# How to Start Auto-Lending > Sign up for FalconLend.ai, set up your Bitfinex API key, choose a strategy and turn on the lending switch — four steps to set up USDT auto-lending. - URL: https://falconlend.ai/en/faq/start-auto-lending/ - Updated: 2026-10-23 **Contents** * [Before You Begin](#before-you-begin) * [Setting Up Auto-Lending on FalconLend](#setting-up-auto-lending-on-falconlend) * [1. Sign Up and Log In to FalconLend.ai](#1-sign-up-and-log-in-to-falconlendai) * [2. Choose the Free Trial Plan or Another Subscription Plan](#2-choose-the-free-trial-plan-or-another-subscription-plan) * [3. Set Up Your API Key](#3-set-up-your-api-key) * [4. Choose an Asset and Lending Strategy](#4-choose-an-asset-and-lending-strategy) * [Start Earning Interest](#start-earning-interest) --- ## Before You Begin * Make sure the following are done * [x] Do you have a Bitfinex account and API key? * [Bitfinex Setup and Creating an API Key](https://falconlend.ai/en/faq/bitfinex-settings.md) * [x] Does your Bitfinex Funding Wallet hold funds to lend (more than 152 USD)? * [Bitfinex Wallets Explained](https://falconlend.ai/en/faq/bitfinex-wallet-transfer.md) * [x] Do you still need to deposit funds into Bitfinex? * [Bitfinex Deposits](https://falconlend.ai/en/faq/bitfinex-on-ramp.md) ## Setting Up Auto-Lending on FalconLend ### 1. Sign Up and Log In to FalconLend.ai * Platform URL: FalconLend.ai * You can sign in quickly with Google account verification ![FalconLend login](https://falconlend.ai/images/zh/login.png "FalconLend login") ### 2. Choose the Free Trial Plan or Another Subscription Plan Step 1: Choose the free plan ![Step 1: Choose the free plan](https://falconlend.ai/images/zh/subscription-free-plan.png "Step 1: Choose the free plan") Step 2: Subscribe to the free plan ![Step 2: Subscribe to the free plan](https://falconlend.ai/images/zh/checkout-free-plan.png "Step 2: Subscribe to the free plan") Step 3: Complete the free plan subscription ![Step 3: Complete the free plan subscription](https://falconlend.ai/images/zh/finish-free-plan.png "Step 3: Complete the free plan subscription") ### 3. Set Up Your API Key If you don't have a Bitfinex API key yet, see [Bitfinex Setup and Creating an API Key](https://falconlend.ai/en/faq/bitfinex-settings.md) ![FalconLend API key and secret setup](https://falconlend.ai/images/zh/falconlend-api-key-setting.png "FalconLend API key and secret setup") * Go to Strategy & API Settings > `API Key Credentials`, enter your `Bitfinex API Key` and `Bitfinex API Secret`, then click `Save` at the bottom right * When you `Save`, the platform checks that the permissions are set correctly When the permissions are correct, the key is saved successfully (and the **API Key Health Check** status shows **Valid**) ![FalconLend API key and secret saved](https://falconlend.ai/images/zh/falconlend-api-key-setting-success.png "FalconLend API key and secret saved") If the key has excessive permissions, the API key check fails (and the **API Key Health Check** status shows a failure). This check ensures the key has no permission to transfer or withdraw funds ![FalconLend API key and secret check failed](https://falconlend.ai/images/zh/falconlend-api-key-setting-fail.png "FalconLend API key and secret check failed") ### 4. Choose an Asset and Lending Strategy * Go to Strategy & API Settings > `Strategy & Parameters`. Use `Select Asset` to choose the asset you want to use, then turn on the `Automated Lending` switch next to it (green means enabled) * Under `Strategy Presets`, pick a strategy (such as `Short-Term Liquidity`, `High-Yield Lock` or `Custom Strategy`) * Finally, click `Save USDT Strategy Settings` at the bottom right (the button shows your selected asset) * To learn the differences between the strategies in detail * See the article: [The Three Built-in Strategies](https://falconlend.ai/en/faq/falconlend-strategy.md) ## Start Earning Interest Once done, go to "Order Book & Loans > Open Offers" to see your strategy start placing offers ![FalconLend Open Offers](https://falconlend.ai/images/zh/order-book-loans-open-offers.png "FalconLend Open Offers") * To learn about lending performance * See the article: [Viewing Your Lending Performance](https://falconlend.ai/en/faq/interest-earnings-report.md) --- ## Risk Disclosure 1. **Rate volatility**: Funding rates float with market supply and demand; there is no fixed or guaranteed return. You can set a "minimum lending rate," but setting it too high may leave funds idle and unlent, lowering your effective APR. 2. **Exchange / platform risk**: Your funds are held at a third-party exchange (e.g., Bitfinex). Insolvency, hacks, frozen withdrawals, or regulatory changes could cause loss or make funds unrecoverable — outside this platform’s control. 3. **Crypto price volatility**: If collateral value drops sharply, default losses can still occur under extreme conditions. 4. **Liquidity risk**: In quiet markets, funds may not be lent out or may not be redeemable immediately. 5. **Smart contract / technical risk**: System errors, downtime, and operational mistakes can occur. 6. **Regulatory risk**: Crypto regulation in Taiwan and the US continues to evolve and may affect the service or your taxes. 7. **Tax responsibility**: Reporting lending income is your own responsibility. 8. **Platform service risk**: The platform only helps execute lending; if the service is interrupted, you must manage your positions yourself. **Important:** This site is for informational purposes only and is **not investment or financial advice**. Lending **does not guarantee principal or returns**; it is not a deposit and is not insured, and past performance does not indicate future results. Please read Bitfinex’s public disclosures and assess the risks yourself before lending, or consult a professional. We make a good-faith effort to keep information up to date, but markets change quickly; if anything differs from a third-party platform’s announcements, the third-party platform prevails. FalconLend’s official social accounts are for sharing information only. We will never message you first, or ask for your API keys, passwords, or any transfer. Beware of impersonators. Full page: https://falconlend.ai/en/risk/