CryptoQuant: The CeFi lending market size decreased by 6% quarter-on-quarter in Q1, marking the first contraction since Q3 2024

CryptoQuant data shows that in Q1 2026, the total loan size of the CeFi credit market decreased by 6% quarter-on-quarter to $23.3 billion, marking the first contraction across the industry since Q3 2024. The reduction in loan size is attributed to crypto users reducing leverage during the bear market.

Tether remains the largest lender, with a loan size of $15.8 billion and a market share of 68%, followed by Maple Finance ($2.1 billion, 9%) and Nexo ($1.8 billion, 8%). Market share is shifting towards Maple, Nexo, and Coinbase, with the three experiencing increases of 1.0, 0.5, and 0.7 percentage points respectively during the quarter. Coinbase and Maple saw loan sizes grow by approximately 6% quarter-on-quarter, while Nexo recorded nearly 1% growth, making them the only three major lenders to experience growth. The remaining institutions saw a contraction in loan sizes, with Galaxy Digital (-21%) and Ledn (-19%) leading the declines, while Tether's loan size decreased by 7%.