Many people involved in the crypto lending space will know that stablecoins provide some of the best interest rates in the market. However, with so much variety, it can be tough trying to find the perfect service that suits your needs.

For this reason, we have collated some of the best and most impressive stablecoin interest rates in 2024. This guide should be the perfect jumping-off point for you to explore the sector for yourself, whilst giving you a good indication of what sorts of rates are out there.

Stablecoin Interest Rates 2024

Let’s take a look at the stablecoin interest rates on offer from some of the most prominent services out there. This is a mix of centralized and decentralized projects, covering USDT, USDC, and others. 

Why Are Stablecoin Interest Rates Higher Than Traditional Interest Rates?

If you have ever tried to open a savings account for fiat, then the rates you’ve seen for stablecoins may cause you to raise your eyebrows. These are typically higher than with traditional high interest savings accounts at banks, sometimes to a significant degree. But why exactly is this?

It comes down to a range of factors. For starters, interest rates for all types of crypto tend to be higher due to services having fewer overhead costs than banks and traditional financial organizations. This is because these services do not have physical branches, operate under less strict regulatory rules, and employ fewer individuals. Crypto projects are typically lean, in that they often operate from one or two offices. Some decentralized tools do not even have an office, but rather a remote team of developers.  Additionally, cryptocurrencies come with more volatility and risk than traditional fiat currencies, meaning higher interest rates are offered to reflect this.

When it comes specifically to stablecoins, their reason for having high interest rates is that they are designed to maintain their value relative to a specific fiat asset (typically the US dollar). This stability attracts a large number of investors and users, which in turn generates a higher demand for lending and borrowing services within the crypto market. Since stablecoins are not subject to the same level of volatility as other cryptocurrencies, they are often seen as a safer option for both saving and lending. This perceived safety increases the demand for stablecoin deposits, allowing platforms to offer higher interest rates.

In other words, they are a popular tool for crypto traders and users to save their funds, as there is lower risk than other cryptocurrencies, coupled with ease of use, as users do not need to convert to fiat when exiting the market. Note, however, that risk is not completely eradicated. Any rates that are above the prime lending rate (or risk-free rate) come with inherent risk. The question is which platforms have clear disclosures about the risk attached to their yield?  

Day traders are big fans of stablecoins, as they are great for when they are choosing to steer away from volatility. They are also commonly used by individuals in nations where legal tender is tough to use or regularly fluctuating, as stablecoins offer a safer haven that is simple to access due to the global and decentralized nature of the industry.

Popular Stablecoins and Their Interest Rates

Let’s zero in on the rates associated with some of the market’s leading stablecoins. USDT and USDC are the clear frontrunners in this field, but we’ll also highlight two other assets alongside them: DAI and PAX Gold. These are two outliers in the industry, both for different reasons.

DAI's reserves are built due to a system of smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. These contracts automatically manage the issuance and stability of DAI. Instead of being backed by physical dollars in a bank, DAI is backed by a mix of other cryptocurrencies deposited by users into these smart contracts. Its architecture allows it to be a decentralized stablecoin, which is very rare to find in this industry.

PAX Gold, on the other hand, is a centralized stablecoin that is pegged to the global price of gold. While stablecoins are usually designed to mirror the value of legal tender (managed by governments), PAX Gold emulates this precious metal instead. It is definitely an acquired taste, as many people will avoid an asset like this due to the fact that it fluctuates regularly, and is not typically used as legal tender in the 21st century. However, for those who adhere to the age-old notion that gold is a low-risk investment as it has historically always been desired by people, they will definitely find it appealing.

USDT

If you are looking for interest on your USDT, then Ledn can currently offer you up to 10.00% APY. This is a highly competitive rate, available by opening one of their Growth Accounts.

USDC

For USDC, Ledn also currently provides you with up to 10.00% APY, accessible with its Growth Accounts.

DAI

For DAI interest rates, Aave and YouHodler both offer 8.33% APY, Compound offers 1.42% APY, and Nexo offers 14.00% APY.

PAX Gold

The interest rates for PAX Gold are set to 7.00% APY at Nexo, and 3.05% APY at YouHodler.

Stablecoin Interest Rates Pros and Cons

Like all aspects of the crypto world, there are positives and drawbacks that must be considered. This is a complicated industry, and so there are some specific ideas and concepts you should keep in mind so that you can stay safe and savvy in the market.

Pros

Low volatility: Stablecoins are designed to have an extremely low volatility profile. The top-performing assets have a great reputation for staying pegged to their respective currencies or assets. While errors definitely occur, overall they are tremendously docile in their values.

Decent range to choose from: The stablecoin market is not monopolized by any one asset. This is fantastic for two reasons. Firstly, it means you can shop around and pick an asset that suits your needs and which you like the look of. And secondly, a variety of options means that they are constantly competing with each other and working hard to provide the best service. A historical example of this is with USDT. Tether, the company behind the asset, used to be the only well-known stablecoin on the market, and because of this, it was able to dominate the industry even though it did not post full auditing data. However, over time, rivals like USDC started to gain prominence, which (in part) forced Tether to be more transparent. Of course, there were other reasons for this, but the existence of competitors definitely played a role.

Compound interest available: Many stablecoin savings accounts offer compound interest. This is where you earn interest not only on your initial deposit but also on the interest that your money has already earned. This is something Ledn offers with its Growth Accounts, where compound interest can accrue daily. It is a great way of earning a passive income.

Cons

Regulatory uncertainty: The stablecoin sector is relatively new, even in terms of the crypto market. They date back to 2014, meaning they have only existed for a decade. Naturally, regulatory rules are still being developed by countries around the world, as legal bodies tend to take some years to get their heads around new concepts. As a result, there is an underlying concern about what rulings and legislation they will develop, and whether those decisions will limit the way stablecoins function.

Platform bankruptcy risk: The crypto lending and saving space has had a tough few years. Many generally revered projects have either become defunct, insolvent, or bankrupt. Granted, these were all services with structural and managerial issues, but it is nonetheless good to keep in mind. For this reason, you must not only look at the stablecoin interest rates on offer, but also the company or protocol offering it. This is one reason why people choose Ledn, as it has an extremely good track record for risk management, as well as publishes regular audits by letting users see its proof-of-reserve and open-book data.

Is Earning Interest on Stablecoins Safe?

Earning stablecoin interest is generally considered a low-risk activity within the crypto asset industry. Not only do these assets rarely fluctuate, but when you pick a reputable service like Ledn you significantly reduce the chances of having to deal with company-wide bankruptcy or insolvency.

That being said, there is no such thing as a risk-free financial action. As mentioned, regulatory uncertainty can theoretically lead to issues related to the value of these assets. If, for instance, the US banned stablecoins, then it could tank many US-based assets of this nature. That being said, there is no indication the SEC or any other US regulatory body is planning this.

There are also times when the stablecoin itself will lose its pegging. Generally this happens rarely and temporarily, such as when it occurred with USDC, so for those who are looking at long-term savings it should not be much of a concern. However, it is always good to keep these types of risks in mind, so that you are fully informed. Great risk management involves considering edge-cases, regardless of their likelihood.

Where Do Stablecoin Yields Come From?

Stablecoin yields primarily come from two places: lending services, and yield farming. 

If you are using a centralized service, then your yields will likely be built from interest that comes from lending assets out to individuals or institutions. At Ledn, the  yield of the Stablecoin Growth accounts is built only from the returns made from the assets held in them. The digital assets held in USD Stablecoin Growth Accounts at Ledn are mainly used to fund the platform's retail loan book, which has never experienced a loan loss.  Therefore, the stablecoin deposits in these accounts are collateralized with Bitcoin or ETH posted by borrowers. Ledn Growth accounts are ring-fenced, meaning that clients are only exposed to the credit risk of the counterparties that generate the yield. This setup is  a very secure way to earn yield on USD stablecoins.

If you opt for a decentralized protocol, then the yield will arise from lending your assets out to liquidity pools. These can either be pools that are designed for offering decentralized loans, or they can be used to prop up decentralized exchanges (or sometimes both, if you work with a wide-ranging DeFi ecosystem). The protocol rewards you for making its pools functional by giving you a portion of the interest they earn from the liquidity provided.

Where Can I Get The Best Return on my Stablecoin?

We’ve listed several projects with decent stablecoin interest rates, but if you are still deciding where to go, then Ledn is a fantastic option. Not only does it offer rates of 10.00% APY for both USDT and USDC, but it is a reputable service with a strong track record, and a clear dedication to transparency and risk management. These factors must be considered, even if they do not directly relate to your interest rate, as your potential returns are only as good as the service itself. If a service indicates high rates but is not trustworthy, then you are hedging your bets and could be putting your cryptocurrency  on the line.

Conclusion

This guide should not only give you insights into the top stablecoin interest rates on the market, but also help educate you on what to look out for and consider before embarking on such a financial move.

With this in mind, be sure to check out Ledn, and see whether it is the right choice for you. With highly competitive rates, a clear commitment to transparency, and a strong risk management team, this is a highly revered service. Simply open a Growth Account and send your USDT or USDC over to begin earning interest right away.

Sponsored by 21 Technologies Inc. and its affiliates (“Ledn”). All reviews and opinions expressed are based on my personal views.