2nd Global Alternative Finance Market Benchmarking Report (Summary) (Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance)

Summary

• Data was collected from July 2020 through May 2021 with 70+ outreach research partners.p.4
• The 2020 survey had 703 respondents and 1660 firm-level observations, versus 821 respondents and 1801 observations in 2019.p.5
• P2P Consumer Lending remains the largest model, at 31%.p.8
• Donation-based crowdfunding grew by 160% between 2019 and 2020.p.8
• In 2020, 47% of alternative finance activity went to SME borrowers, issuers and fundraisers.p.9
• Debt-based models make up 94% of activity.p.9
• More than half of all firms view changes to regulation as a medium-to-high risk factor.p.13

Key insights

1. The study drew on 703 respondents in 2020 and 821 in 2019.p.5
2. P2P Consumer Lending remains the largest alternative finance model at 31%.p.8
3. Donation-based crowdfunding grew by 160% between 2019 and 2020.p.8
4. Debt-based models make up 94% of activity.p.9
5. More than half of all firms see changes to regulation as a medium-to-high risk factor, though most firms perceive regulation positively.p.13