Kraken Borrow

Kraken Borrow is available in most markets where Kraken operates. If it’s available in your country, you’ll see it in your Kraken mobile app. While this feature is not supported on Kraken web for desktop, your borrowed funds can still be used there.

To use Kraken Borrow, you need to:

• Have completed identity verification on your account

• Hold eligible fiat/crypto on Kraken that counts toward your borrowing limit

• Be in a market where Kraken Borrow is available

In the EEA, you borrow EURC, a stablecoin designed to always be worth €1 — so €100 EURC is worth €100. In other markets, you borrow USDG, a stablecoin designed to always be worth $1 — so $100 USDG is worth $100.

Yes. Your assets stay in your portfolio the entire time.

Your borrowing limit is the maximum amount you can borrow right now. It’s based on the value and type of crypto you hold on Kraken and updates automatically as the value of your portfolio changes. Check your personalised limit in the Loan Centre.

Not every asset counts the same toward your borrowing limit. More stable assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) count for up to 99% of their market value, while more volatile assets count for less.

You can see how much each asset contributes here.

The minimum loan amount is 5 EURC in the EEA, or 5 USDG in other markets. The maximum is your borrowing limit.

In the EEA, you receive EURC, a stablecoin designed to always be worth €1. In other markets, you receive USDG, a stablecoin designed to always be worth $1. Use both to buy crypto, hold, convert, or withdraw. Regardless of how you use your assets, your loan remains in the stablecoin you borrowed.

Yes. You can keep trading, buying, and withdrawing as normal while the loan is active. If something would leave too little to cover your loan, we’ll warn you.

You can repay from the Loan Centre, in full or in parts. There’s no fixed schedule and no repayment fee.

Your loan stays open until you repay it. There’s no fixed end date.

If the value of your crypto falls, your borrowing limit falls with it. Kraken monitors this in the background and shows you the latest figure in the Loan Centre.

If things start to get risky, we’ll warn you so you can repay or add more funds. If you don’t act on the warning, we’ll sell some of your assets to cover the loan — but we’ll never do this without warning you first.

Warnings are sent by in-app message, push notification, and email. You’re responsible for making sure you can receive these — keep notifications switched on.

If we do need to settle the loan, we do it in this order: the stablecoin you borrowed first, then any cash, and only then your other crypto.

The interest rate is based on supply and demand for loans, and is the same for everyone. We’ll tell you 30 days before any change, and you can repay anytime with no fee. The rate will never go above 25%.

We’ll notify you by email and push notification at least 30 days before any change. Keep notifications on so you don’t miss it.

Yes. As long as you have borrowing limit available, you can borrow again. The new amount gets added to your existing loan, so your balance goes up when you borrow and comes down when you repay.

The Loan Centre shows you:

• Your current loan balance

• Your borrowing limit

• How much you have left to borrow

• Your interest rate, and next 4/hr interest charge

Loans aren’t backed by specific assets. All your loans share the same portfolio as backing — no single asset is assigned to any one loan.

Here's a worked example to show how interest builds and what happens when the rate changes.

What it costs at different points in time

Interest is calculated on the amount you owe and accrues every 4 hours. The Day 90 figure assumes the rate changed from 15% to 14% APR at day 61 — the kind of change Kraken would notify you about at least 30 days in advance, with the option to repay any amount fee-free before it took effect.

Because your BTC is worth twice the loan to start with, a 20% or even 50% drop in BTC price wouldn't put your loan at immediate risk — you'd be warned well before Kraken would ever need to sell your crypto to cover the loan.

Kraken Borrow is a crypto-backed loan. The risks below are important to understand before you borrow.

• Forced sale of your crypto. If your crypto loses too much value, we’ll warn you so you can repay or add more funds. If you don’t, we’ll sell some of your crypto to cover the loan, but we’ll never do this without warning you first.

• Your interest rate could rise. We can change the rate with at least 30 days’ notice, but it will never go above 25%. If you don’t want the new rate, you can repay any amount, fee-free.

• Tax consequences. If your crypto is sold to repay a loan, this may count as a taxable event. Speak to a tax advisor if you’re not sure how this affects you.

• Market volatility. Crypto prices can move quickly.

• Stablecoin risk. Your repayment obligation is in EURC (EEA) or USDG (other markets). In rare cases, stablecoins can lose their equivalence (“peg”) to their reference currency.

• You’re responsible for receiving warnings. Warnings are sent by push notification, in-app message, and email.

• No consumer credit protections. Kraken Borrow is not a regulated credit product.

Only borrow what you can afford to repay, and only if you’re comfortable with the risks of crypto price changes.

• EURC. A euro-denominated stablecoin designed to always be worth €1. Kraken Borrow loans in the EEA are made and repaid in EURC.

• USDG. A US dollar-denominated stablecoin designed to always be worth $1. Kraken Borrow loans outside the EEA are made and repaid in USDG.

• Peg. The value a stablecoin is designed to track (€1 for EURC, $1 for USDG). A stablecoin can, in rare cases, trade above or below its peg — known as a “depeg.”

• Borrowing limit. The maximum amount you can borrow right now, based on the crypto you hold. Shown as your borrowing limit in the Loan Centre.

• Margin call. A request to repay your loan or add more eligible collateral when your LMR reaches the margin call threshold. If you don’t act, your collateral may be sold to cover the loan.

• Loan Centre. The section of the Kraken App where you open loans, see your buying power, track active loans, and make repayments.