8lends Review 2026: Our Sponsored Partner, Unscored

How the 8lends collateral model works

8lends connects retail investors with SME borrowers who pledge real assets as security. The collateral can include commercial property, machinery, vehicles, inventory or other tangible assets with a verifiable market value. Before a loan is funded, 8lends commissions an independent valuation and registers a legal charge over the asset. If the borrower repays on schedule, investors receive interest and principal according to the loan terms. If the borrower defaults, the platform has the legal right to seize and liquidate the collateral, with sale proceeds distributed to investors in proportion to their stake. The advertised APR runs up to 25%, reflecting the credit risk of the underlying borrowers and the costs of securing and managing the collateral.

What supervision and investor protection apply

8lends does not hold an EU ECSP licence under Regulation 2020/1503 or MiFID II authorisation from a national competent authority. The platform operates without regulatory supervision specific to investment services, and no statutory compensation scheme covers losses from borrower defaults. Investors rely on the contractual terms set out in the loan agreement and the security interest over the collateral. The platform discloses the identity of borrowers and the nature of the pledged assets in the loan documentation, but the depth of due diligence and the enforceability of security vary by jurisdiction. 8lends states that it performs credit checks and asset valuations before approving a loan, but the methodology is not independently audited. Capital at risk. No regulator guarantees the collateral will cover the outstanding debt if a borrower stops paying.

Track record and why we do not score 8lends

8lends is a commercial sponsor of this site and sits outside our scored rankings for two reasons. First, we do not have sufficient verifiable track-record data to assess the platform's execution record, return honesty or structural transparency with the same rigour we apply to the 19 scored platforms. Second, the sponsorship relationship creates a conflict of interest that would compromise the credibility of a numerical score. Our five-criterion system scores investor protection, execution record, return honesty, structural transparency, and liquidity and exit, with weights fixed before any scoring. Applying that system to a sponsor would invite the perception that the score is paid for, even if the methodology were transparent. We therefore treat 8lends as a sponsored partner, disclose the relationship at every mention, and present the available facts without a match percentage.

Advertised versus realised returns

8lends advertises returns up to 25% APR, which is at the top end of the European P2P market and reflects the higher credit risk of SME borrowers who need to pledge collateral. Realised returns depend on three factors: the default rate, the recovery rate from liquidated collateral, and the time it takes to sell the asset. If a borrower defaults six months into a two-year loan, the platform must seize the collateral, find a buyer, and distribute the proceeds to investors, all of which takes time and incurs costs. The sale price may be lower than the valuation obtained at origination, especially in a distressed market. Investors should expect material variation between the advertised APR and the actual return they receive, and should not treat the 25% figure as a promise. No track record of completed loan cycles is published on this site, so we cannot compare advertised yields with realised performance in the way we do for Mintos, Maclear or InRento.

Who 8lends suits and who should pass

8lends may suit investors who understand collateral-backed lending, can assess the quality of the pledged assets, and want exposure to SME credit outside the traditional banking system. The model appeals to people who prefer a tangible claim on real assets rather than unsecured consumer notes, and who are willing to accept the risk that collateral sales may not cover the outstanding debt. The platform does not suit investors who require regulatory supervision, statutory compensation or a long track record of completed loan cycles. It does not suit anyone who interprets the advertised 25% APR as a guaranteed return, or who expects the same level of transparency and independent oversight as an ECSP or MiFID II platform. 8lends does not offer a secondary market or auto-invest function, so investors must select loans manually and hold them to maturity or default. If you are building a diversified P2P portfolio, 8lends can form a small part of a higher-risk allocation, but it should not be your only platform or your largest holding. Read our guide on how many platforms is enough.

How to start investing on 8lends

1. Open an account on the 8lends platform and complete identity verification. The platform asks for a government-issued ID and proof of address.
2. Transfer funds via bank wire or card payment. The minimum investment varies by loan.
3. Review the available loan opportunities. Each listing shows the borrower profile, loan purpose, collateral type, valuation, loan-to-value ratio, interest rate and term.
4. Assess the quality of the collateral. Look at the independent valuation, the security agreement and the enforceability of the charge in the borrower's jurisdiction.
5. Allocate your capital across multiple loans to spread the risk. Do not put all your money into one deal.
6. Monitor repayments and defaults. If a borrower stops paying, the platform will initiate collateral seizure and liquidation proceedings.
7. Reinvest or withdraw proceeds as they arrive. Funds are returned to your platform account and can be transferred to your bank or reinvested in new loans.

8lends versus the scored platforms

8lends sits outside the comparison because it is a commercial sponsor and does not have the verifiable track-record data required for scoring. The three platforms above all hold EU licences, publish multi-year execution records, and are scored on the same five-criterion system. See the full ranking of 19 platforms.