APX Lending Launches 90/85 Standard for Bitcoin-Backed Loans

APX Lending, a Toronto-based platform for Bitcoin-backed loans, has introduced a new 90/85 Standard for its lending model, which includes zero liquidation fees and a partial liquidation process designed to preserve borrower collateral during market volatility [4]. This initiative aims to address borrower concerns about losing Bitcoin collateral due to price fluctuations, a key risk in centralized finance (CeFi) lending alongside counterparty failure [4].

New Liquidation Protocol

Under the new 90/85 Standard, APX Lending will begin notifying borrowers when their loan-to-value (LTV) ratio reaches 80% [4]. If the LTV hits 90%, a partial liquidation is triggered [4]. Instead of a full liquidation, APX will sell only enough collateral to bring the LTV back down to 85%, then stop [4]. A notable change is the elimination of all liquidation fees [4]. Andrei Poliakov, CEO of APX Lending, stated that the goal is to allow borrowers to retain as much Bitcoin as possible, believing that market moves should not lead to unnecessary collateral loss [4].

APX Lending offers loans against Bitcoin and Ethereum collateral, with LTV ratios ranging from 20% to 60% [2, 3]. The platform's standard policy previously stated that positions might be liquidated if LTV rose above 90% [2]. The new standard refines this process to be partial and without fees [4].

Competitive Landscape and Custody

APX Lending, founded by the team behind Canada's Coinberry exchange, emphasizes safety, security, compliance, and transparency in CeFi lending [1]. It is registered with FINTRAC in Canada and FinCEN in the USA [1]. The platform offers direct-to-consumer Bitcoin-backed loans and a B2B Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) for banks [1].

For US residents, the minimum loan size is USDC 25,000, while in Canada it is C$10,000 or USDC 10,000 [2]. APX Lending does not conduct credit checks, basing loan approvals on crypto collateral and LTV, though it performs KYC/AML checks and screens against sanctions lists [2]. Collateral is held in segregated cold storage wallets with BitGo, a US-based regulated custodian, which provides coverage up to $250 million [2, 3]. Borrowers can view their collateral on-chain throughout the loan term [1, 2]. APX Lending states that collateral is never re-invested or re-loaned [1, 3].

In comparison to other lenders like Figure, APX Lending charges no origination or management fees [3]. Figure, a Nasdaq-listed company, allows a higher maximum LTV of 75% compared to APX's 60%, but charges a 0.85% origination fee and a 2% liquidation fee [3]. Figure uses Fireblocks MPC for custody, while APX uses BitGo Trust [3].

What to watch

• Borrower adoption: Monitor the uptake of APX Lending's services, particularly among borrowers prioritizing fee-free partial liquidations over higher LTV options.
• Market volatility impact: Observe how the 90/85 Standard performs in preserving collateral during significant Bitcoin price drops.
• Competitive response: Watch for similar fee structure or liquidation model adjustments from other CeFi lenders in response to APX Lending's new standard.

The introduction of the 90/85 Standard by APX Lending aims to differentiate its Bitcoin-backed lending service by reducing liquidation costs and mitigating the risk of full collateral loss for borrowers during market downturns.