Crypto is unregulated in the UK; there's no consumer protection; value can rise or fall; tax on profits may apply.
AQRU review 2022
An exchange which pledges high yields and transparent fees.
- Earn between 1% and 3% on your crypto holdings.
- The number of supported coins is limited.
See our full list of pros and cons below.
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4
Fiat currencies
5
Cryptocurrencies
Details
| Product Name | AQRU Cryptocurrency Exchange |
|---|---|
| Fiat Currencies | GBP, EUR, USD, CAD |
| Cryptocurrencies | USDT, USDC, DAI, BTC, ETH |
| Deposit Methods |
Bank transfer Credit card |
| Deposit Fees | Free for bank transfer, card fees apply |
| Withdrawal Fees | Free for fiat, $20 for crypto |
Overview of AQRU
AQRU was established to create a platform where customers could earn high yields on their crypto holdings through a simple and easy to use platform. You can potentially earn up to a 3% return when investing stablecoins such as USDT, USDC and DAI, and up to 1% with BTC and ETH. It has also expanded its services to include a crypto exchange, which charges one single all-in cost of 0.35% commission on each exchange and offers institutional exchange rates.
AQRU has kept its fee structure transparent and straightforward in order to make things easier for customers. There are no fees for bank or crypto transfers or when purchasing crypto, and no fees for fiat withdrawals. There is also no lock-in period, so you can withdraw your funds and receive them within 24 hours.
It’s important to understand that AQRU acts as a custodian of your crypto assets and has full control once funds are deposited. It lends out digital assets to institutional and retail borrowers as well as participating on decentralised exchanges. However, it states that funds are 100% collateralised which makes funds easily accessible.
- If this is your first exchange. You can take advantage of an easy to use web and mobile interface, with transparent fees and accessible payment options.
- If you’re switching exchanges. You stand to earn a highly competitive yield on your crypto assets, as well as benefit from a single charge on its exchange.
Pros and cons of AQRU
Pros
- Earn rates
- No fees on fiat deposits or withdrawals
- Easy to use interface
- Joining bonus of 10 USDT
- Single all-in exchange cost of 0.35%
Cons
- Limited supported currencies
- Not registered with FCA
- Minimum deposit of €100
- High fee for crypto withdrawals
Verdict: Is AQRU any good?
AQRU does what it has set out to do – give customers a chance to earn competitive rates on their crypto holdings. This combined with the fact there are no deposit fees for bank or crypto transfers and no lock-in periods for crypto assets invested, makes it a platform to sit up and pay attention to.
The interface is easy to use and AQRU covers off the major cryptocurrencies of Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as supporting stablecoins. Just be aware that there is a minimum deposit amount, so be prepared to commit some money to the process. Also, there is a relatively high fee for crypto withdrawals, charged in the asset you are withdrawing.
What to know about AQRU
AQRU is all about earning from your crypto assets. Its set-up is there to enable crypto investors to earn a yield on their digital assets. It does this by lending out your crypto assets to institutional investors and retail borrowers, as well as participating in and supporting decentralised exchanges. The high level of yields is driven by the market and paid out in cryptocurrency. As a result, as the crypto market develops further and matures, you may see rates reducing.
It promises no-lock in periods, so you should be able to access your assets within 24 hours. Also, it is not registered with the FCA as it is based in Bulgaria, but it is a subsidiary of Accru Finance, which is registered in England and Wales.
It has added another string to its bow in the form of its crypto exchange. Much like its earn service, it has kept the experience straightforward and clear with transparent pricing and institutional exchange rates.
Finder Ratings
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Supported cryptocurrencies
AQRU’s return rates are linked to stablecoins and the top tier cryptocurrencies of BTC and ETH. You can deposit the following coins via a crypto transfer:
How much yield you can earn on your crypto assets will depend on which cryptocurrency you choose to invest.
For its crypto exchange, you can buy, sell or trade the following coins:
- BTC
- ETH
- DAI
- USDT
- USDC
- DOGE
- FTM
- CRV
- MATIC
- CRO
- UNI
Transferring fiat and cryptocurrency
There are several options for transferring fiat or cryptocurrency to AQRU. To deposit fiat, you can choose between making a bank transfer or a credit card payment. Just be aware that there may be fees attached to card payments. Alternatively, you can choose to transfer an existing crypto balance. Supported coins include BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC and DAI.
For crypto deposits, there is a minimum deposit amount of $100 of the deposited cryptocurrency. Similarly for fiat deposits, you will need to make a minimum deposit of €100.
When it comes to withdrawals, you can either withdraw crypto from your account or withdraw fiat to an account in your name. The account you send funds to must match the name registered to your AQRU account and must be within a country supported by SEPA.
Fees and costs
AQRU has minimal fees and aims to be transparent with the ones it does charge. There are no fees for bank transfers or crypto deposits. However, there are fees attached to card payments, but these are charged by the card provider.
There is a $20 withdrawal fee for crypto withdrawals, which is on the high side, charged in the asset you are withdrawing. But there is no fee for fiat withdrawals.
For its exchange, it has an all-in charge of 0.35% commission for each exchange transaction. AQRU also only charges the institutional exchange rates, so you can benefit from the same rate it gets on its own exchanges.
Fiat withdrawal and deposit fees
| Deposit | Withdrawal |
|---|---|
| £0 | £0 |
Crypto withdrawal and deposit fees
| Deposit | Withdrawal |
|---|---|
| £0 | $20 charged in the coin you withdraw |
What is it like to use AQRU?
AQRU has a simple interface which makes it easy to get started investing your crypto assets.
Getting started
Signing up is simple, with the whole process taking less than 20 minutes.
ID verification
Powered by onfido, the KYC process can all be done through your phone.
Mobile app
AQRU’s app is easy to use, enabling you to make deposits within a few clicks.
Joining bonus
AQRU want you to see the advantages of using its services, so it gives new customers a joining bonus of 10 USDT.
Does AQRU have good customer support?
If you want to contact AQRU you can submit a form through its website, use its chat feature or send an email to help@aqru.io. Response times vary slightly, although you should hear something back that same day. AQRU promises a response in under an hour if you use its chat feature.
Reviews on Trustpilot are also positive, with several reviewers commenting on how helpful and responsive AQRU’s customer service team had been.
| Support offered | Wait times | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact us form |  | Same day |
| Live chat | | Within an hour |
| Email support | | Same day |
List of services on AQRU
AQRU’s main selling point is its earning product, so its other services are fairly limited.
Trust rating
Signing up on AQRU
Go through a step-by-step guide on the sign-up process, and how to pass KYC.
AQRU comparison table
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Cryptocurrencies aren't regulated in the UK and there's no protection from the Financial Ombudsman or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Your capital is at risk. Capital gains tax on profits may apply.
Cryptocurrencies are speculative and investing in them involves significant risks - they're highly volatile, vulnerable to hacking and sensitive to secondary activity. The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This content shouldn't be interpreted as a recommendation to invest. Before you invest, you should get advice and decide whether the potential return outweighs the risks. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.