Arch* now offers loans starting at 7.25% APR – configure yours today

Arch vs.
Lava

Understand the difference between these two platforms and why Arch is the superior choice for crypto-backed loans.

Lava

At a glance

Assets held in insured, qualified, bankruptcy remote custody
  • Arch holds all customer collateral with federally regulated custodian Anchorage in bank grade custody with insurance. Assets are bankruptcy remote from Arch and Anchorage.

  • Lava's Terms still use self-custody language, but public reporting found Lava moved users to a custodial model in September 2025. Lava does not publicly disclose US state lending licenses.

Regulated credit you can rely on
  • Arch is a US lender (NMLS

  • Lava describes its product as an interface to a protocol intended for business use, with disputes governed in the Cayman Islands. If jurisdiction, consumer protections, and contract enforceability matter, Arch is the clear winner.

Borrow against more than bitcoin
  • Borrow against BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, or tokenized gold for up to 12 months with Arch, starting at 7.25% APR and up to 60% LTV on BTC. At the end of 12 months, you can roll your loan over in 1 click to continue borrowing.

  • Lava only accepts bitcoin as collateral.

In-depth comparison

Lava

Accepts crypto collateral beyond BTC (ETH, SOL)

Offers consumer crypto-backed loans with clear legal disclosures

Assets held in insured, qualified, bankruptcy remote custody

Collateral return as BTC price appreciates

Free white glove customer service with live chat, phone, and video calls

See what Arch users are saying

The Arch Difference

Trust

Our business model does not rely on lending out, trading, or rehypothecating your assets. Your collateral sits untouched in segregated custody for the life of the loan and is returned in full at repayment.

Security

Your collateral is held by Anchorage, the only federally chartered crypto bank in the U.S., in offline cold storage protected by institutional-grade controls and comprehensive insurance.

Support

Real people, not chatbots. Our loan specialists are reachable by chat, phone, email, and text whenever you need them — from your first question through final repayment — and stay with you for the life of your loan.

Ready to get started?

Start a loan with Arch or book a call to discuss how we compare.