Platform Comparison
Arch vs Lava: CeFi vs DeFi BTC Lending
Compare Arch Lending and Lava for Bitcoin-backed loans. CeFi custodial vs DeFi-origin (Lava custody unresolved), APR, safety scores, LTV, and which fits your needs.
Arch offers 60% LTV — higher than the 50% ceiling at many mainstream CeFi lenders we track — with published APR tiers from 7.25% for top-tier qualified borrowers, including its tiered origination fee (0.49% to 1.49%) in APR while still deducting the fee from proceeds. Lava provides BTC lending at 6.5-7.5% APR with no KYC, but its custody model is unresolved (reporting indicates custodial cold storage as of Nov 2025; its site still markets self-custody). Arch is regulated CeFi with custody insurance. Different risk profiles for different borrowers.
Arch is stronger on LTV and regulated infrastructure: 60% LTV lets you borrow more against your BTC, and custody insurance is part of the tracked structure. It fits borrowers who want to maximize loan-to-value.
Lava is stronger on headline rate: 6.5% APR with no KYC and quick settlement. But its custody model is unresolved (reportedly custodial as of Nov 2025), so it is not a confirmed self-custody route.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Key Differences
- Arch Lending scores higher on safety (7.0 vs 3.4)
- Lava has no known US-state exclusions, while Arch Lending excludes 15 US states in our dataset
The Verdict
Which platform is right for you?
→ Pick Arch Lending if:
- • You want higher LTV (60% vs Lava's flexible)
- • You want regulatory protection and custody insurance
- • You're comfortable with custodial model
- • You can qualify for Arch's lower advertised rate tiers
- • You want a growing platform with institutional focus
→ Pick Lava if:
- • You want one of the lowest published BTC rates we track (6.5-7.5%; Lava custody unresolved)
- • You want non-custodial — you keep your keys
- • You don't want KYC
- • You want near-instant on-chain settlement
- • You're comfortable with smart contract risk
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