Peer-to-Peer Lending Market

Market Overview

The global peer-to-peer lending market size had a revenue share of USD 120,423 million in 2021, presumed to reach USD 9,76,299 million, expanding at a CAGR of 29.9% during the forecast period.

 Peer-to-peer lending is a method that lets people or businesses get loans from other people or lenders without the use of financial institutions or the banking sector. Peer-to-peer lending provides both secured and unsecured loans. However, unsecured personal loans make up most of the P2P lending loans. For the industry, secured loans are uncommon and typically supported by expensive items. Additionally, many peer-to-peer businesses provide online services to operate with minimal overhead costs and offer lending services to lenders at a lower price.

Additionally, this platform allows investors to create a varied portfolio of assets and make low-risk investments. It also safeguards investor capital by distributing investments across loans and lowering borrower risk. Peer-to-peer financing has potential advantages over conventional lending. Some borrowers may experience difficulties being authorized for a loan through a bank, particularly those with poor credit ratings or short credit histories. They may even provide lower rates when comparing P2P marketplaces to high-interest credit cards or payday loans. P2P marketplaces are frequently viable alternatives.

Lessening operating costs and decreased market risk related to P2P lending for lenders and borrowers are driving the growth of the worldwide peer-to-peer lending business. Additionally, the expansion of the market is fueled by digitization in the banking industry, which increases transparency compared to old banking systems. The risk of losing money, adopting government regulations for loan processing, and poor public awareness of the advantages of P2P lending restrain market expansion. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the adoption of peer-to-peer lending will increase in regions like the Asia Pacific due to favorable government laws in Asian nations, including China, Bangladesh, and India.

Market Dynamics

Global Peer-to-Peer Lending Market Drivers

Low Cost of Operating and Market Risk

In contrast to traditional banks, P2P lending solutions don't require massive workforces, infrastructure, or facilities. The P2P lending platform uses web-based services to operate. The data is open to the public, and online businesses permit access to their websites, providing consumers with a clearer image of loans and the sorts of loans that are accessible. These lending platforms generate income by charging fees to debtors and deducting fees from investor loan repayments, stimulating the market's expansion. Additionally, P2P lending platforms aid in lowering operational expenses by reducing the cost of physical branches, manpower, and branch maintenance, hence promoting market expansion. Investors can lower various market risks, including interest rate, unemployment rate, and property price risk, with the aid of peer-to-peer lending, which further boosts the expansion of the worldwide market.

Technological Advancements with Transparency

Digitization is one of the most extensively used tactics in the financial services industry to boost core processing capacity and provide better client services and insights. P2P lending platforms have an innovation advantage over traditional banking systems because they offer greater company transparency. Additionally, by using technology to grade and assign interest rates to loan applicants quickly, this platform assists in efficient decision-making, which is a critical driver in the peer-to-peer market's expansion. Additionally, the number of internet users worldwide has increased along with the adoption of smartphones, which has significantly boosted the online lending process in recent years and supported the peer-to-peer market expansion.

Global Peer-to-Peer Lending Market Restraints

Risk of Losing Money and Strict Government Regulations

P2P lending platforms come with some hazards specific to investors and borrowers. These dangers include a higher chance of fraud because of the online lending industry's emphasis on anonymity. The market for P2P lending services is still relatively new. Additionally, P2P networks with less diverse finance and a significant reliance on cheap interest rates for their providers of services encourage substantial transaction volumes. Additionally, 2.1% of customers prefer unregulated investment and lending choices on the market, while roughly 80% of people are concerned about the unorganized lending system. As a result, the growth of the peer-to-peer lending market is being constrained.

an escalating rivalry between leading technological companies

Big tech corporations are facing increasing rivalry with one another. The participants compete with one another, including Amazon, Facebook, and Google. As a result, other businesses need more money and make loans. As a result, the growth of the peer-to-peer (P2P) lending business is being constrained by escalating competition among significant technical enterprises.

Global Peer-to-Peer Lending Market Opportunities

The Advancements in the Chinese Market and Growth of Small Business Lending

Chinese people know the strategic value of making money available for investment in their country's economy. Internet finance is, therefore, a great way to get money. Furthermore, given China's enormous population, it is impractical to expand the number of banks and lending offices to meet its financial needs. Unlike alternative lending platforms, interest rates in traditional Chinese banks are exceptionally high. Moreover, compared to other developed economies, China has lower levels of bank penetration when the population's proportion of accounts is considered; this ultimately promotes peer-to-peer lending in the country. Additionally, corporations worldwide fund numerous SMEs, which has prompted the FinTech industry to implement online P2P lending. Further, the increased use of smartphones and other mobile devices has encouraged online P2P lending providers to focus more on small- and medium-sized businesses, which is anticipated to create profitable opportunities for the peer-to-peer market's growth.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms' advantages

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending services are becoming more popular, which reduces costs. Savings on labor and land are made. Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms are run via the internet using laptops or smartphones. Compared to traditional lending platforms, peer-to-peer (P2P) lending services' costs are inexpensive. Due to each advantage, peer-to-peer (P2P) lending systems are in high demand. As a result, the advantages associated with P2P lending platforms fuel the expansion of the worldwide P2P lending market during the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

The region-wise segmentation of the global peer-to-peer lending market includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

North America and Europe will dominate the regional market.

North America will command the market with the largest share while expanding at a CAGR of 26.8%. The industry's growth in this area is driven by an increase in online marketplace lending in the U.S. and investor and borrower awareness of alternative funding methods. Peer-to-peer lending is also widely used in the region due to the public's growing reliance on online platforms. The end-to-end credit journeys have also been digitally revolutionized in North American nations, which has helped to create a uniquely tailored and user-friendly lending experience.

Additionally, the peer-to-peer market is expected to benefit from factors including the decline in interest in banking activities and the financial crisis in this region. Further, nations like the U.S. are already helping financially due to the rise in personal, SME, and student lenders, all of whom contribute to the market's expansion.

Europe will expand at a CAGR of 34.8% and hold USD 2,76,200 million. Peer-to-peer lending platforms are becoming more widely used in Europe due to an increase in the number of investors and borrowers in European cities, stimulating the market's expansion. The industry is expanding due to increased digitalization in banks and financial institutions for identifying qualified borrowers and offering secure loan processes. Additionally, developing alternative online financing in European nations has benefited the FinTech sector by simplifying the credit loan application procedure and fostering peer-to-peer market expansion.

On the other hand, Asia-Pacific is anticipated to experience the quickest growth during the projection period. China dominates the Asia-Pacific region's peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sector. The Asia-Pacific region's peer-to-peer (P2P) lending market is expanding due to the rise in small and medium-sized businesses. Governments in developing countries like China and India continually work to promote cashless technologies. The peer-to-peer (P2P) lending market in the area is expanding because of this.

Segmental Analysis

The global peer-to-peer lending market is classified based on the business model, loan type, end-user, and region.

By Business Model

Based on the business model, the categories include alternate marketplace lending and traditional lending.

The traditional lending section is projected to advance at a CAGR of 29.3% and hold the largest market share. Traditional lending offers various financial services, but the standards for consumers and enterprises are generally quite strict. It collects money from investors and depositors, then made available in the market as interest-bearing loans for commercial and private usage. Because traditional banking charges higher interest rates than alternative loans, it has been less and less popular over time. However, the main developments in the market are several established lenders who have lowered their interest rates and enhanced loan payment services.

The alternate marketplace lending section will hold the second-largest market share. Alternative marketplace lending is a sort of alternative financing offered to people and businesses to use online platforms to get a broader range of credit options at lower rates. It uses technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data to establish a direct connection between borrowers and individual investors in the market. Additionally, alternative marketplace lending has made it possible for underbanked and unbanked borrowers to receive finance since investors can earn higher returns by accepting the financial risks and benefits associated with these borrowers participating in the lending process.

By End-User

Based on end-user, the categories include consumer credit, small business, student, and real estate loans.

The small business loans section is projected to advance at a CAGR of 29% and hold the largest market share. P2P credit lending gives small businesses access to money in the form of operating loans that give current companies working capital and start-up loans that finance brand-new company endeavors. As traditional banks start to accept loan requests in light of the numerous adverse effects and losses connected with P2P lending services, this segment's expansion may slow down in the future. The number of alternative lenders has also increased, including Kabbage, Inc., which intends to team up with banks to offer clients better, more flexible services.

The real estate loan segment will hold the second-largest share. P2P real estate lending is an appealing option to traditional banks for many consumers looking for a mortgage because it requires less paperwork and a quicker loan release time. In this market, the borrowers are often seasoned real estate firms that make long-term investments in real estate. Millennials and other younger generations of borrowers, who may not have the same commitment to banks as their parents have, are currently open to a wide range of options when making significant financial decisions, such as purchasing a property and supporting market growth.

By Loan Type

Based on the loan type, the categories are business and consumer.

The business section is projected to advance at a CAGR of 29.5% and hold the largest market share. Small and medium-sized businesses, other business entities, and new start-ups can receive business lending. Peer-to-peer lending market growth is also primarily driven by a rise in FinTech companies offering online lending services and government legislation implementation to increase lender transparency. It is anticipated that factors like offering consulting services before obtaining loans and extending business lending options will create alluring prospects for market expansion in the upcoming years.

The consumer section will hold the second-largest share. Peer-to-peer lending offers personal loans that are both secured and unsecured. Consumers can obtain house loans, automobile loans, mortgages, credit cards, school loans, and personal loans, among other financings. Consumer expectations are changing, and lending procedures are becoming more straightforward through mobile applications and other financial management tools. The rise also aids peer-to-peer lending sector expansion in millennials' preference for online platforms for loan applications.

Recent Developments

• In November 2022, With an industry-first PCP offering on digital channels, Zopa Bank made car shopping more convenient online.
• In February 2023, Zopa was pleased to announce that it has received £75 million ($93 million) to fuel its next phase of expansion and further its goal of becoming the best bank in Britain.
• In January 2023, Two new agreements were announced by Funding Circle to help small firms have easier access to capital.