8lends vs Mintos: Which P2P Platform Fits You in 2026?
Mintos is one of the largest, longest-running EU-regulated P2P marketplaces. 8lends is a newer, crypto-native, real-world-asset-backed alternative from Maclear AG. They solve a similar problem — connecting investors to short-term loans — in very different ways.
| Criterion | 8lends | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2023-2024 (as Maclear's DeFi extension) | 2015 |
| Regulator | None in own name; parent under Swiss AML SRO (PolyReg) | Latvijas Banka, MiFID II investment firm licence |
| Advertised return | 18–25% APR | 9–11% |
| Currency | USDC (stablecoin, Base network) | EUR and other fiat currencies |
| Collateral | Tokenised real-world assets | Varies by loan originator; partial buyback on some loans |
| Investor protection | Self-issued BuyBack Guarantee | Partial buyback (loan-dependent), no blanket guarantee |
| Secondary market | No | Yes |
| Minimum investment | ≈100 USDC | €50 |
| Access requirement | Crypto wallet (MetaMask/Trust Wallet) | Bank account / card |
| Track record | Short (post-2023) | 10+ years, €12.4bn+ cumulative volume |
Mintos and Maclear AG figures from our internal CrowdIndex platform registry, reviewed 2026-06-07. 8lends figures per company marketing materials, reviewed 2026-08-17 — verify current terms directly with each platform.
Where 8lends Wins
- Materially higher headline yield (18–25% vs 9–11%).
- Real-world collateral tied to specific tokenised assets rather than a diversified loan pool.
- Full on-chain transparency of transaction flow.
Where Mintos Wins
- Established EU investment-firm regulation (MiFID II) under Latvijas Banka.
- A decade-long track record with billions in cumulative volume.
- A working secondary market for early exit.
- No crypto wallet required — fiat in, fiat out.
Bottom Line
If regulatory comfort, liquidity and a long track record matter most to you, Mintos is the more conservative choice. If you're comfortable with crypto rails, want real-asset collateral, and are willing to accept a shorter track record and no secondary market in exchange for a higher headline rate, 8lends is worth a small, deliberately-sized allocation — not a core holding. Most experienced P2P investors we'd model this for would treat 8lends as a satellite position alongside, not instead of, an established platform. See our full 8lends review and other alternatives.
Disclaimer. Information only, not financial advice. Both platforms carry risk of partial or total loss of capital. Verify current terms directly with each provider.