asset management company BlockFi announced a change to its interest rates in a on May 21.
Accounts with () balances over 25 will receive a .15% increase in interest rate, and those with ether () balances between 25 and 75 ETH will decrease from 6.2% to 3.25%.
According to BlockFi, the environment for has flourished while for ether it has floundered. Ether in particular is being offered at a 0.01% borrowing rate on major crypto exchange and crypto lending firm , and comprises only 3% of crypto lending giant ’s portfolio in the first quarter of 2019.
BlockFi has made corresponding interest rate adjustments in response, they say. In addition to the aforementioned figures, they note that the interest rate for balances between 0.5 and 25 will remain unchanged, and that accounts with over 100 ETH will earn a 0.2% annual percentage yield (APY).
BlockFi initially its and ether accounts on March 4, with starting interest rates at 6% APY for both . BlockFi subsequently its interest rates just 18 days later.
Rates were initially set slightly higher than previously said, at 6.2%, but BlockFi announced that they would be cut down to 2% for accounts with over 25 or 500 ETH in April. This change did not target the vast majority of and ETH holders, around 75% of which reportedly held less than 5 or 150 ETH.
BlockFi reportedly from industry figures targeted at the company’s terms and conditions, which allow the firm to set the interest rate each month at its sole discretion. David Silver, founder of the Silver Miller law firm, said that BlockFi’s advertising does not match up with its policy:
“A superficial review of their splash page and their terms and conditions shows that their advertising is not necessarily what they’re guaranteeing […] and it’s understandable why people would be confused if they didn’t receive their 6.2 percent because BlockFi’s advertising makes it seem like that’s a guaranteed rate of return.”
BlockFi assets are reportedly held by the custodial arm of Trust Company and is regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services, and clients are offered free reign to withdraw their holdings upon request.
Published at Wed, 22 May 2019 04:28:32 +0000
