takes just a few minutes
- A connected non-custodial wallet, such as MetaMask or one of 90+ supported wallets
- At least 100 USDC in your wallet, plus a small amount of ETH for gas fees
How Investments Are Protected
Investor protection is built on several layers:
- Real collateral (RWA). Every loan is backed by assets owned by a real business.
- Maclear AG as Collateral Agent. Maclear manages collateral and oversees its sale if a borrower defaults.
- Smart contracts on Base. Loan terms cannot be changed after launch, and payments are processed automatically.
Fundraiser contract: 0xf435A133D6cDCb81061F18a4763560f9931DB57D
- Buyback protection on certain projects. Under the Buyback program, a third party repurchases the investor's position and returns the loan principal according to the program terms.
- Registration of the operator. CLEARCHAIN CORP is registered with FINTRAC (Canada) as a Money Services Business and must run an AML/CFT compliance program, identify its clients and report to FINTRAC under the PCMLTFA.
- Independent smart contract audits conducted by CertiK and Cyberscope. Audit reports are publicly available.
As of May 2026, 8lends has more than 1,800 investors, over $13 million in funded loans, more than $4.3 million repaid, and zero defaults since launch on March 3, 2025.
What 8lends Doesn't Do
8lends is not:
- A lender or borrower. The platform does not issue loans from its own funds. Money flows only from investors to borrowers through smart contracts.
- A guarantor or insurer. Returns and principal repayment are not guaranteed. Buyback protection, where available, is provided by a third party under the terms of the Buyback program.
- An investment advisor. The platform does not provide personalized investment recommendations. Investors make their own decisions.
However, investors can speak with an account manager who can explain projects, answer questions, and help them understand available options based on their goals, investment horizon, preferred collateral, and risk tolerance.
The final investment decision always belongs to the investor.
- A broker or securities dealer. 8lends operates exclusively with virtual assets.
- A bank or deposit-taking institution. Investor funds are held in smart contracts on Base, not in bank accounts controlled by the platform.
The platform is also unavailable in sanctioned jurisdictions and does not onboard PEPs without Enhanced Due Diligence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 8lends the same company as Maclear? No. They are separate legal entities. 8lends is operated by CLEARCHAIN CORP (Canada). Maclear AG (Switzerland) acts as Collateral Agent, responsible for borrower screening, collateral verification, and collateral management. The Maclear AG team performs borrower due diligence for both platforms.
Why are returns on 8lends higher than on Maclear? There are several reasons: 8lends finances businesses in markets where lending rates are generally higher. There is no traditional banking infrastructure involved, such as SWIFT transfers, correspondent banking, or currency conversions. Businesses can receive funding within weeks instead of waiting several months for bank approval, and many are willing to pay extra for that speed.
Can I invest on 8lends without knowing crypto? Yes. You can register with an email address and connect a wallet later. USDC can be purchased with a bank card through Meld.io without using a crypto exchange. The minimum investment is 100 USDC. A full step-by-step guide is available in the video tutorial "How to Start Investing on 8lends."
What happens to my investments if 8lends stops operating? Active loans continue to function through smart contracts on Base, which operate independently of the platform interface. Maclear AG, as an independent Collateral Agent, continues to manage collateral and recovery procedures when required.
Where do businesses get the money to pay 19–25%? Many borrowers operate in markets where business lending rates are already significantly higher than in Western Europe. In addition, businesses often pay extra for speed and accessibility. Through 8lends, funding can often be secured within weeks rather than the three to six months commonly required by traditional banks. As long as the business generates a return greater than its borrowing costs, the loan remains economically viable.
How can I contact 8lends support? Email: [email protected]
Telegram:
https://t.me/eightlends https://t.me/eightlends https://t.me/eightlends
The support team can help with KYC, investments, wallets, and technical questions.
See also:
Risk Disclosure: Investing through 8lends involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Returns are not guaranteed and depend on borrowers meeting their repayment obligations. Past performance does not guarantee future results. 8lends is operated by CLEARCHAIN CORP, registered with FINTRAC (Canada) as a Money Services Business. Maclear AG (Switzerland), a member of PolyReg SRO operating within the Swiss regulatory framework supervised by FINMA, acts as Collateral Agent. Regulatory information current as of September 2026.