Stratum vs EarnUSD: which Bitfinex lending bot fits you?
Stratum gives you 11 backtested strategies you can verify, a paper mode to dry-run before you risk a dollar, ledger-correct earnings reconciled to Bitfinex, and tax exports you can file with — all on a withdraw-disabled API key that can never touch your coins. Both tools are non-custodial Bitfinex specialists, so the real question is how much depth and proof you want behind your lending.
EarnUSD's sticker price is lower — a flat $3/mo with no cut of your interest and a first month free (per earn-usd.com, May 2026), while Stratum starts at $9/mo. That few-dollar difference is what buys you backtests, paper mode, ledger-correct reporting, and tax exports. If you only want the simplest auto-lend with none of that, EarnUSD is a sound pick; if you want to verify and report what your capital is doing, that is where Stratum fits.
Both tools charge a flat fee and take 0% of your earnings, so there is no percentage-fee crossover math to do here — the comparison is simply $3/mo (EarnUSD) versus $9/mo and up (Stratum). EarnUSD's sticker price is lower; the difference buys you backtests, paper mode, ledger-correct reporting, and tax exports rather than a thinner fee. See the full Stratum pricing for what each tier includes.
Side by side
EarnUSD figures are sourced from earn-usd.com as of May 2026 and may change; verify on their site. "Not a published feature" means we did not find it documented on EarnUSD's site, not that it is impossible. Stratum returns are backtested/modeled only, never guaranteed.
EarnUSD may be the better pick if…
- You want the lowest possible monthly price and have a smaller book where a few extra dollars a month matters.
- You want a single, simple auto-lend rule and do not need to compare strategies.
- You do not need backtests, a paper-trading dry run, or downloadable tax exports.
- Bitfinex is your only venue and one account covers everything you lend.
Stratum is worth it if…
- You want to choose among 11 transparent, backtested strategy algorithms instead of one fixed rule.
- You want to backtest settings on historical funding data and paper-trade before committing real capital.
- You file taxes and want ledger-correct earnings plus US Schedule B / TurboTax TXF or German Anlage KAP exports.
- You run more than one Bitfinex account and want up to three keys under one dashboard.
- You value AES-256-GCM encryption at rest and TOTP 2FA on your automation account.
Strategy depth, not one rule
A simpler auto-lend bot follows one approach. Stratum ships 11 backtested strategy algorithms so you can match the funding book to your risk and liquidity needs, then test before you commit. The logic is transparent and reproducible on historical data.
Backtests are optimistic by nature; real out-of-sample results are modeled at roughly 8.5–10% APR, regime-bound and never guaranteed. Explore each one on the strategies page.
Reporting built for tax season
Stratum reconciles earnings to the Bitfinex funding ledger so the numbers you report match the exchange, then exports them in the formats you actually file with.
- Ledger-correct earnings reconciled to Bitfinex
- CSV for spreadsheets and accountants
- TurboTax TXF for US Schedule B
- German Anlage KAP export
- PDF summaries
- Paper mode to dry-run before live capital
Your key is yours: created with withdrawals disabled, and Stratum rejects any withdraw- or trade-capable key at add-time. More on security.
Stratum vs EarnUSD FAQ
Is Stratum cheaper than EarnUSD?
EarnUSD's sticker price is lower — a flat $3/mo with no cut of your earnings (per earn-usd.com, May 2026), while Stratum starts at $9/mo. Both charge a flat fee and neither takes a percentage of interest, so there is no percentage-fee trap on either side. The difference in price buys you what Stratum adds: 11 backtested strategies you can verify, paper mode before you risk real capital, ledger-correct reporting, tax exports, and multi-account support. You are paying a few dollars a month for depth and proof, not a higher fee on your earnings.
What does Stratum do that EarnUSD does not?
Stratum gives you 11 backtested strategy algorithms instead of one auto-lend rule, lets you backtest settings on historical Bitfinex funding data, runs a paper mode before live capital, reconciles earnings to the Bitfinex funding ledger, and exports tax reports as CSV, TurboTax TXF (US Schedule B), German Anlage KAP, and PDF. It also supports up to three API keys on Pro and protects your account with AES-256-GCM encryption at rest and TOTP 2FA.
Are both EarnUSD and Stratum non-custodial?
Yes. Both connect through a Bitfinex API key and never hold your coins; custody is not a differentiator here. With Stratum you create the key yourself with withdrawals disabled, and Stratum reads the key scope and rejects any key that can withdraw or trade at the moment you add it.
What returns can I expect from Stratum?
Stratum has no live track record, so any figure we show is backtested or modeled, never guaranteed. Realistic out-of-sample modeling lands around 8.5 to 10 percent APR, regime-bound and close to the prevailing market funding rate. Funding rates move and lending carries Bitfinex platform risk. Treat every number as modeled, not a promise.
Can I switch from EarnUSD to Stratum without moving my funds?
Yes. Your funds never leave your Bitfinex account in either tool. To switch, create a new scoped Bitfinex API key for Stratum with withdrawals disabled, run Stratum in paper mode first, then disable EarnUSD before turning live offers on so two bots are not placing offers on the same balance at once.
Is Stratum independently audited or SOC 2 certified?
Not yet. An independent security review and SOC 2 are on our roadmap, not complete. We will not imply Stratum is audited or certified before that work is done.
Which one should I pick?
Pick Stratum if you want strategy depth, backtesting and paper mode, ledger-correct earnings, and serious tax and multi-account reporting — the work of proving a strategy and filing clean numbers is done for you. EarnUSD is the lower-cost pick if you only want the simplest Bitfinex auto-lend and none of that depth.
Get the depth. Try Stratum.
A few dollars a month buys you 11 backtested strategies, paper mode, ledger-correct earnings, and real tax exports. Run the backtest yourself, paper-trade it, then go live — your keys stay withdraw-disabled the whole time.
Returns shown anywhere on this site are backtested or modeled, not guaranteed, and you remain exposed to Bitfinex platform and crypto market risk. Stratum is automation and reporting software, not investment advice.