BlockFi Review
BlockFi is designed for bitcoin traders with intermediate to advanced experience who are searching for a one-stop shop to meet all of their cryptocurrency demands. In addition to providing the ability to purchase, sell, and exchange cryptocurrencies, it also provides a variety of products aimed specifically towards crypto fans.
Pros
• A platform with a holistic focus
• A complete information and assistance hub
• The opportunity to earn income on cryptocurrency holdings
Cons
• Not beginner-friendly
• No video explainers
• There are a restricted number of available cryptocurrencies
The BlockFI Interest Accounts (BIAs) are no longer available to new customers who are residents of the United States or who are citizens of the United States. It will not be possible for existing clients who are citizens of the United States or who have their primary residence in the United States to add new assets to their BIAs. Due to the fact that the BIAs have not been registered in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, they are not permitted to be offered or sold in the United States, to U.S. individuals, for the account or benefit of a U.S. person, or in any other place where such an offer would be illegal.
The Positives Exposed
• Holistic platform: BlockFi provides users with a centralized the various financial services they would like to use, such as taking out a loan, holding their cryptocurrency, or managing credit card expenditures using the BlockFi credit card. These financial services include taking out a loan, holding their cryptocurrency, or managing credit card expenditures using the BlockFi credit card.
• A comprehensive help center This tool educates BlockFi’s customers on how to utilise the platform as well as discusses innovative use cases for bitcoin.
• The opportunity to earn interest on cryptocurrency: Users who hold assets in a BlockFi interest account have the potential to earn up to 8% interest on those assets.
Defining the Drawbacks
• Not user-friendly for novices; the user interface can be too complicated for some novices to understand.
Its resource area only offers written case scenarios, rather than video explainers, which some users may find more helpful. This is a limitation because video explainers can be more comprehensive.
BlockFi only offers 13 digital assets, although other exchanges may handle hundreds of different cryptocurrencies. This is one of BlockFi’s major drawbacks.
Introduction
BlockFi is an advanced cryptocurrency trader’s comprehensive ecosystem for trading cryptocurrencies. It has more than one million members who have been authenticated and more than ten billion dollars in assets.
Users of this platform could find the variety of products that BlockFi offers to be appealing. BlockFi is a cryptocurrency exchange that also provides loans with low-interest rates, a crypto rewards credit card, and interest-bearing accounts that allow you to earn up to 8% annual percentage yield (APY).
An Overview of the Company
BlockFi is a cryptocurrency startup that was established in 2017 and has its headquarters in Jersey City, New Jersey. The fundamental objective of this organization is to rethink and broaden access to banking resources in areas where standard banking services had previously been unable to serve. Since its inception, BlockFi has developed into a global corporation that currently employs more than 800 people.
BlockFi includes thirteen different digital assets that can be purchased, in addition to various other helpful products. In general, it has the potential to be a useful choice for more experienced crypto traders.
Cryptocurrencies Available
BlockFi only offers access to 13 different digital assets, which is a rather limited quantity in comparison to other competing exchanges. Coinbase and Kraken are two examples of exchanges that each provide access to over a hundred different digital assets. The following is a list of some of the assets that BlockFi supports:
• What is Bitcoin? (BTC)
• Chainlink (LINK)
• Element ethium (ETH)
• PaxGold.com (PAXG)
• Litecoin (LTC)
• Dai (DAI)
• Coins worth one United States Dollar (USDC)
• Use a tether (USDT)
• Gemini Dollar (GUSD)
Trade Experience
The BlockFi dashboard can be accessed online, and mobile apps are available for both Android and iOS. Trading on BlockFi is, on the whole, an experience that is both user-friendly and not overly complicated. When using a desktop client, customers who are interested in making a straightforward deal will navigate to the table that appears at the top of their display and specify the assets they wish to trade.
Users who have a BlockFi Interest Account have another option available to them: the ability to schedule recurring trades. It is possible to schedule trades to take place on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, as well as on the first or fifteenth of the month. BlockFi stands apart from other similar services thanks to the recurring transactions feature it offers.
Traders who are accustomed to utilising financial apps or who have an online brokerage account will find the process of trading to be rather uncomplicated overall.
Fees
BlockFi’s cost structure is a little bit different from that of many other exchanges, which typically levy fees that are denoted by the terms “maker” and “taker.” BlockFi does not charge any fees for trading; however, it does charge fees for withdrawals and places limits on the amount that can be withdrawn. You are qualified to make one cost-free withdrawal every month from particular investments. On the other hand, certain institutions will charge you a fee each time you make a withdrawal. For additional details, have a look at the complete cost schedule provided by BlockFi.
Security
BlockFi uses a variety of different security techniques for both its users and its platform. When creating a BlockFi account, users will be required to provide identification documentation in order to assist in the prevention of fraudulent behaviour on the platform. In order to proceed, you will be required to present a photo identification card issued by the government as well as some basic personal information. BlockFi also provides two-factor authentication as an additional option, which helps protect user accounts even further. At the moment, users are not compelled to utilise two-factor authentication, however it is strongly recommended.
The monies that belong to BlockFi are kept in secure cold storage with BlockFi’s partners, including Gemini. When assets are kept in cold storage, which means they are kept in a storage facility that is not connected to the internet, the assets are generally more secure.
Establishing a User Account on BlockFi
The process of creating a BlockFi account is one that requires only a few simple steps. BlockFi requires you to provide personally identifiable information such as your full name, address, and the country in which you now reside. Because you’ll need to go through an identity verification process before you can trade on the platform, it’s a good idea to have a photo identification on available so that the process goes more quickly.
Assistance to Customers
You can file a ticket, speak with a professional over the phone, or interact with a chatbot if you need assistance with your BlockFi account. These are just some of the customer support options that are available to you through BlockFi. Customers that have questions or require assistance can benefit from this information. Users can browse BlockFi’s help centre to find answers to frequently asked questions in addition to the assistance resources that are already available to them.
There is a lack of transparency on the ADA-specific services that are currently made available to users. Borrowers of BlockFi Loans have access to a special site through which they can communicate with the BlockFi Loan department.
Satisfaction of the Customer
In spite of the fact that a large number of customers have stated that they are pleased with their experience with BlockFi, the company only has an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars across more than 200 user evaluations on Trustpilot.
According to the reviews on Trustpilot, there are a few widespread concerns. When they ran into urgent problems, some users reported having trouble getting in touch with customer service. Others have mentioned that the costs associated with withdrawal are higher than what they had anticipated. Despite the fact that both of these vulnerabilities are cause for concern, consumers have a generally favourable opinion of BlockFi.
Management of Client Accounts
Customers of BlockFi have the option of managing their accounts through either a web-based interface or a mobile app. When you log in, you will be presented with an overview of the details of your account. The amount of interest that was paid on your assets as well as the balance that you presently have in your account will be detailed. You will also have the ability to access tabs for various actions, such as making trades or requesting a loan, among other possibilities.
How BlockFi Stacks Up Against Competitors in the Cryptocurrency Industry
When there are so many cryptocurrency exchanges to choose from, it can be challenging to comprehend the factors that should guide your decision regarding which firm to go with. In point of fact, there are a number of businesses that are somewhat comparable to BlockFi. These businesses include Coinbase, Uphold, Gemini, and Binance.
Users do not have to restrict themselves to a single choice, and they are free to use many platforms if they so choose in order to exploit the distinctive capabilities offered by each one.
BlockFi Competes Against Coinbase
Both BlockFi and Coinbase are well-established cryptocurrency exchanges; nevertheless, there are fundamental distinctions to be made between the two in terms of the services they provide and the platforms they use.
• Unlike BlockFi, Coinbase provides FDIC insurance on fiat currency traded over its platform. This may provide users who have made larger deposits on Coinbase the peace of mind that they will be able to reclaim their fiat holdings in the event that the platform is hacked.
• BlockFi only offers 13 different digital assets, whereas Coinbase supports over 150 different digital assets.
Users of BlockFi are eligible for one free withdrawal of a selected cryptocurrency each calendar month. This is a helpful option for customers who would like to restrict the total amount of withdrawals they can make in a given calendar month.
• The BlockFi Rewards Signature Visa crypto rewards credit card is available to customers of BlockFi. It is expected that applicants will require a credit score of 680 or above in order to be approved for this card. The Coinbase Card is a cryptocurrency reward debit card that is offered by Coinbase.
• Both BlockFi and Coinbase allow consumers to earn interest on their bitcoin.
• You are able to get loans against your cryptocurrency from each of these companies.
FINAL VERDICT
Users who are looking for a cryptocurrency exchange that provides a variety of one-of-a-kind features and products, such as crypto-backed loans, a crypto rewards credit card, and an easy-to-navigate user interface, may find that BlockFi is an excellent choice. On the other hand, it is essential to be aware of some of the difficulties that consumers have encountered, such as customer service that takes a long time to reply to and withdrawal processes that are longer than expected.