DeFi is like a cow—looks calm, but can kick you if you’re not paying attention. Farmer Joe (C)

Not all lendings are the same, so let's take a closer look at some of them.

Peer-to-Pool (P2Pool) protocols

Peer2Pool lending protocols in DeFi (Decentralized Finance) work by connecting lenders and borrowers through a liquidity pool rather than direct matching.

How it works:

1. Lenders deposit crypto assets into a shared pool (the "pool").

2. Borrowers take loans from this pool, typically by posting collateral.

3. Smart contracts automatically manage funds, set interest rates (often algorithmically), and enforce loan terms.

4. Lenders earn interest from the borrowing activity, distributed proportionally to their share in the pool.

This model offers instant liquidity for borrowers and passive income for lenders, removing the need for direct peer matching. Examples include Aave .

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending

P2P lending protocols in DeFi directly connect individual lenders and borrowers without intermediaries.

Lenders and borrowers create loan offers with custom terms (amount, duration, interest rate). Matching is done manually or via smart contracts when both parties agree on terms. Smart contracts manage the loan, holding collateral (if required) and automating repayments. Lenders earn interest directly from borrowers.

This model offers flexibility and personalized loan terms, but usually has lower liquidity and slower matching compared to Peer-to-Pool systems. Examples include Dharma (now defunct) and early versions of ETHLend.

Trust-based uncollateralized lending

Trust-based solutions allow borrowers to access loans without providing collateral, based on on-chain or off-chain reputation.

How it works:

1. Borrowers build a credit profile using past repayment history, wallet activity, or identity verification (via Web3 identity or social graphs).

2. Lenders evaluate borrower trustworthiness using credit scores or trust metrics.

3. Loans are issued without collateral, with smart contracts enforcing repayment terms.

4. Defaults are managed through social slashing, reduced credit scores, or access restrictions.

These systems aim to enable broader financial inclusion but rely heavily on accurate reputation mechanisms. Examples include Goldfinch and TrueFi.

Goldfinch is tokenizing real-world collateral (e.g., invoices, property) and offers non-US investors exposure to private credit, which has long been an attractive asset class for institutions and high net-worth individuals (“HNWI”).

TrueFi offers uncollateralized loans to institutional borrowers, with defaults covered by a staked insurance fund.

Union enables users to establish credit lines based on trust relationships. Members can vouch for each other, creating a network where creditworthiness is determined by social connections rather than collateral.

Fixed-rate lending protocols

Such projects allow users to borrow or lend crypto assets at a guaranteed interest rate for a set period of time.

Lenders deposit funds and agree to lend at a fixed interest rate.

Borrowers take loans with predictable repayment terms, locking in the rate and duration upfront.

Smart contracts manage the loan lifecycle, including interest accrual and repayment.

No rate fluctuation: Both parties are protected from variable market conditions.

These protocols offer predictability and stability, making them ideal for users seeking certainty. Examples include Notional.

Flash loan lending protocols

Users can borrow large amounts of crypto instantly and without collateral, as long as the loan is repaid within the same transaction.

How it works:

1. User borrows funds from a smart contract for a specific transaction.

2. Performs operations (e.g., arbitrage, liquidation, refinancing) using the borrowed funds.

3. Repays the loan (plus a small fee) within the same block.

4. If not repaid, the entire transaction is reverted, as if it never happened.

Flash loans are powerful tools for advanced users, but also carry risks if exploited in poorly secured protocols. Example: Aave.

NFT-backed lending protocols

Users can borrow crypto by using non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as collateral.

How it works:

1. Borrower locks an NFT (e.g., art, collectible, or game asset) into a smart contract.

2. Lender provides a loan based on the NFT’s appraised value and risk profile.

3. If the loan is repaid, the borrower gets their NFT back.

4. If the borrower defaults, the lender can claim and liquidate the NFT.

These protocols enable liquidity for NFT holders without selling their assets. Examples include Gondi, BendDAO.

veNFT-backed lending protocols

Users can borrow crypto using vote-escrowed NFTs (veNFTs)—which represent locked governance tokens—as collateral.

veNFTs are used as collateral to borrow stablecoins or other assets.

Loans are issued based on the veNFT’s value, voting power, and lock duration.

If the loan is repaid, the veNFT is returned. If not, it may be liquidated or ownership transferred.

This model lets users unlock liquidity from governance-locked positions without losing voting power. Example: 40acres.

LP NFT-backed lending

Such protocols allow users to borrow crypto by using liquidity provider (LP) NFTs as collateral.

How it works:

1. Users provide liquidity to certain DeFi pools (e.g., Uniswap V3), receiving LP NFTs that represent their position.

2. These LP NFTs are deposited into a lending protocol as collateral.

3. Lenders provide loans based on the value and risk of the LP position.

4. If the loan is repaid, the borrower reclaims the LP NFT; if not, the NFT can be liquidated.

This allows users to access liquidity without exiting their LP positions. Example: Pac Finance.

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