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.
Finder Ratings for AQRU
Supported cryptocurrencies
★★★★★
Transferring money or assets
★★★★★
Fees and costs
★★★★★
Ease of use
★★★★★
Customer service
★★★★★
Features
★★★★★
Staking/earning
★★★★★
Trustworthiness/security
★★★★★
Overall score
4
Finder's editors objectively assess each platform across a spectrum of performance metrics using a system of 1 to 5 stars, which are designed to help you assess a crypto platform's strengths and weaknesses. You can read our full methodology here.
Our rating and selection of the best crypto exchanges is based on the same criteria as our annual Crypto Trading Platform Awards, updated by our editorial team throughout the year to reflect changes in the market.
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.
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.
AQRU promises competitive yields through its earn service on stablecoins, as well as BTC and ETH. You receive the same rate on balances of any size, so there is no pressure to invest more in order to unlock higher rates. AQRU also pays your annual yield daily and says it is “tracked to the second”, so you can maximise your earning potential.
The benefit of this service is that there are no lock-in periods. So if you want to make a withdrawal you can do so without jumping through loads of hoops. As standard, you should receive your funds within 24 hours.
Trading on AQRU’s exchange is relatively basic, so don’t expect advanced trading tools or analytic insights. The exchange interface is without fuss, providing you with the information you need. The main benefit is the clear fear structure. There aren’t any trading tiers or exchange rate spreads. Instead you pay on charge of 0.35% and the same exchange rate that AQRU has on its own exchanges.Everyone wants a little something for nothing. So you may be pleased to read that AQRU gives new customers 10USDT just for signing up. Not only that, but it also gives you the opportunity to earn a referral bonus. Pass your unique code on to your friend and you stand to receive 75USDT. However, there are a few caveats. Your friend must deposit a minimum of €500, invest in at least 1 product and keep at least €500 invested for 30 days.
Trust rating
AQRU has not had any past hacks.
AQRU has security protocols in place including encryption in transit and at rest, as well as address whitelisting. It has bank-level security for deposits and uses multi-sig technology from its wallet provider, Fireblocks.
AQRU has a $30 million insurance policy in the event that crypto assets are stolen.
Signing up on AQRU
Go through a step-by-step guide on the sign-up process, and how to pass KYC.
Visit AQRU’s website and click Sign Up.
The next step is to enter your email address and create your password. You will then receive a message in your inbox asking you to confirm your email address. Simply click on the link provided and follow the instructions.
You will then receive a message in your inbox asking you to confirm your email address. Simply click on the link provided and follow the instructions.
AQRU will ask you to enter your personal information including your place of birth, your occupation and the source of your funds.
At this point your account is created and you will have received your joining bonus. However, you won’t be able to invest or deposit anything until you go through the identity verification process.
The website will prompt you to scan a QR code to be taken to your mobile so you can use your phone camera. You will need to take a picture of your ID document and then record a video of yourself. When prompted you will need to put your face in the frame on screen, turn your head to the left and then read out three numbers.
AQRU also requires you to submit proof of address. This can be a utility bill, bank statement or government correspondence from the last three months.
Before you can start using AQRU’s services you will need to wait for your account to be approved. Although it said this could take up to 24 hours, in our road test we received approval in under 10 minutes.
AQRU comparison table
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Crypto is unregulated in the UK; there's no consumer protection; value can rise or fall; tax on profits may apply*.
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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.
Kate Anderson is a deputy editor at Finder, specialising in fintech, cryptocurrency and banking. She has previously written for The Motley Fool UK and Fitch Solutions, where she covered a wide range of personal finance topics and kept a close eye on market trends. Kate has a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History from the University of East Anglia. When not working, she can usually be found curled up with a good book or heading out for a run.
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