From Stocks to Crowdlending: Why European Investors Are Shifting to P2P Finance

As market volatility persists, European investors are rethinking their strategies.

A new survey of more than 1,400 respondents shows that retail and institutional investors are increasingly embracing crowdlending as a transparent and reliable alternative to both traditional and digital assets.

The findings highlight three clear investor priorities:

• Stability — predictable returns over high-yield risky opportunities
• Diversification — balancing traditional, digital, and alternative assets
• Passive income — steady, long-term yield instead of short-term risk

Together, these trends point to a broader shift in overall Europe’s investment landscape — one echoed by global leaders like BlackRock’s Larry Fink, who see private credit and alternative lending becoming mainstream portfolio drivers.

Investor Profile

31% of respondents claim more than three years of investing experience, while 28% are just beginning their journey. This mix of seasoned and first-time investors is shaping the dynamics of the alternative investment market.

Where Investors Put Their Money

The survey shows a wide mix of instruments:

• Conservative choices: bank deposits (54%) and real estate (36%) remain cornerstones for many investors.
• Market-based instruments: U.S. (57%) and European (55%) stock markets continue to dominate, while 26% hold bonds.
• Alternatives: 43% of investors allocate capital to cryptocurrencies, reflecting strong interest among retail participants, even as institutional players remain more cautious.

Why Crowdlending?

The data reveals a promising insight: although investors already have access to a broad toolkit — from stocks and bonds to deposits and crypto — 74% still turn to crowdlending for diversification. By comparison, only 45% cite higher returns, and 44% passive income.

This gap suggests that crowdlending is more than chasing higher yields today. Instead, it has become a third pillar in modern portfolios: a way to balance traditional markets and volatile assets with something transparent, predictable, and directly tied to the real economy.

Notably, for 48% of respondents, crowdlending was their first step into alternative investments, while 34% are already spreading capital across multiple platforms — clear evidence that this once-niche market is moving rapidly into the mainstream.

From Speculation to Sustainable Growth

While both crypto and stock markets remain popular, they are also highly volatile — sharp losses are nothing unusual, as recent banking and equity swings have shown. Against this backdrop, more investors are looking for instruments that can balance riskier assets with something stable and transparent.

Crowdlending fits that role: it offers fixed terms, predictable returns, and a direct link to the real economy, becoming a cornerstone of diversified portfolios.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted by Maclear AG among 1,400+ active investors across Europe during January–August 2025. Respondents represented diverse age groups and levels of investment experience.

Boilerplate (about the company):

Maclear is a Swiss crowdlending platform that enables investors to fund real-world business projects and earn fixed annual returns of up to 15%. Since its launch in 2021, Maclear has facilitated over €30.7 million in funding, with more than €5.9 million already repaid, while maintaining a zero-default record.

Trusted by over 12,700 investors across 13 countries, the platform offers reliable, transparent, and accessible investment opportunities. With over 130 projects funded and a recent expansion into the UAE, Maclear continues to expand its global footprint, with top activity in Bulgaria, Estonia, and Italy.

Vadim Krasavin
Maclear AG
pr@maclear.ch