Dolomite vs Gearbox: which lending protocol fits? (2026)

Both protocols combine lending with borrowing, but they emphasize different kinds of flexibility. Dolomite focuses on breadth: it says it supports more than 1,000 assets and lets users manage swaps, looping, hedging or repayment through Zap. Its curated strategies can be filtered by APR, risk level and chain. Gearbox centers on credit accounts that can use leverage across supported DeFi protocols. It also supports complex collateral such as LP tokens, vault shares and PTs, and offers account-level rules for transfers, token whitelists and risk limits. Gearbox advertises up to 10x leverage, which magnifies losses as well as potential returns. Dolomite also supports leveraged strategies, so its broader asset range should not be mistaken for lower risk. Choose based on the assets and account controls you need, not the headline leverage alone.

Neither of our reviews provides a complete protocol fee schedule, so public sources do not establish which is cheaper. Borrowers on both protocols pay interest, and users also pay network gas on the chain they use. Gearbox’s exact borrow rates, protocol fees and liquidation penalties are not stated; its savings product cites up to 14% APY, but that is not a guaranteed rate. Dolomite shows example ETH-market figures, including a 2.75% borrow APY and a 4.87% supply APY, but these are changeable sample rates rather than a full fee schedule. Its sample ETH market also shows a 5.00% liquidation penalty. Zap swaps may involve DEX aggregator routing costs. Compare current market rates and transaction details in each app before confirming a position.

Both protocols expose users to smart-contract, collateral and liquidation risks. Dolomite’s review lists two audits, while its project materials name six audit firms, report 100% line, statement and branch coverage for production contracts, and describe an open bug bounty. Gearbox also has two audits listed; the project claims more than 30 audits, over $3 million spent on security and a live bug bounty. These counts come from different sources and should not be treated as equivalent guarantees. Dolomite notes oracle and liquidity concerns, especially for long-tail assets, while Gearbox adds risks from composable collateral such as LP tokens and vault shares. Gearbox’s tokenised-asset design also includes freezes and legal enforcement, bringing issuer and compliance risks. Audits do not remove the possibility of loss; review the relevant market and risks before depositing or borrowing.

Dolomite has the larger listed TVL, at about $185.3 million versus Gearbox’s $24.1 million, and both are active across multiple chains. Dolomite lists seven networks, including Ethereum and Arbitrum; Gearbox lists eleven, including Ethereum, Arbitrum and Optimism. More chain support does not mean every asset or feature is available everywhere, so verify the specific market and its parameters. Dolomite’s tools—isolated borrow positions, Zap and curated strategies—may make several lending actions easier to coordinate, though leveraged strategies still require monitoring. Gearbox’s segregated accounts offer granular policies, but its own review positions the protocol for experienced DeFi users and institutions rather than beginners. For either protocol, check current rates, collateral rules and liquidation conditions on the chain you plan to use.

Choose Dolomite if your priority is access to a broad range of lending and borrowing assets, especially if you want to manage swaps or curated strategies alongside a position. Its isolated positions can help keep trouble in one borrow position from spilling into another, but do not prevent liquidation or contract risk. Choose Gearbox if you specifically need credit accounts that work across supported DeFi protocols, complex collateral, or policy controls for tokenised assets. Its advertised leverage of up to 10x makes it a poor fit for anyone who cannot tolerate sharp losses or closely monitor collateral. Neither protocol has a published full fee schedule. Beginners should understand borrowing, interest and liquidation mechanics before using either service.