AQRU
Strengths
- High-interest rates
- Regulated crypto-asset service provider
- Uses institutional-grade custodians to ensure security of assets
- Insurance policy in the event assets are stolen
- Supports FIAT deposits (EUR and GBP)
- Company shares are listed on London’s Aquis Stock Exchange (AQSE), with ticker symbol AQRU
- Mobile app (iOS and Android)
- Multiple deposit methods - card, bank transfer or wallet-to-wallet crypto payments (currently in BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, and DAI).
- Interest is calculated daily and may be withdrawn at anytime without penalty!
Weaknesses
- Limited availability of coins (for now)
- Minimum deposit requirements
AQRU is a crypto interest-earning platform that is based in London and serves customers globally. The platform was launched in December 2021, with an experienced management team, offering customers highly attractive annualised returns on cryptocurrencies, paid daily. In this review, we will look at the features and offerings of AQRU to help you understand whether this is the perfect crypto lending platform for you.
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| Year Established | December 2021 |
| Founder(s) | Phil Blows and Digby Try |
| Reputable Investors | Yes |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Available Countries | Worldwide (Excluding US – and countries listed further down ) |
| Regulated | Yes |
| Verification | KYC verification required |
| Compensation Scheme | Yes, $30 million policy in the event assets are stolen. |
| Supports | FIAT and Cryptocurrencies |
| Deposit Fees | Free |
| Minimum Deposit | Yes – minimum deposit of €100 |
| Minimum Withdrawal | None |
| Withdrawal Fees | FIAT – no withdrawal fees, CRYPTO – $20 |
Table of contents
1. Cryptocurrencies supported by AQRU
2. AQRU Deposit Methods
3. Does AQRU Have any Fees?
4. Is AQRU a Safe Platform?
5. What about Counterparty Risk?
6. AQRU Product and Features
7. How Can You Get Started with AQRU?
8. What about AQRU Customer Service?
9. Countries Supported by AQRU
10. Our Verdict on AQRU
Cryptocurrencies Supported by AQRU
AQRU currently supports six coins:
1. Tether (USDT)
2. USD Coin (USDC)
3. Dai (DAI)
5. Bitcoin (BTC)
6. Ethereum (ETH)
AQRU Deposit Methods
There are many ways to deposit funds.
AQRU accepts Euro (EUR) and British Pound (GBP) deposits via bank transfer as well as via debit or credit card. Wallet-to-wallet crypto deposits in BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC, and DAI are also supported.
Does AQRU Have Any Fees?
AQRU does not charge any deposit fees on both crypto and fiat although card charges may apply. A minimum deposit amount of €100 is applicable.
However, AQRU does not have a minimum withdrawal amount. According to their website, AQRU does not charge a withdrawal fee on fiat although crypto withdrawals are subject to a flat $20 fee.
It is also worth noting that during the first 90 days of opening an account, a minimum balance of €10 must be maintained on the account (your initial joining bonus amount).
In terms of transfer timeframes, it should be noted that crypto withdrawals can take up to 20 minutes to transfer from one wallet to another whereas with fiat currency, the transfer time depends on the bank as well as the method of payment that was used. Certain transfers can take as little as an hour to be confirmed although international transfers can take up to 5 days to clear depending on where the bank is based.
Is AQRU a Safe Platform?
Many users are concerned about platform safety. How safe is AQRU as a crypto platform? Let us take a look.
1. SSL-encrypted Traffic and 2-Factor Authentication
AQRU platform uses SSL encryption and 2-Factor authentication to ensure safety and security. This is a hygiene factor that you would expect from all serious platforms.
2. Security
AQRU uses a third party known as Fireblocks, which is a leading institutional digital asset custody provider, to act as a sub-custodian and store crypto assets for maximum security.
3. Wallet insurance: funds are SAFU! (Secure Asset Fund for Users)
AQRU also has a $30 million insurance policy in place in the event assets are stolen.
4. Regulated virtual asset exchange and custody service provider
According to the website, AQRU is also a regulated entity.
QUOTE “Accru Finance UAB, company number 305944953, is licensed as a virtual asset exchange and custody services provider in compliance with the legal regulation of the Republic of Lithuania. As of 21 January 2022 Accru Finance UAB has successfully fulfilled all applicable legal requirements in order to act as a virtual assets service provider (VASP) under the Lithuanian law. “ UNQUOTE
AQRU website
Furthermore, shares of AQRU PLC are listed on London’s Aquis Stock Exchange (AQSE), under the ticker symbol AQRU. A stock exchange listing adds another layer of regulatory oversight.
What about Counterparty Risk?
Yes, there is always counterparty risk when depositing funds into a crypto interest account.
AQRU acts as a cryptocurrency custodian, which means they effectively take full control of user assets from the moment they are deposited into the account. AQRU then lends out user digital assets to institutional and retail crypto borrowers, charging an interest rate.
AQRU’s website explains that they have a rigorous risk management process in place to mitigate risks and that they also insure the deposits that are lent out to decentralised exchanges.
AQRU’s website explains:
QUOTE “returns generated by cryptocurrency deposits remain high as market participants are willing to pay high levels of interest to borrow assets they struggle to access via traditional needs. As the crypto market develops yields will decrease as capital becomes more accessible.” UNQUOTE
AQRU website
AQRU Products and Features
AQRU
AQRU allows users to earn interest on their digital asset holdings. The platform currently offers users highly attractive annualised returns, paid daily on USDT, USDC and DAI stablecoins and as well as on BTC and ETH.
AQRU offers the following interest rates to users:
● Bitcoin (BTC): 7%
● Ethereum (ETH): 7%
● Dai (DAI): 12%
● USD Coin (USDC): 12%
● Tether (USDT): 12%
The best thing about AQRU is that interest is calculated daily and may be withdrawn at anytime without penalty.
How is the interest paid out?
AQRU pays interest in-kind, meaning users receive interest in the asset that they have deposited. Based on the balance for the day, the interest is accrued and is directly credited to the user’s account. Users earn the same rate of interest on the entire value of the deposit.
Users start earning interest immediately after depositing crypto onto the AQRU platform. The interest is tracked every second and credited to the user’s account on a daily basis.
How Can You Get Started with AQRU?
With an AQRU account, users can earn an annualised interest rate of up to 12% on supported assets, paid daily.
The signup process is also straightforward, and currently, users can begin earning interest on their crypto quickly.
Users simply need to go to the AQRU website or app to start the signup process and input their contact information. As soon as the user’s email address is verified, and once the KYC procedure has been completed, users may start depositing crypto and earning interest on it.
When a user logs into their dashboard, they can see their total balance, invested and uninvested amounts, and their earnings, including the interest that is accrued on a daily basis. Users can also see the interest earned in real-time, and may proceed to deposit/withdraw the crypto from the relevant tab. The interface is highly intuitive and user-friendly.
What about AQRU’s Customer Service?
AQRU has prompt customer service and provides support through emails and live chat. The response on live chat is pretty quick, and emails are answered swiftly too.
With a Trustpilot rating of 4.6, one can safely say that their customer support is pretty good! Users can also read through AQRU’s helpful guides and extensive FAQs.
Countries Supported by AQRU
AQRU features and products can be availed in all countries except those prohibited by their Policy or Sanction Laws. Currently, AQRU is NOT available in Afghanistan, Algeria, American Samoa, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Central African Republic (the), China, Cuba, Ecuador, Guam, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Korea (the Democratic People’s Republic of), Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, State of Puerto Rico, Qatar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan (the), Syrian Arab Republic, United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Virgin Islands (U.S.), Western Sahara, Yemen.
Our Verdict on AQRU
AQRU is a crypto interest platform that offers one of the highest interest rates on Stablecoins, Bitcoin and Ethereum on the market. The interface is also highly intuitive and user-friendly, making it ideal for both new and seasoned crypto investors. Furthermore, they have good customer support, which is prompt in responding to user queries.
Although the platform is still new on the market, AQRU’s experienced founders seem to be doing all the right things that are necessary for building trust among retail and institutional clients. The only thing we can fault AQRU at this very moment is on the number of digital assets, which is limited. However, this is something that can be easily improved over time.