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EtherFi Borrowing Market Review 2026: Borrow Against Crypto

EtherFi Borrowing Market is the lending side of the ether.fi account, letting users borrow against crypto they already hold. It has sizable TVL on Optimism and Scroll, but rates and risk parameters are not published publicly.

By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated

Our verdict on EtherFi Borrowing Market

7.0/10

EtherFi Borrowing Market suits crypto holders who want liquidity without selling and are comfortable with collateralized loans on Optimism and Scroll. Its strengths are around $312M in TVL and integration with the wider ether.fi account. The main caveat is that rates, collateral limits and liquidation rules are not public, and DefiLlama lists no audits for this market. Read the documentation and risk disclosures first, and keep a safety buffer against liquidation.

Score breakdown

How EtherFi Borrowing Market scores

Security
6.5/10
Ease of use
7.0/10
Fees
n/a
Features
7.0/10

Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.

What is EtherFi Borrowing Market?

EtherFi Borrowing Market is the lending product inside ether.fi, an all-in-one non-custodial app that also covers staking, trading, sending and a crypto card. The homepage frames borrowing as a way to get liquidity without selling assets you want to keep.

DefiLlama tracks it in the Lending category on Optimism and Scroll, with about $311.6 million in TVL and a 2.8% rise over seven days. It has been listed since 30 June 2025, and the associated token is ETHFI.

The project does not give interest rates, collateral lists, loan-to-value limits or liquidation terms. This review is based on public listing data and the homepage, not on hands-on use.

How EtherFi Borrowing Market works

A crypto borrowing market works on collateral. You deposit assets you already own, and the protocol lets you borrow against their value instead of selling them. If the collateral value falls too far relative to the loan, the position can be liquidated to repay the debt.

EtherFi Borrowing Market is the borrowing part of the ether.fi app, which also covers staking, trading, sending and a card. Public sources list deployment on Optimism and Scroll but do not describe the specific collateral assets, interest model or liquidation engine.

The homepage describes ether.fi as a non-custodial app, meaning users keep control of their keys. Rates and limits are not stated publicly, so check the app and documentation.

6 features

Key features

01

Borrow without selling

The homepage pitches borrowing as access to liquidity while keeping your assets and growth potential intact.

02

Single account

Borrowing sits alongside holding, earning, trading, sending and spending in one non-custodial app.

03

Layer-2 deployment

Operates on Optimism and Scroll according to DefiLlama, both Ethereum layer-2 networks.

04

Card and cashback

The wider app offers 3% cashback on everyday spending, with higher tiers for Luxe, Pinnacle and VIP memberships.

05

Multi-asset trading

The homepage says users can hold and trade 100+ assets, including tokenized stocks and metals.

06

ETHFI governance

The site links to ETHFI staking, a forum and voting for governance participation.

Pros and cons

What we like

  • Sizable TVL of about $311.6 million suggests real usage.
  • Lets users borrow without selling their holdings.
  • Part of a broader non-custodial account with staking, trading and a card.
  • Runs on low-cost layer-2 networks, Optimism and Scroll.
  • The homepage names Halborn as an auditor and links a bug bounty and documentation.

Watch out for

  • No audits are listed on DefiLlama for this specific borrowing market, although the homepage names Halborn as an auditor without detailing scope.
  • Interest rates, loan-to-value limits and liquidation terms are not published publicly, so borrowing costs cannot be judged.
  • Borrowing carries liquidation risk if collateral value falls, which the project does not explain in detail.
  • The account balance protection program is described as not yet live, with terms still to come.
  • The Cash card is issued under separate terms and is not affiliated with the protocol.
  • Benefits and eligibility can change or be withdrawn at any time, and products may not be available in all jurisdictions.

EtherFi Borrowing Market fees

Borrow rates, collateral ratios and liquidation penalties are not published publicly. Users should expect to see them in the app's borrowing interface or the documentation before opening a position.

The wider ether.fi account has membership tiers with different cashback levels, and the homepage describes sending money as low-cost, but no figures are given. The Cash card is issued under separate terms from a third-party issuer.

Is EtherFi Borrowing Market safe?

The homepage describes ether.fi as a decentralized, non-custodial protocol, names Halborn as an auditor, and links a bug bounty. DefiLlama lists zero audits for this market, so the scope of any review of the borrowing contracts should be checked in the documentation.

The site's own disclosure warns of potential loss of principal, slashing penalties and smart-contract vulnerabilities, and says rewards are not guaranteed. Borrowers also face liquidation if collateral prices drop. The balance protection program is stated as not yet live, so do not rely on it. No incidents are mentioned publicly.

6 steps

How to get started with EtherFi Borrowing Market

  1. 1

    Read the ether.fi documentation and risk disclosures, and confirm that the product is available in your jurisdiction.

  2. 2

    Download the ether.fi app or open the web app and create an account.

  3. 3

    Deposit or buy supported crypto assets to use as collateral.

  4. 4

    Open the borrowing section and review the rate, collateral ratio and liquidation terms.

  5. 5

    Borrow a modest amount and keep a safety buffer against price drops.

  6. 6

    Monitor your position and repay to release your collateral.

Who EtherFi Borrowing Market is for

This market is for existing crypto holders, especially ETH and ether.fi users, who want to borrow against their assets rather than sell. It suits people who understand liquidation risk and can monitor a loan. It is less suitable for beginners or anyone who cannot absorb a sharp price drop.

EtherFi Borrowing Market FAQs

What is the EtherFi Borrowing Market?

It is the borrowing product within ether.fi, which lets users access liquidity without selling the assets they hold. DefiLlama lists it in the Lending category on Optimism and Scroll.

How much value is in the EtherFi Borrowing Market?

DefiLlama shows about $311.6 million in TVL, up 2.8% over seven days. The market has been listed since 30 June 2025.

Which networks does it run on?

Public sources list Optimism and Scroll as the chains for this market. Other ether.fi products may run elsewhere, but that is not stated here.

Is the EtherFi Borrowing Market safe?

The homepage describes ether.fi as a non-custodial app and a decentralized, non-custodial protocol, and names Halborn as an auditor. DefiLlama lists no audits for this market, so check audit scope and reports in the documentation. Smart-contract and liquidation risks remain.

What does borrowing cost?

Interest rates and fees are not public. They would be shown in the app's borrowing screen or the documentation before a loan is opened.

Does ether.fi have a token?

The homepage says ETHFI is the governance token, with staking, a forum and voting linked from the site. DefiLlama lists ETHFI as the token for this project.

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How we checked

Sources

  1. 1.defillama.com/protocol/etherfi-borrowing-market

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