Nexo advertises a 5.5% base rate for UAE users. Vault earns around 5.4%. If you're comparing headline numbers, those look nearly identical — a 10 basis point gap in either direction, depending on the day.
But the conditions attached to those numbers are very different. Here's what each actually requires.
What You Need to Earn Nexo's 5.5%
Nexo's 5.5% base rate is available in the UAE, but it comes with minimum requirements that apply from the moment you open an account:
Portfolio minimum: You need a total balance of $5,000 or more across the platform to earn any interest at all. Below that threshold, the rate is 0%.
Per-asset minimum: Each individual asset needs a balance of $500 or more. Split savings across several holdings without meeting the per-asset floor, and those portions earn nothing.
Proprietary currency holding: To access rates above the base level — up to 14% for the highest tier — you must hold at least 10% of your total portfolio in Nexo's own digital currency. The higher your allocation, the higher your tier, and the higher your rate.
Nexo is regulated under VARA in Dubai. It's designed for active digital-asset investors who already hold a diverse portfolio and are comfortable managing allocation percentages across multiple positions.
What Vault Requires
Vault has no portfolio minimum to start earning. Deposit what you have — whether that's AED 500 or AED 500,000 — and the rate applies from the first dirham.
There are no special holdings required. No allocation percentages to manage. No proprietary currency to buy in order to access the advertised rate.
The ~5.4% comes from fees paid by institutional borrowers in vetted lending markets. The rate is variable — it moves with borrowing demand — but it doesn't require any holding game to access.
Vault is in the process of obtaining ADGM regulatory approval in Abu Dhabi. It's built for UAE expats who want their savings working harder, without opening a specialist investment account.
Same Headline, Different Customer
The two products are serving different needs.
Nexo works well for someone who already holds a diversified digital-asset portfolio above $5,000, is comfortable with active management, and wants to earn on those holdings. In that context, their structure makes sense.
Vault is for the person who has AED in a current account earning 0.5%, or USD sitting in a savings account earning 2%, and wants a meaningful upgrade without learning a new category. No minimums. No allocation requirements. No specialist knowledge.
The headline rates look similar. The practical starting point is very different.
The Real Comparison
| Vault | Nexo | |
|---|---|---|
| Rate | ~5.4% (variable) | 5.5% base (variable) |
| Minimum to earn | None | $5,000 portfolio + $500/asset |
| Special holdings | None | Own digital currency required for higher tiers |
| Regulation | ADGM application in progress | VARA (Dubai) |
| Designed for | UAE expat savers | Digital-asset investors |
If you already hold $5,000+ in a diversified digital-asset portfolio on Nexo and you're comfortable managing allocation percentages, that 0.1% difference isn't the point — Nexo is built for you.
If you're a UAE expat who wants flexible savings that earn more than your bank account without any of that complexity, Vault is designed for you.
~5.4% current. No minimums. Withdraw anytime.
Join the waitlist at vlt.money
~5.4% is the current rate, variable, not guaranteed. Vault earnings are fees paid by institutional borrowers in vetted lending markets. Vault is in the process of obtaining ADGM regulatory approval.
