Esketit AI Overview on 09/2025

Esketit Platform Deep Dive 2025 – Comprehensive Investor Analysis

Esketit is a European peer-to-peer lending platform that connects retail investors with consumer and small business loans originated by multiple lending companies. Launched in late 2020 (operational since March 2021), it offers claim-right investments in short-term loans, allowing investors to earn passive income from borrower interest. Key advantages include an attractive average return around 11–12%, a buyback guarantee (loan originators repurchase loans delayed 60+ days, covering principal and interest), and high liquidity through a secondary market and even an instant “Cashout” feature for certain portfolios. The platform has grown rapidly due to competitive rates and founders with a decade of lending experience, but it also carries significant risks – it is unregulated, relies on the financial health of its loan originators, and has potential conflicts of interest since the platform owners also own several lending companies. Investors benefit from diversification across multiple countries and loan types, yet they face typical P2P risks like borrower default (mitigated by buybacks), platform failure, and economic or regulatory changes. Overall, Esketit’s model appeals to yield-seeking retail investors with its ease of use and high returns, while requiring careful consideration of the underlying risks.

Esketit Product Offering and Structure 💳

Investment Product: Esketit offers investments in personal and business loans (primarily unsecured consumer loans and some secured loans) originated by partner loan originator companies. Investors purchase claim rights to portions of these loans, effectively funding the borrowers in exchange for interest payments. The platform’s legal setup is that of a marketplace: when you invest, you enter into an assignment agreement to receive the loan receivables. Returns are generated from borrowers’ interest payments on the loans – typically, loan originators list loans with annual interest rates ranging roughly from 7% up to ~12%, and investors earn those interest rates (Esketit’s current advertised average is ~11.8% per year as of 2025). Most loans are short-term (often a few months up to a year), though there are also medium-term loans (e.g. up to 2–3 years for certain business or mortgage-backed loans). Geographic focus is diverse: the platform operates in five markets – historically including European countries (like Spain, Czech Republic, Latvia) as well as emerging markets (Jordan, Sri Lanka, etc.), depending on where the loan originators are active. There are no specific sector limits as most loans are consumer or small business financing, and Esketit’s product range expanded over time to include things like secured real-estate-backed loans in Latvia and even non-performing loan portfolios in Spain. The minimum investment per loan is €10, enabling easy diversification. Importantly, nearly all loans come with a Buyback Obligation: if a loan becomes 60 days overdue, the originating company must buy it back from the investor and repay the remaining principal plus accrued interest – this significantly reduces credit loss risk for investors (to date, all delayed loans have been bought back on time). However, major risk points remain: investors can still suffer total loss if a loan originator goes bankrupt and fails to honor the buyback (in such a case, investors retain the claim against the underlying borrower, but recovery can be difficult). The loans are generally illiquid for their term, but Esketit’s secondary market and cashout option attempt to provide early exit routes (though in a crisis, liquidity could dry up). In summary, Esketit’s product is a P2P loan portfolio investment with high-yield, short-duration loans, structured via assignment of receivables, and backed by informal guarantees from loan originators rather than any formal insurance – offering simplicity and high returns at the cost of notable counterparty risk.

Esketit Company Background 🏢

Founders & Ownership: Esketit was founded by Matiss Ansviesulis and Davis Barons – entrepreneurs from Latvia who also co-founded the international lending group Creamfinance (rebranded as AvaFin) in 2012. They launched Esketit in Dublin, Ireland in 2020 as a funding platform primarily to finance loans from their own lending businesses. The company Esketit Platform Limited is privately owned 50/50 by these two founders
, and they remain the ultimate owners (no major external venture capital). The core management team includes seasoned professionals from the P2P and fintech space – notably, in mid-2025 Esketit appointed Ieva Grigaļūne as its new CEO (she had experience in Latvia’s fintech sector) to lead the platform’s next phase
. While the legal headquarters is in Dublin, Ireland, Esketit’s operational team and offices are largely based in Riga, Latvia, reflecting the founders’ home base and the Baltics’ status as a hub for P2P lending. The platform’s partners and backers mainly consist of its own founding team and their network; there is no indication of big institutional shareholders. However, an important development for the founders’ broader business was the acquisition of their lending group (AvaFin/Creamfinance) by South Africa’s Capitec Bank in 2024
– this provided a strong validation of their lending business (Capitec is a large bank) and also meant those loans would eventually stop relying on Esketit (more on that later). Legal Structure: Esketit Platform Ltd is registered in Ireland (Company No. provided in Irish registry), and it does not have formal subsidiaries running the platform elsewhere – the Irish entity directly operates the online platform. There are affiliated companies in various countries which are the loan originators (some of which are owned by the founders but legally separate from Esketit itself). Regulation and Licenses: Notably, Esketit is not a licensed or regulated financial service company. Ireland (as of 2025) does not require P2P lending marketplaces to be licensed, and Esketit has no EU crowdfunding or investment firm license
. This means no financial supervisory authority (such as a central bank or securities regulator) oversees Esketit’s operations – a fact explicitly acknowledged on its website. While this light regulation allows flexibility (and was a deliberate choice, as many P2P firms chose Ireland for its liberal regime), it also limits investor protections in areas like disclosure and governance. That said, the loan originators themselves are licensed lenders in their respective countries (for example, consumer credit license holders), so they operate under local regulations for lending
. In terms of compliance, Esketit performs KYC/AML checks on investors and adheres to data protection laws, but no EU or national investor compensation scheme covers the platform. The company has hinted at plans to seek a license in the future – indeed, by 2025 there were “increasing indications of a planned licensing” to boost trust
– but as of now, retail investors’ trust in Esketit rests mainly on the track record and integrity of its owners rather than regulatory oversight.

Esketit Company Volumes and Performance 📊

Esketit experienced rapid growth in funding volumes and investor base in its first four years. As of mid-2025, the platform has attracted over 27,000 registered investors across Europe. Cumulatively, since inception, Esketit has facilitated roughly €950 million in loan investments (total loans funded from March 2021 up to August 2025). This figure underscores the high turnover of short-term loans on the platform – the assets under management (outstanding loan portfolio at a given time) is much lower. In early 2025, Esketit’s loan book assets stood around €45–46 million outstanding, indicating many loans are originated and repaid quickly. The platform’s growth did slow in 2025 due to changes in loan supply (two major originators exited, shrinking available loans), but year-on-year volume was still slightly up; for example, €319 million was funded in the last 12 months to Aug 2025, a +1.7% increase vs. the prior year. Investor returns have been strong: the average net annual return for investors hovers around 11%, with the platform reporting ~11.8% average yield on investments. Top-performing short-term loans have offered up to ~12% interest (previously some loans even 13–14% when riskier originators were active), whereas safer mortgage-backed loans yield around 7%. Importantly, no investor principal losses have been recorded to date – Esketit emphasizes that investors have not lost money on the platform, as all delayed loans have been covered by the buyback guarantees and there have been zero defaults impacting investors’ capital so far. For instance, by late 2024 the platform could claim that investors had funded over €800+ million in loans “without any capital loss” due to reliable repayments and buybacks. Default rates on loans are therefore officially 0% from the investor perspective (though naturally some borrowers do default behind the scenes – those cases are handled by loan originators who repurchase the bad loans). There have been no overdue loan backlogs beyond the 60-day window, as originators either keep loans current or buy them back once they hit 60+ days overdue. However, it should be noted that these excellent results partly reflect the short history – the platform has not yet gone through a severe economic downturn – and the strong performance of its initial originators. Recent metrics (2024–2025): Esketit’s monthly funding volume peaked in late 2024 and has dipped in mid-2025 (e.g., €14.3M funded in Aug 2025, about half the level a year prior), due to the loss of some large loan originators. Still, investor activity remains high, and the average investor’s portfolio return continues to be around the low double-digits. The highest yields come from riskier segments (for example, emerging market loans or subordinated business loans might offer ~12–13%), while more conservative loans (like European secured loans) yield mid-single digits. Minimum investment per loan remains €10, and some active investors have built sizable portfolios – Esketit even offers a loyalty bonus of +0.5% interest if your portfolio exceeds €25,000, and +1% if over €50,000, to encourage large investment (as of 2025). In summary, by 2025 Esketit has shown impressive volumes and returns for a young platform, though its recent contraction in loan supply and untested long-term track record are important considerations for investors examining its performance.

Esketit’s Risk Management Approach 🔒

Esketit’s approach to risk centers on careful selection and oversight of loan originators, since the platform itself does not underwrite individual loans. Project Selection: Rather than evaluating each end-borrower, Esketit chooses which lending companies (originators) may list loans on the marketplace. Initially, only the founders’ own lending companies were on Esketit, giving investors comfort that the loans came from experienced operators (Creamfinance/AvaFin had years of data). As the platform expanded, it started adding third-party or newly created originators – each undergoes due diligence by Esketit’s team. The platform management examines factors like the originator’s financial statements, track record, management quality, and licensing. However, some of the newer originators are young companies with limited history, making comprehensive analysis difficult (many have sparse financials). Due Diligence Process: Esketit’s team and founders leverage their industry expertise when onboarding an originator. For example, when adding a mortgage lender (A24 Group) or a Sri Lankan microloan business, they assess the collateral, local market conditions, and ensure the originator is properly regulated locally. Esketit often establishes close ties – in one case, it even holds a lien over the entire business of an originator (Credus Capital) to secure investors’ interests. They also prefer originators that they have ownership in or significant influence over, which can be a double-edged sword (alignment of interest, but also conflict risk). Internal Risk Scoring: The platform itself does not publish a formal risk score for each loan or originator (unlike some competitors). Investors must rely on the information Esketit provides about the originators (like brief financial metrics or audit reports) and the presence of the buyback guarantee. Each loan listing shows details such as country, term, interest, and whether buyback applies; loans without buyback (e.g. certain business loans) are typically secured by collateral instead. Sector and Geographic Filters: Esketit keeps a relatively diversified pool of loans by geography and type – consumer loans from various countries, plus some secured loans. It avoids over-concentration in one country where possible (though after recent changes, a large portion is now in Europe/Latvia). The platform often capped certain strategies to specific regions (for instance, it once offered a “Jordan” auto-invest strategy when Jordanian loans were available, to let investors focus on that market). As of 2025, with fewer originators, the diversification is somewhat reduced (now heavily weighted toward European-origin loans). Monitoring and Reporting: Esketit monitors each originator’s repayment performance closely. They have arrangements to receive regular reports from originators and, if any loan is delayed approaching 60 days, ensure the buyback obligation is executed. The platform communicates significant events to investors via email and blog updates – for example, when an originator (Money for Finance) decided to stop P2P lending, Esketit promptly informed investors that no new loans would come from that firm and existing loans would amortize normally. Esketit also publicly shares some financial ratios of originators (such as profit or equity levels) and ensures all originators are externally audited annually. Risk Mitigation Tools: The hallmark tool is the Buyback Guarantee on most loans, which significantly lowers credit risk to investors if originators honor it. By late 2023, Esketit could claim that no investor had incurred losses and all delayed loans were bought back on time. The platform also requires originators to maintain a “Skin in the game” – typically they pre-fund 100% of each loan and only assign it to investors after origination, meaning the originator initially carries the loan (this ensures they have capital at risk and an incentive to uphold quality). Some originators (like A24/Credus) provide extra security by using collateral (real estate mortgages) which Esketit could enforce in a default scenario. Despite these measures, investors should be aware of platform risk: Esketit itself is unregulated and has not published audited financials of its own operations. While the founders are financially strong and reportedly kept the platform profitable since late 2022, a failure of the platform could disrupt the servicing of loans. To address this, Esketit’s terms state that if the platform were insolvent, investors’ loan claims would be preserved and a backup servicing arrangement would be used – but without regulatory oversight, this remains a theoretical assurance. In summary, Esketit’s risk management relies on trust in its originators and owners, diversification, and the buyback mechanism. Investors are encouraged to do their own due diligence on each loan originator (Esketit provides basic info, but transparency varies). The platform could improve risk management by obtaining a license or publishing more financial data – steps which it has indicated may be on the horizon. For now, the main protections are the loan originators’ commitments and Esketit’s active monitoring of them, rather than external regulation.

Esketit Platform Functionality 🛠️

Esketit provides a modern, user-friendly platform with features designed to make investing simple and automated. Key functionalities include:

Auto-Invest: Investors can deploy funds automatically via two modes. Custom Strategy allows you to set your own criteria (choose specific loan originators, countries, interest range, loan term, etc., including whether to include only buyback loans). Alternatively, the platform offers a pre-defined Esketit Strategy called “Diversified,” which automatically spreads your investment across all available loans and originators in equal proportion. This hands-off approach is popular – you can deposit money, set auto-invest, and the platform will continuously reinvest repayments for you.

Secondary Market: Esketit has an active secondary market where investors can sell or buy loans before maturity. If you need liquidity, you can list your loan parts for sale with a premium or discount (up to +2% or -20% of principal) to make them attractive. Buyers on the secondary market pay no extra fees, and sellers are not charged any fee by Esketit for transactions – it’s a free marketplace. This feature improves liquidity, though note that very short-term loans (common on Esketit) often get repurchased or repaid so fast that secondary trading is mostly useful for longer loans.

“Cashout” Instant Exit: Unusually, Esketit’s Diversified auto-invest strategy offers an instant liquidity option. If you invested through the Diversified Strategy, you can use the Cashout function to liquidate your entire portfolio immediately. Essentially, Esketit will buy back all your loans at face value and free your cash (subject to market demand and certain limits). This provides near-instant withdrawal for diversified investors and is a standout feature (similar to how some competitors’ high-liquidity products work). It’s worth noting this is contingent on normal market conditions – if too many investors cash out at once or if loan supply is low, instant liquidity could be paused.

Dashboard and Reporting: The Esketit web platform (and mobile app) offers a clear dashboard with real-time updates of your portfolio – showing total invested, interest earned, and a breakdown by originator and country. Investors can see each loan’s status (current, delayed, bought back, etc.). For taxes, Esketit provides an Income Statement or tax report that can be downloaded, which lists interest earnings by year. The platform does not withhold any taxes, so this report helps investors declare income in their home country.

Currencies and Payments: Investments on Esketit are denominated in Euros (€), but notably the platform was a pioneer in accepting cryptocurrency stablecoins for funding your account. Since late 2022, investors can deposit via USDC or USDT (stablecoins) instead of a bank transfer, which Esketit claims made it the first European P2P platform to enable investing with stable crypto. This is convenient for investors outside SEPA or those holding crypto – the stablecoins are converted into loan investments (loans themselves remain in EUR terms). Aside from that, standard deposit/withdrawals are via bank transfer in EUR (no credit card funding).

Languages and Accessibility: Esketit’s website is available in multiple languages – at least English, Spanish, and German are supported for the user interface, catering to a broad European audience. Customer support is offered via email ([email protected]) in English and possibly other languages, and support has been described as responsive, though sometimes with a slight delay. The platform has a sleek mobile-responsive site and reportedly a mobile app as well (for Android/iOS) for managing investments on the go.

Investor Tools and Info: Esketit publishes a blog and news updates to keep investors informed. For example, they share loan originator updates (recently posting half-year figures for one originator, and news of new originators being added). There is also a community forum presence (Esketit doesn’t host its own forum, but it is discussed in P2P forums and has a Telegram group for updates). While the platform doesn’t provide independent credit analyses or investment advice on specific loans, it does highlight key facts about each originator and often the founders personally engage with the investor community through Q&As. Portfolio analytics on the site are basic but useful – you can see your XIRR (annualized return), and filter your investments by originator, country, etc., to assess diversification.

Security and Account Features: Esketit supports 2-factor authentication for login to enhance security. Funds in transit are held in segregated accounts. The platform’s tech is modern and includes conveniences like an API for auto-invest (behind the scenes) and instant account updates. No specific insurance or guarantee fund exists – the only “guarantee” is the buyback by originators. However, Esketit’s structure is such that even if an originator defaulted, investors would still legally have the claims to the underlying loans (though servicing them would be challenging without the originator’s cooperation).

Overall, Esketit’s functionality is rich and competitive: investors get automation, a secondary market, quick cash-out option, and clear visibility into their portfolio. Combined with the lack of fees and multilingual support, these features make the platform quite user-friendly. The addition of crypto deposits also opened the door for non-EU investors and shows Esketit’s innovative bent. Investors should still use these tools prudently – e.g., diversify using auto-invest across all originators, and keep an eye on announcements in case any feature (like instant exit) is temporarily restricted during market stress.

Esketit Platform Pricing 💰

One of Esketit’s strengths is its transparent and low-cost fee structure for investors. Investor Fees: There are effectively no fees charged to investors on Esketit. Opening an account is free, there are no deposit or withdrawal fees (aside from any bank or crypto network fees on your side), no fees to use Auto-Invest, and even selling on the secondary market is free of charge. The platform does not take any cut of interest earnings (you receive 100% of the loan interest as advertised), and there are no performance or management fees. This zero-fee policy is a big plus, as many competing platforms have introduced account fees or withdrawal fees in recent years. Origination/Issuer Fees: Esketit’s revenue comes from the loan originators (fundraisers) who pay fees to list and fund their loans on the platform. According to disclosures, Esketit charges originators a combination of a fixed fee and a variable commission on the funded loan volume – averaging around 2% of the loan principal as commission. This is fairly standard in the P2P industry. For example, if an originator funds €1 million through Esketit, they might pay roughly €20k in fees to Esketit. These fees are not directly visible to investors on the front end, but it’s understood that this is how the platform sustains operations. Fees for Borrowers: Since Esketit is not directly lending to borrowers (that’s done by the originators), any fees or interest paid by borrowers go to the originators. As an investor, you are essentially stepping into the originator’s shoes for a portion of the loan, earning part of the interest, while the originator keeps a margin (the difference between borrower’s rate and investor’s rate) in addition to possibly paying Esketit’s commission. Transparency of Pricing: On the investor side, pricing is very transparent – there are clearly no charges, which Esketit emphasizes (no “hidden” fees either). The platform occasionally offers promotional bonuses (like the 0.5% cashback for new investors in first 90 days, or periodic campaigns) – these are essentially marketing costs borne by Esketit or shared with originators, not fees to the investor. The loyalty program is structured as a bonus interest paid to investors with large portfolios, and does not cost the investor anything – it’s effectively a rebate on interest to attract bigger funds. For the originators, Esketit does not publish each contract’s fee details publicly, but investors can infer that originators factor these costs into their business model. Notably, Esketit achieved operational profitability on a monthly basis by mid-2022 once the loan volumes grew sufficiently, meaning the commission revenues covered expenses (estimated ~€33k monthly costs at that time). As of 2025, despite adding features and staff, the platform likely remains lean and funded by those commission revenues and the founders’ backing. Fundraiser Perspective: For loan originators, listing on Esketit means they get fast access to capital from investors but at the cost of the ~2% fee and having to offer ~10–12% interest to attract investors. Some originators (especially those owned by Esketit’s founders) likely treat this as a cheaper or flexible alternative to other financing (like bank lines or bonds). Esketit doesn’t appear to charge any one-time listing fees or due diligence fees upfront – the costs are embedded in the commission per funded loan. No Exit Fees: Unlike some platforms, Esketit also does not charge investors any early exit fee when they use the Cashout feature or sell loans. If you sell on secondary at a premium or discount, that cost is borne by whoever accepts it (if you sell at a discount, that’s essentially your cost in the price). Esketit stands out by not implementing any account maintenance fees either. For example, some P2P sites charge if you’re inactive or for currency exchange – Esketit has none of these, focusing on simplicity. In summary, Esketit’s pricing is investor-friendly and straightforward – effectively free for investors to use. The business is sustained by fees charged to loan originators, which are in line with market norms (roughly a couple percent of volumes). This model aligns Esketit’s interest with investors’: the platform succeeds by bringing good loans that attract more investors (growing volume), rather than by nickel-and-diming investors with fees. The only caveat is that since Esketit doesn’t publish detailed financials, investors must trust that the commission income is being managed prudently to keep the platform healthy (the founders have indicated that making the platform profitable is secondary to using it to fund their lending businesses – meaning they are willing to operate on thin margins if needed). Nonetheless, on pricing transparency and fairness, Esketit scores very well in the eyes of investors.

Negative Publicity about Esketit ⚠️

Like any investment platform, Esketit has faced some criticisms and concerns in public forums, though it hasn’t been embroiled in major scandals. Here are the notable points of negative publicity and risk flags:

Regulatory Concerns: A recurring critique is that Esketit is not regulated by any financial authority. Some investors and bloggers have expressed discomfort that the platform operates outside the EU’s investor protection frameworks. For instance, in discussions on forums and in at least one Trustpilot review, users noted that “They are not regulated so they do not need to [follow certain rules]” – highlighting worries that the company could act unilaterally. While being unregulated is legal in Ireland, it means if anything goes wrong, investors have limited recourse. This lack of oversight was cited as a key risk factor by multiple independent reviews. Esketit’s team has responded by planning to seek a license in the future, but until that happens, this remains a point of caution (and negative comparisons to regulated competitors).

Account Closures and Disputes: In mid-2025, a few users reported sudden account terminations by Esketit. These appear to be isolated cases (possibly related to compliance/AML checks or jurisdiction issues), but they caused frustration. One user claimed they received a 10-day notice to close their account without clear explanation, which was discussed on Reddit and echoed in a 1-star Trustpilot review. The user felt this was unfair and pointed to the lack of regulation as enabling such action. Esketit’s policy does allow it to close accounts at its discretion (for example, if an investor is from a restricted country or fails to meet updated KYC requirements). The company did reply to such reviews, but the communication around these closures drew some negative attention.

Loan Originator Exits & Investor Reactions: A significant event was the departure of two major loan originators in 2025: AvaFin (Creamfinance) and Money for Finance (MFF). While these were business decisions by those companies (not a failure of Esketit per se), they impacted investors. AvaFin’s exit (announced June 2025) was orderly – the originator decided to stop P2P funding after being acquired by a bank, and they proactively repurchased all their loans early to ensure investors were paid back without loss. Esketit communicated this well, even quoting AvaFin’s management and assuring “no risk for our users” as all obligations were covered. Nonetheless, some investors lamented losing one of the most reliable originators and the flow of loans from markets like Spain and Czech Republic that AvaFin provided. Shortly after, MFF (which provided loans from Jordan, Georgia, etc.) also ceased operations on Esketit. This was seen as a blow to diversification – Esketit’s loan supply shrank and became more concentrated. Investment news outlets noted that “Esketit…is restructuring now that Money for Finance (MFF)…will cease P2P operations”, and pointed out that Esketit was becoming more dependent on a single group (AvaFin) just before AvaFin’s own exit. In the short term, these exits meant fewer new loans and some investors experienced idle cash or had to reinvest into the remaining originators, which might carry different risk profiles. While no investor lost money in these transitions, the events generated some negative commentary about Esketit’s resilience and raised questions like: “What happens if the platform is left with only the founders’ new startups to invest in?”.

Critiques in Blogs/Forums: Independent P2P blogs, while often rating Esketit positively, have flagged a few concerns. Conflict of Interest is one: Esketit’s founders owning both the platform and many loan originators could incentivize pushing loans that benefit their lending businesses, possibly at investors’ expense (e.g., if a loan originator struggles, the founders might prop it up via Esketit funding). Additionally, the limited track record and transparency of new originators has been criticized. P2P Empire’s 2025 review noted that after the exit of the established players, the remaining originators (like Mojo, Spanda, MDI) were “relatively opaque” or new, with scarce financial information, which makes it harder for investors to assess risk. Another criticism is the absence of audited platform financials – Esketit has not published its own income statements or annual reports, which some see as a lack of transparency (especially given the platform’s unregulated status). While the founders are wealthy and presumably capable of supporting the platform, investors have said they’d feel more comfortable seeing official financial results.

Delays and Technical Issues: Esketit has generally had a smooth platform, but minor complaints have surfaced: e.g., a few users experienced delays in receiving the SMS code for 2FA or slight slow responses from support. One review in July 2025 mentioned an SMS verification issue that took some back-and-forth with support to resolve, and the user noted support was friendly but took 24 hours between emails. There have been no known major outages or data breaches reported – technology-wise Esketit is considered reliable.

Regulatory Warnings: To date, no official regulatory warnings or sanctions have been issued against Esketit. Unlike some P2P platforms that faced fines for late licensing or were blacklisted by certain countries, Esketit has kept a relatively clean reputation with authorities by operating within legal grey areas (Ireland’s law). However, investors should note that the broader regulatory landscape is changing – the EU’s Crowdfunding Regulation (ECSPR) eventually might require platforms like Esketit to get authorized by late 2025/2026. If Esketit does not, it could face constraints in certain markets. So far, there’s no public negative action, but it’s something on the horizon rather than past publicity.

In summary, Esketit’s negative publicity has been limited to concerns and isolated complaints rather than systemic issues. The platform has not had loan failures or scandals, which is good, but the flip side is that it hasn’t been truly stress-tested. The biggest red flags raised are about its unregulated nature and the changes in its originator lineup. Retail investors should heed these points: lack of regulation and transparency means one must place a lot of trust in management, and recent originator exits highlight concentration risk. On the whole, community sentiment remains more positive than negative (Esketit has an average ~3.7/5 Trustpilot rating, with ~65% 5-star reviews) – but every investor should approach with eyes open to these risk warnings.

Esketit Success Stories and Milestones 🏆

Despite being young, Esketit has several notable success stories and achievements that bolster its credibility in the European P2P scene:

Rapid Growth and Scale: Esketit quickly rose to handle nearly €1 billion in loan volume within just 4.5 years of launch. Hitting this scale so fast is impressive in P2P lending, indicating strong investor demand and effective operations. By comparison, many platforms take much longer to reach such volumes. This growth was fueled by offering attractive returns and maintaining investor trust (no losses).

Community Recognition: The platform gained an excellent reputation among the P2P investor community. In fact, Esketit was voted the #1 P2P lending platform of 2023 in an annual poll of European P2P investors. In the following year’s poll (2024), it still ranked in the Top 5 (placing 5th), and another large survey in 2024 saw Esketit ranked 7th out of 57 platforms – a strong endorsement considering it was up against longer-established competitors. These community awards (essentially popularity and satisfaction votes by thousands of retail investors) highlight Esketit’s positive user experience and results during those years.

Founders’ Business Success: A major milestone occurred in April 2024, when Capitec Bank (South Africa’s largest bank) acquired a 97% stake in Esketit’s parent lending group, AvaFin (formerly Creamfinance). This was a huge validation of the founders’ lending business model. For Esketit, it meant one of its key partners was so successful it attracted a big bank investor. While this led AvaFin to exit Esketit (since they now had ample funding from Capitec), it’s still a success story to show investors: the people behind Esketit built a company worth acquiring by a major bank. It speaks to the credit quality and processes that likely also benefited Esketit’s operations. The transition was handled smoothly – AvaFin early-repaid all Esketit investors, leaving no one stranded.

Innovation Firsts: Esketit has pioneered some new features in the P2P space. In 2022, it became the first P2P lending platform in Europe to offer investments via stablecoins. This innovation opened the platform to crypto-savvy investors and those in countries with limited banking access, demonstrating Esketit’s willingness to implement cutting-edge solutions. Being first to do this gave Esketit a PR boost in fintech circles (covered by industry media in Latvia and beyond). Additionally, Esketit introduced an instant exit “Cashout” feature on its diversified portfolio before most competitors – putting it on par with giants like Bondora’s Go&Grow in terms of liquidity offering. These moves have been recognized as the platform being agile and responsive to investor needs.

Expansion of Offerings: Another milestone was transforming into a multi-originator marketplace. In 2023, Esketit for the first time onboarded an external loan originator (one not owned by the founders). This marked Esketit’s evolution from a captive funding channel for the founders’ loans into a broader marketplace. The first such addition was the A24 Group (Latvian mortgage lender) in late 2023, followed by others in 2024–2025. This diversification was an achievement in itself because it showed Esketit can attract third-party partners and offer new types of loans (e.g., secured loans) – enhancing its appeal to investors who seek varied opportunities.

Strong Investor Loyalty: Esketit has managed to maintain a solid investor loyalty and satisfaction. Its Trustpilot rating around 3.7/5 (as of 2025) is decent, but more telling is that over 64% of reviewers give 5 stars, often praising the platform’s ease of use and reliable returns. The company actively engages with feedback: it replied to 100% of negative reviews on Trustpilot and typically within a week, which helped build trust that they listen to users. Many investors have shared success stories of their own – for example, testimonials of earning ~11% consistently and enjoying monthly passive income without issues. Such word-of-mouth has been one of Esketit’s successes; it grew largely through investor referrals and positive blogs rather than heavy advertising.

Awards and Partnerships: While Esketit hasn’t announced formal awards (like fintech awards) or big corporate partnerships, it has been recognized by P2P rating sites. On P2P Empire’s “Trust Tracker” Esketit scores highly on customer loyalty and domain stability. It’s often listed among the “Top P2P Platforms” in Europe by various investment blogs in 2023 and 2024. The founders’ credibility also brings prestige – being from a known fintech (Creamfinance) meant Esketit was taken seriously from the start. Additionally, Esketit formed a partnership with a Latvian payments company in 2023 to handle euro payments, ensuring smooth transactions for users (this is behind-the-scenes but important operationally).

Continued Growth Plans: As a forward-looking milestone, Esketit announced in 2022 plans to double its assets under management in the following year. Indeed, by early 2023 it had roughly achieved significant growth, hitting the profitability threshold (around €20M AUM) and then surpassing it. The platform has publicly stated ambitions to keep expanding and even possibly enter new loan segments or countries. Its ability to pivot – for example, when Jordanian loans ended, it quickly added a Sri Lankan loan originator (MDI Finance) in 2025 to bring a new high-yield market to investors – shows a nimble strategy that is often heralded as a success factor.

In sum, Esketit’s journey so far has many positives: from industry firsts and high growth to community accolades and a seamless handling of big transitions. These success stories paint Esketit as an innovative and robust platform. However, the true test will be continuing this success independently after 2025 (now without its originally biggest originators). If Esketit can maintain performance and perhaps secure a regulatory license, it would further cement the successes achieved and address remaining investor reservations.

Esketit Loan Originators 🤝

Esketit operates on a multi-originator model, meaning the loans on the platform are issued by various lending companies (originators). Here is a breakdown of Esketit’s loan originators, including their background, volumes, and risk profiles:

AvaFin (Creamfinance Group) – (Exited in 2025): Country: Multinational (headquartered in Latvia; operated in Spain, Czech Republic, Poland, Mexico, etc.). Description: AvaFin (formerly Creamfinance) was the co-founders’ flagship consumer lending group, with a decade-long track record and ~400 employees across 15 countries. It offered short-term personal loans and installment loans. Esketit Role: This was the primary originator on Esketit from launch until mid-2025, providing a large volume of loans (often around 10-12% interest) from Europe and Latin America. Ownership: Co-founders owned it until 2024, when Capitec Bank acquired 97% of it. Risk/Profile: AvaFin was considered relatively low-risk by P2P standards – it was profitable, published audited financials, and had a long history. It consistently honored buybacks. Volume: The majority of Esketit’s funded loans in 2021–2024 were from AvaFin’s lending subsidiaries (the platform at one point was very concentrated in these loans). Status: In May–June 2025, AvaFin ceased listing new loans on Esketit as it shifted to bank funding; it repaid all outstanding Esketit loans early (a positive outcome for investors). This departure left a gap that Esketit is now filling with other originators.

Money for Finance (MFF) – (Exited in 2025): Country: Primarily Jordan, with some operations in Georgia and the Philippines. Description: Money for Finance was a loan originator offering short-term personal loans in emerging markets (notably Jordan). It was an external partner (not owned by Esketit’s founders). Esketit Role: MFF joined Esketit early (around 2021) and became a significant originator, especially famous for high-interest Jordanian loans (often ~14% interest) which attracted investors. Esketit even had a dedicated “Jordan” auto-invest strategy given its popularity. Ownership: Independent local lender (often referred to as MFF Capital). Risk/Profile: Higher risk market (Jordan) but MFF maintained timely buybacks initially. It allowed Esketit investors to diversify into markets outside Europe. Volume: MFF provided a substantial chunk of loans, helping Esketit expand geographically. By 2022–2023, it was one of the largest non-affiliated originators on the platform. Status: In August 2025, MFF announced it would cease all P2P lending operations (not due to insolvency, but strategic exit). After that, Esketit no longer had new loans from Jordan/Georgia/Philippines. Existing MFF loans are being repaid by borrowers over time (up to their maturities, mostly within 2025), so investors just continue to receive payments but cannot invest more in those. MFF’s exit raised Esketit’s concentration in remaining originators and was seen as a loss of diversity on the platform.

Spanda Capital – Country: Latvia (focus of operations in Spain). Description: Spanda is a debt management and lending company founded by Esketit’s two shareholders in 2023. It specializes in purchasing non-performing loan (NPL) portfolios in Spain – essentially, Spanda buys defaulted consumer loans from banks at a discount and then manages their recovery. Esketit Role: Spanda began listing loans on Esketit in January 2024. The “loans” in this case are actually investments in the cashflows from those Spanish NPL portfolios (structured to pay investors up to ~11% interest). It’s a somewhat unique asset class for P2P. Ownership: 100% owned by Esketit’s founders. Risk/Profile: Medium-High risk – NPL investing can yield high returns but depends on Spanda’s ability to collect on bad debts. Financially, Spanda is new; an audit of 2024 showed a small net profit (~€12k) and very high leverage (debt-to-equity around 447x), which is not unusual in its ramp-up phase but indicates reliance on continuous collections. Esketit’s founders have skin-in-the-game here, which gives some confidence they will support it. Spanda did very well in mid-2025 by acquiring a large portfolio; Esketit’s blog noted Spanda was “listing around €7 million in loan supply” after a new acquisition. Volume: By late 2024 and 2025, Spanda has become a major originator on Esketit, picking up slack from the exiting ones. It’s included in Esketit’s loyalty bonus program as a key part of the portfolio.

Mojo Capital – Country: United Arab Emirates (Dubai). Description: Mojo is a globally-oriented lender that provides business loans and financing solutions to fintechs and asset managers. It was also set up by Esketit’s founders, leveraging their network in the fintech lending space. Mojo’s loans on Esketit tend to be medium-term (around 2-year term) business loans at ~12% interest, possibly to startups or other lending businesses. Esketit Role: Mojo has been on the platform since 2021 (starting with small volumes) but took on a larger role after 2022. Ownership: Owned by the Esketit founders. Risk/Profile: Opaque – Mojo operates in a B2B lending niche and doesn’t publicly disclose much. P2P Empire pointed out Mojo “remains relatively opaque” as of 2025. However, being founder-owned implies they trust its operations. There is some concentration risk as Mojo’s loans can be sizable and few in number. Esketit shared Mojo’s H1 2025 financial figures on their blog in Aug 2025, indicating a push for transparency; presumably, Mojo is profitable or at least stable (exact numbers not widely published). Mojo’s borrowers are likely companies, so these loans might not carry a buyback guarantee, or if they do, it’s Mojo itself guaranteeing them. Volume: Moderate – Mojo’s loan volume grew after AvaFin left, but due to larger loan sizes, it is careful not to overextend. It’s part of loyalty bonus eligible originators, encouraging investors to allocate to it.

MDI Finance – Country: Latvia (with operations in Sri Lanka via subsidiary). Description: MDI Finance is a holding company that funds a Sri Lankan microfinance lender (loanme.lk). Essentially, MDI raises money which is channeled to Sri Lanka for consumer and small business loans. It was introduced in August 2025 on Esketit. Esketit Role: A brand-new originator to help diversify after MFF’s exit. MDI’s loans are business loans (to the holding company) listed at up to 12% interest. Ownership: Owned by Esketit’s founders (they have a stake in the Sri Lankan venture). Risk/Profile: High risk – entering an emerging market (Sri Lanka) which has had economic difficulties in recent years (inflation, currency risk) is bold. However, these loans might offer high yields. MDI’s presence shows Esketit expanding to new geographies. Investors rely on the founders’ involvement as a sign of confidence, but public info is limited. Volume: Initially small – Esketit raised a limited amount for MDI in H2 2025, testing investor appetite. It’s expected to grow if successful.

A24 Group – Country: Latvia. Description: A24 is a non-bank mortgage lender established in 2010. It provides loans secured by real estate (with conservative Loan-to-Value, typically <70%). Esketit Role: A24 became the first external (non-founder) originator on Esketit in late 2023. It offers a different, lower-risk product: secured mortgage loans to Latvian borrowers, with interest ~7%. These are longer-term loans (up to 3 years) and often do not have a buyback guarantee, because instead they have collateral backing (if a borrower defaults, A24/Investors can claim the property). Ownership: Independent company, not owned by Esketit’s founders. A24 has its own management and track record in Latvia. Risk/Profile: Lower credit risk due to collateral, but with real estate comes different risks (property value fluctuations, slower recovery process). A24 has been operating for a decade, implying experience. Esketit holds a senior claim (lien) on A24’s business assets for additional security when working through a special vehicle Credus (explained next). Volume: A24 brought a stable volume of loans since joining – their loans tend to be quickly funded by investors seeking safer options, though the amount is smaller compared to the short-term consumer loans on the platform. It broadened Esketit’s appeal to more conservative investors.

Credus Capital – Country: Latvia. Description: Credus is a special-purpose lending company created specifically to cooperate with Esketit. It is affiliated with A24 Group and controlled by the same management team. Credus issues mortgage-backed loans (likely similar to A24’s product) but with an added layer of investor security: Esketit holds a lien over the entire Credus business, meaning if Credus failed, Esketit (on investors’ behalf) has a claim on its assets. Esketit Role: Credus joined the platform after A24, to expand the supply of secured loans. It essentially funnels more mortgage loans to Esketit investors, probably with slightly different terms or to segregate certain loans. Ownership: Part of A24 Group (managed by A24’s team). Risk/Profile: Similar to A24 – secured loans with solid collateral. The structure with Esketit’s lien is a unique risk mitigation, making investors quasi-secured creditors of the lending company itself. Loans from Credus offer around 7% and up to 3-year terms, appealing to those who want asset-backed safety. Volume: Still growing – as of 2025, Credus provides an additional flow of mortgage loans, helping Esketit maintain volume after some unsecured originators left. This also signals Esketit’s commitment to investor security by engineering such arrangements.

Summary of Risk Profiles: The current line-up (Spanda, Mojo, MDI, A24, Credus) is somewhat bifurcated: on one side, founder-owned originators (Spanda, Mojo, MDI) which are new and offer high yields but have limited track records and rely heavily on the founders’ support; on the other side, external secured lenders (A24, Credus) which have collateral and more history but lower returns. Previously, the likes of AvaFin and MFF provided both experience and high volume, which balanced risk; their exit means investors should pay closer attention to each remaining originator’s financial health. It’s noteworthy that Esketit claims all current originators are profitable and regulated in their home countries, and many underwent audits in 2024. For example, the 2024 audits showed positive (if small) net profits for Spanda and Mojo, indicating they aren’t loss-making startups.

Recent Developments: Esketit expanded its loyalty bonus program in August 2025 to include the new originators (Spanda, Mojo, MDI) in addition to the old ones. This incentivizes investors to invest more across these lenders. Also, Esketit has been actively publishing news like Mojo’s half-year results and Sri Lanka launch to build confidence. No loan originator on Esketit has defaulted to date – even those that left did so honorably. This track record is excellent, but as always, past performance is not a guarantee. Investors should diversify among the originators available. If Esketit does not use external originators: (hypothetically, if it were like some platforms that fund only their own loans) – but in Esketit’s case, it clearly does use multiple originators, so this is fully applicable.

In conclusion, Esketit’s loan originators range from fintech startups to seasoned lenders. Each has different risk/return characteristics:

Spanda: High return, higher risk (NPL niche, founder-backed).

Mojo: High return, moderate risk (fintech lending, founder-backed).

MDI: High return, high risk (frontier market, founder-backed).

A24: Lower return, lower risk (secured mortgages, established company).

Credus: Lower return, lower risk (secured, extra investor security).
Investors on Esketit can choose which originators to fund or use auto strategies to get a mix. It’s wise to keep an eye on originator news – Esketit’s blog and emails often update if an originator changes strategy or financial condition.

Is Esketit safe and is it regulated?

Esketit involves real investment risk – it’s not risk-free or government-guaranteed. The platform is not regulated by financial authorities (Ireland does not currently regulate P2P platforms, and Esketit has no EU crowdfunding license), so you do not have the protections you would under a licensed investment firm. That said, Esketit has operated since 2021 with no investor losses and a good reputation among users. Safety depends on the continued performance of its loan originators and the platform’s management. The loans are backed by either originator buyback guarantees or collateral, which adds a layer of protection. However, if an originator or the platform itself fails, investors could face losses or delays in recovery. In summary, Esketit is legitimate (founded by credible fintech entrepreneurs and with thousands of investors), but it carries higher risk than, say, a bank product because it’s unregulated and your investments are not insured. Only invest an amount you can afford to have tied up and at risk, and diversify your exposure.

What returns can I expect as an Esketit investor?

Esketit’s advertised returns are around 10%–12% annually, and many investors indeed report earning in that range. As of 2025, the average return is ~11.8% per year
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Your exact return will depend on the loans you invest in: if you focus on higher-yield originators (like emerging market or unsecured loans), you could get up to ~12% or slightly more. If you include lower-yield, secured loans (around 7%), your average might be a bit lower but with potentially less risk. Esketit also offers a loyalty bonus for large investors: +0.5% interest if your portfolio > €25k, or +1% if > €50k
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So very active investors can boost returns that way. It’s important to note these returns are before taxes (you’ll need to pay tax on interest in your country) but after any loan defaults (since buybacks cover those in normal circumstances). Historically, investors have been able to consistently earn around the advertised rates because there have been no defaults breaking the flow of interest. However, future returns could vary if any originator struggles or if Esketit adds more lower-interest loans. Overall, expecting roughly 10-12% p.a. on a diversified Esketit portfolio is reasonable given current conditions.

What are the main risks of investing on Esketit?

The main risks include: 1) Loan Originator Risk – if a loan originator goes bankrupt or runs into financial trouble, it may fail to honor its buyback guarantees and you could be stuck with defaulted loans. While Esketit investors haven’t lost money yet, this is the biggest theoretical risk. For example, if an originator had cash flow issues, your payments could be delayed or reduced. 2) Platform Risk – Esketit itself is a company; if it were to become insolvent or shut down (say due to mismanagement or legal issues), the process of getting your money from ongoing loans could be complicated. There is no regulator overseeing a contingency plan, though Esketit claims it would transfer servicing to a third party in that scenario. 3) Lack of Regulation/Protection – Because it’s unregulated, there’s no deposit guarantee scheme, no investor compensation. You rely on Esketit’s internal governance. 4) Credit Risk of Borrowers – Ultimately, loans are to individual borrowers or small businesses; economic downturns or shocks (like COVID-19 or inflation spikes) could lead to higher borrower defaults. Even though originators promise buyback, extreme scenarios (like 2008-level crisis or a country collapse) could overwhelm them. 5) Currency and Country Risk – Some loans are in emerging markets (e.g., Sri Lanka, previously Jordan). Political instability, currency devaluation, or capital controls in those countries could affect money flow. Esketit lends in EUR or USD equivalent, but local factors can still pose risk if an originator can’t convert local currency to repay investors. 6) Liquidity Risk – Normally you can sell loans, but in a crisis, you might not find buyers or might have to sell at a discount. If many investors rush to exit, the secondary market could freeze up. 7) Conflict of Interest – Esketit’s owners also own many originators; there’s a risk they prioritize the health of their lending companies over the platform’s investors in a conflict scenario. However, so far they have behaved in investors’ favor (e.g., early repaying loans when leaving). 8) Legal/Regulatory Changes – If laws change (for instance, EU starts enforcing that platforms be licensed), Esketit might have to pause operations or adjust, which could temporarily affect your investments. Overall, these risks mean that while returns are high, you should diversify (not only within Esketit, but also across different platforms and asset classes), and keep an eye on Esketit’s news. Many investors mitigate risk by investing smaller portions per loan (Esketit does this automatically if you auto-invest) and by trusting only a portion of their portfolio to P2P lending. If you are aware of these risks and the platform’s nature, Esketit can be a valuable part of a diversified investment strategy, but it’s definitely not as safe as a bank savings account. Always do your due diligence – read updates about each originator and consider the overall economic climate of the countries you’re indirectly lending to.