Linus Review | Blockchain-Based Savings Account

Important Note: Linus announced that it will be shutting down as of April 22, 2022. If you currently have deposits at Linus, you need to transfer them out by that date.

Linus is a blockchain-based savings account that boasts an incredibly high yield. It looks enticing, but there are risks.

One of the biggest: this isn't a true savings account - it's not FDIC insured. You should view this much more like an investment than a savings account.

With that being said, let's look at Linus, how it works, and more. Check out our Linus review below. You can also see how Linus compares to other crypto-based savings accounts.

Who Is Linus?

Linus or “Linus Financial LLC” is a company that pays a high yield on cash deposit. Does that mean they're a high-yield savings account? Well no, they're not a bank or even associated with a bank.

The Founder and CEO is Matt Nemer. Matthew previously worked at Paybear/Savvy.io and was Head of Finance at BTC Inc.

It's best to think of Linus as a blockchain/cryptocurrency-based savings account. But given it's not FDIC-insured, you should view it more as an investment.

What Do They Offer?

Utilizing Open Finance protocols, Linus provides retail consumers with the opportunity to take advantage of high-yield savings. Currently, that means a 4.50% APY. The initial deposit is $1 and there are no minimum balance requirements. There's also no fees with the service.

How Does It Work?

That is the big question — how is Linus able to pull off a whopping 4% APY on a savings account? None of the big brick and mortar banks can touch that rate. In fact, no savings account can. The current highest yielding savings account is 1.00% APY, offered by CIT Bank.

First, it’s important to understand that Linus is not a savings account. A traditional savings account is a deposit account offered by a bank or a fintech that sits on top of the bank’s offering. Neither of those is the case with Linus. As a Linus customer, you are more like an investor than a depositor. Linus can’t offer any guarantees that your money will be safe. More on that a little later. Let’s talk about the underlying technology that makes Linus possible.

Linus converts your USD into USDC. USDC or USD Coin is a cryptocurrency but not any cryptocurrency. It is a breed known as a stablecoin. A stablecoin is tied to some real asset. For USDC, it is tied to the dollar. One USDC equals $1. So why go to the trouble of doing all of that, and how does it factor in with high-yield savings?

Linus is also utilizing blockchain contracts via Ethereum, which is another cryptocurrency and set of blockchain protocols. Without getting too far into the weeds, Linus is involved with blockchain credit markets. They have left out the details but we can surmise based on the information available. 

Once Linus converts your USD to USDC, it becomes available to digital capital markets. Again, the details of these markets haven’t been made available by Linus. That's certainly a negative in regards to transparency. Any bank would have to provide those details. But back to the point. People are able to borrow your USDC. Borrowing, of course, pays interest. We can guess that Linus is making the spread (the difference between loan interest rate and the savings rate). 

Transferring Money

Your bank’s debit card can be used to transfer money into your Linus account. You can also use ACH or wire transfers to move cash in and out of your account. 

There is no limit to the number of transfers you can do per month. But be aware that your Linus account is not a checking account and shouldn’t be used like one.

Money in your Linus account may not be accessible immediately. However, your funds are not locked in your Linus account like that of a CD.

Bonus Offer

Once you sign up, you will get $20 once you complete your first deposit. Open an account here >>

Are There Any Fees?

No. A minimum balance is not required and transfers are free. However, if you maintain a zero balance for an extended period of time, Linus may close your account.

How Does Linus Compare?

Linus is very similar to Outlet Finance in that it doesn't require you to own any cryptocurrencies yourself to earn interest. That makes it very accessible to the average person. But if you're looking to earn interest on your Bitcoin holdings or on other crypto assets, you'll need to look elsewhere. Here's a quick look at how Linus compares:

How Do I Open An Account?

You can visit the Linus website open an account. Linus uses Plaid to connect to your bank account which currently is able to integrates with over 10,000 U.S. banks.

Is My Money Safe?

There appears to be a higher than average risk of loss using Linus. Linus is not a bank or associated with a bank. It is not FDIC insured. There are a number of risks to consider with Linus:

• Utilization of new technologies to achieve high returns.
• Underlying infrastructure is based on cryptocurrency.
• No FDIC insurance.

How does Linus avoid loan defaults in these digital credit markets? The particular market(s) Linus is using requires borrowers to put up collateral that is worth more than the loan. Assuming all of that works the way it should, Linus has protected its investment (i.e., the saver’s investment).

To summarize how Linus reduces risk, loans they are involved in are fully collateralized - granted in some form of token or other cryptocurrency. Linus also sets aside a certain undisclosed amount of reserve based on deposits.

Is It Worth It?

The high reward, high-risk mantra, certainly holds with Linus. You aren’t getting that high return as a free lunch. There are real risks, and you could be out some or all of your principal.

The difference between the top-yielding banks at around 0.50% and Linus at 4.50% is about 4%. You’ll have to decide if that extra return is worth risking your principal over.

See how Linus compares to other crypto savings accounts >>>

Linus FAQs

Here are a few of the questions that people ask the most about Linus?

Does Linus offer crypto loans?

No, while Linus does partner with platforms that lend funds on digital asset markets, it doesn't offer its own in-house loans.

Is Linus available in every state?

Not quite. It currently isn't Linus isn't accepting applications from residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Minnesota, or New York.

Are Linus' interest rates good?

They're certainly better than you can get with a traditional bank savings account. However, some platforms are currently offering interest rates on USDC that are more than twice as high as what Linus' customers earn.

Does Linus have a promotion for new customers?

Yes, if this is you're first time working with Linus, you can earn a $20 signup bonus after you deposit $100 or more into your account.

Linus Features