In This Article
Hodl Hodl is a P2P platform for buying and selling Bitcoins and in this Hodl Hodl review, we explain how it uses multisig escrow to facilitate transactions between its users. Read this article if you want to know more how it works, its pros and cons.
Hodl Hodl Review summary
Hodl Hodl isn’t your typical centralized P2P trading platform, using multisig addresses for escrow instead of holding any funds on behalf of its users. Due to this, it claims to be subject to less regulation and requires less customer information.
That’s Hodl Hodl in a Nutshell. Continue reading below for a more detailed review of Hodl Hodl‘s platform and services.
Key Takeaways
- Hodl Hodl is a P2P Bitcoin trading and lending platform that uses multisig escrow for secure transactions.
- Unlike centralized platforms, Hodl Hodl does not hold user funds, reducing regulatory requirements and KYC obligations.
- Users can buy Bitcoin with a wide range of payment methods, including bank transfers, PayPal, cash, and gift cards.
- The platform offers P2P Bitcoin-backed loans with customizable terms and over-collateralization for security.
- Trading fees range from 0.5% to 0.6%, while lending fees vary from 0.5% to 1.5%, depending on loan duration.
Hodl Hodl Overview
Hodl Hodl is a platform run by Hodlex Ltd, a company registered in London, England. According to Crunchbase, it was founded in 2016 and raised an undisclosed sum in seed capital during November 2018.
As a global P2P Bitcoin trading platform, it has over 100,000 registered users and has facilitated 50,000+ successful trades worldwide. The platform operates on a non-custodial model, meaning it does not hold user funds. Instead, it secures transactions through multisig (P2SH) escrow.
The platform is anonymity-focused and requires less KYC/AML regulation due to the fact that it does not hold any of its users funds. Instead, it provides a platform for buyers and sellers to find each other, while providing mediators to oversee the escrow process.
Hodl Hodl Services
Buy
In order to buy Bitcoins on Hodl Hodl, you simply create an offer by selecting a few parameters. These include the amount of Bitcoin you wish to buy, your preferred payment method and your maximum payment window time. You can also choose to input your location, which will allow you to choose more location-specific payment options such as local banks or in-person.
If time is of the essence users can also filter out sellers with a record of completing transactions slowly, by selecting a “maximum average release time”.
As the buyer, you will wait until the seller has funded the escrow account with the Bitcoins you are purchasing, before making the payment. Your payment will go directly to the seller, who will then release the Bitcoins to you once they confirm that they have received the payment.
Each user accumulates a feedback rating on their trades, which is generally a good indicator of how trustworthy and efficient any single user may be.
Sell
To sell Bitcoins on Hodl Hodl, you input more or less the same parameters as you do for a buy order, above. The only difference is that you are selecting which payment methods you would like to accept from the buyer, and you must be selling Bitcoins only.
Upon initiating a trade, you will fund the escrow account with the Bitcoins you have agreed to sell and release them only once you have received the buyer’s payment.
Lend
The Hodl Hodl platform also has a P2P lending service, which enables users to borrow additional cryptocurrency against their Bitcoin.
Lenders and borrowers can select their desired loan specifics, such as the interest rate, their cryptocurrency of choice, loan-to-value (LTV) ratio and loan term.
All loans must be over-collateralized, meaning that the value of their Bitcoin collateral must be higher than the value of the assets borrowed. LTV ratios can be anywhere between 30% and 80%, depending on the asset being borrowed.
This collateral is placed in a multisig escrow wallet by the borrower, just as the seller would do in a regular Hodl Hodl trade. The lender will then provide the borrower with the asset to be borrowed, which must be paid back in the agreed-upon time frame. These loan terms can vary from as little as 1 day to a maximum of 12 months.
Interest is paid at any time before the end of the loan term.
It is important to note that the collateral ratio must be kept above 90%, or the collateral will be automatically “liquidated” – in this case, the Bitcoins will be released to the lender.
How to create a Hodl Hodl Account?
To create a Hodl Hodl account, simply sign up with your email and password on the platform. After registering, confirm your email by clicking the verification link sent to your inbox. Once confirmed, you can immediately start trading—there’s no need for KYC verification. Since Hodl Hodl does not provide wallets, make sure you have your own Bitcoin wallet before placing buy or sell orders.
After creating an account on Hodl Hodl, you can buy or sell Bitcoin immediately by creating an offer and engaging in a contract. Transactions are secured through multisig escrow on the Bitcoin blockchain, ensuring that funds are only released once both parties fulfill their agreement. Depending on your preference, you can choose between 0 to 6 transaction confirmations—faster trades may have fewer confirmations, while higher confirmation settings provide additional security. Experienced traders have the option to set 0 confirmations, allowing for instant transactions in some cases.
Currencies and Payment Methods
Hodl Hodl users can buy Bitcoin using a variety of payment methods – possibly the largest range of payment methods seen on any P2P platform.
Being a P2P platform, however, these payment options all depend entirely on the seller wanting to accept them or not. Hodl Hodl supports over 100+ fiat currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, INR, BRL, AUD, CAD, SEK, and many more.
Some of the payment options available include:
- Traditional methods such as SWIFT, SEPA and regular bank transfers
- Credit card
- Online payment platforms such as PayPal, Venmo and Revolut
- Money transfer companies like MoneyGram and Western Union
- Other cryptocurrencies
- Cash
- Gift cards from major retailers.
Loans
When it comes to loans, only Bitcoin or Liquid Bitcoin is accepted as collateral. A handful of cryptocurrencies can be borrowed, including:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Binance USD (BUSD)
- Dai (DAI)
- PAxos Standard (PAX)
- Tether USD (USDT)
- USD Coin (USDC)
- Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC).
Fees and Limits
Buy and Sell
Trading fees generally range between 0.5% and the default rate of 0.6%, depending on the user’s referral and verification status. Users who signed up using a referral code are given a rate of 0.45%, while verified users receive a rate of 0.5%. Bear in mind that this fee is split between the buyer and seller.
Hodl Hodl now allows users to set a stop-loss value on their trades, which helps mitigate risks by automatically adjusting the trade if the Bitcoin price drops below a certain threshold.
Additionally, new users can use the “Learn & Practice” feature, which allows them to simulate trades before using real funds.
If each party has a different fee rate, the lower rate from the two parties will be applied to the trade. Of course Hodl Hodl has a full breakdown of their fee structure on their website.
The minimum amount of Bitcoin you may buy or sell is 0.001 BTC.
Lending
Each loan on Hodl Hodl carries an origination fee of 0.5% to 1.5%, depending on the length of the loan. This equates to 0.5% for single-day loans, 1% for loans up to 5 months, and 1.5% for anything longer.
The minimum loan amount permitted is 50 USD worth of cryptocurrency.
Supported Countries
Hodl Hodl permits users from almost any country around the world to use the platform. There are some restrictions, however, according to their terms of service.
Users from the United States can only use the lend function, while those from North Korea, Iraq, Syria, and Sudan are not permitted to use the platform at all.
Some users from the US have reported that trades simply do not execute if the system has detected them being in the US.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Uses multisig escrow for added security and transparency.
- No KYC
- Supports a wide range of payment methods.
- Allows peer-to-peer Bitcoin-backed loans.
- Available in most countries, with minimal restrictions.
Cons
- Limited to Bitcoin trading.
- Trading fees are slightly higher than some competitors.
- U.S. users can only access the lending feature.
- Lower liquidity compared to larger P2P platforms.
- Users must find trustworthy counterparties for trades.
Customer Support and Reviews
Hodl Hodl has very extensive FAQ sections for both their trading and lending services, which go into detail about almost any query you may have about the platform. In order to assist their users, they also have some very useful tutorials on their YouTube channel, which I thought was great.
Not many online reviews can be found on Hodl Hodl, which makes sense given that it is a P2P platform – user experience is more closely tied to your counterparty than the platform itself.
I did, however, find one review that commended the platform for their ability to resolve a trade dispute, which went smoothly due to fair mediation and the escrow system.
Another review also commented on the usefulness of the chat window for contacting your counterparty, as well as the control of their bid and ask offers – which can be set to automatically track market price, rather than constant manual adjustment.
Is Hodl Hodl Safe?
Hodl Hodl is a non-custodial Bitcoin trading platform that uses multisig escrow (P2SH) to ensure funds remain under user control. Since it does not hold Bitcoin or fiat, it reduces risks of theft and does not require KYC. Trades are locked in escrow, requiring 2-of-3 keys for release, and users can still recover funds even if the platform goes offline.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) and trusted device verification add extra security, but users must verify counterparties as there is no intermediary protection. While safe, the platform requires some technical knowledge for dispute resolution and manual transaction signing.
Users can now access Hodl Hodl directly through Trezor hardware wallets, enabling safer P2P trading from cold storage.
Hodl Hodl Alternatives
Hodl Hodl does not operate any wallets of its own. Instead, users must have their own Bitcoin wallet to buy or sell Bitcoin on the platform. Therefore, those looking for a secure, non-custodial option, Best Wallet is a strong alternative.
Best Wallet is a multi-chain, non-custodial crypto wallet available on iOS and Android, supporting 60+ blockchains with built-in DEX trading, staking aggregation, and fiat on/off ramps. It prioritizes user control and security, ensuring private keys are stored locally on the user’s device. With additional features like biometric authentication, 2FA, and insured protection through Fireblocks, Best Wallet offers a safe and user-friendly way to store, trade, and manage cryptocurrencies.
Conclusion
Hodl Hodl appears to be a very useful P2P trading and lending platform, which reduces third-party risk by using multisig escrow addresses. This is vastly different from trusting a centralized party with custody of your coins, as most popular P2P platforms require.
Hodl Hodl is a solid option for those looking for non-KYC crypto exchanges. Make sure to check out our full list of other non-KYC exchanges as well.
With a wide range of available payment methods and minimal verification, Hodl Hodl provides a simple yet effective alternative to its competitors.
FAQs
What does HODL stand for?
HODL originally comes from a misspelled word for “hold” in a Bitcoin forum post from 2013. It has since become a meme in the crypto community, meaning to hold onto Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies rather than selling.
What does HODL mean in crypto?
In crypto, HODL means holding onto your assets despite market fluctuations, with the belief that their value will increase in the long term. It’s often used as a strategy to avoid panic selling.
Who owns The Daily Hodl?
Hodl Hodl is a non-custodial Bitcoin trading platform that uses multisig escrow (P2SH) to ensure funds remain under user control. So users own the daily hodl.
Who is the founder of Hodl Hodl?
Hodl Hodl was co-founded by Max Kei and Roman Snitko in 2016. The company is registered under Hodlex Ltd in London.
Does Hodl Hodl have an app?
No, Hodl Hodl does not have a mobile app. The platform is web-based, allowing users to trade Bitcoin through their browser on any device.
Does Hodl Hodl have a token?
No, Hodl Hodl does not have a native token. It is purely a P2P Bitcoin trading platform that facilitates trades without its own cryptocurrency.
Are there trade limits on Hodl Hodl?
Yes, Hodl Hodl has trading limits based on a user’s experience level. New users have lower limits, while those with a strong trading history can increase their transaction limits over time.
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