How It
Works

The CNV regulatory framework for crowdlending has several interlocking parts. This page explains how the system is structured, what legal vehicles are permitted, and what the registration process means in practice.

The architecture of
regulated crowdlending

Visual diagram of crowdlending platform architecture showing the relationship between investors, platform, and borrowers in a regulatory framework

Three parties,
one regulated framework

In a crowdlending operation, three parties interact: the investor who provides funds, the borrower (or project) that receives them, and the platform that facilitates the transaction. CNV regulations govern the platform's obligations to both investors and the market.

The platform acts as an intermediary — it cannot take deposits, it cannot guarantee returns, and it must maintain investor funds in segregated accounts. Its role is strictly defined by regulation.

How a regulated operation
unfolds

Platform Registers with CNV

Before operating, a platform must apply for registration as a Proveedor de Servicios de Financiamiento Colectivo (PSFC). The CNV evaluates the application against the requirements set out in Resolution 717/2018. Registration is not automatic — it requires meeting specific capital, governance, and operational standards.

Project is Listed with Required Disclosures

When a borrower wants to raise funds through the platform, the platform must publish a prospecto de emisión containing specific information about the borrower, the amount sought, the interest rate, the repayment term, and the risk profile. This document is regulated — its minimum contents are specified by the CNV.

Investors Participate with Regulated Limits

Investors can commit funds to projects. The CNV framework establishes limits on how much any individual investor may commit to a single project and across all crowdlending platforms, designed to prevent excessive concentration of risk for retail investors.

Funds Held in Segregated Accounts

Investor funds must be held in accounts that are separate from the platform's own operating funds. This segregation is a core investor protection — it means that if the platform faces financial difficulties, investor funds are not commingled with platform assets.

Platform Reports to CNV Regularly

Registered platforms must submit regular reports to the CNV covering their operations, the projects they have facilitated, default rates, and other regulatory metrics. This ongoing reporting is what makes supervision possible.

Permitted legal
vehicles

CNV regulations specify the legal structures through which crowdlending operations can be conducted. Each vehicle has distinct characteristics that affect how the investment is structured and what protections apply.

Debt

Pagarés

Promissory Notes

The most common instrument in Argentine crowdlending. The borrower issues a pagaré (promissory note) to investors, representing a direct debt obligation. The terms — amount, rate, maturity — are specified in the prospecto de emisión.

Direct debt instrument between borrower and investors
Interest rate and maturity defined upfront
Regulated disclosure requirements apply
Structured

Fideicomisos

Financial Trusts

A fideicomiso financiero is a financial trust structure where assets (typically receivables) are transferred to a trust, which then issues certificates to investors. This structure can provide additional separation between the borrower's risk and the investment.

Assets held in trust separate from borrower
Can include different classes of certificates
Requires CNV registration of the trust
Equity-Adjacent

Obligaciones Negociables

Negotiable Obligations

Corporate bonds issued by companies seeking financing. When issued through crowdlending platforms, they must comply with both CNV securities regulations and the specific crowdlending framework requirements.

Corporate debt security
Can be listed on markets if requirements met
Dual regulatory framework applies

Important Note on Legal Vehicles

The descriptions above are educational summaries of the vehicle types referenced in CNV regulations. The specific legal characteristics, tax treatment, and implications of each instrument vary and depend on the specific terms of each operation. This is not legal or financial advice. Consult qualified professionals before making investment decisions.

What registered platforms
must do

Before any investor can participate in a project, the platform must publish a prospecto de emisión containing: the identity and financial information of the borrower, the amount sought, the interest rate, the repayment schedule, the risks associated with the operation, and the fees charged by the platform. The minimum content requirements are specified in CNV regulations.
Investor funds must be held in accounts that are legally and operationally separate from the platform's own funds. Platforms cannot use investor funds for their own operations. This segregation is verified as part of the CNV supervision process.
Registered platforms must clearly disclose all fees they charge to both investors and borrowers. This includes origination fees, service fees, and any other charges. Fee structures must be published on the platform's website and included in the prospecto de emisión.
When a borrower fails to make payments, the platform must follow specific procedures defined in CNV regulations. These include notifying investors of the default, initiating collection procedures, and reporting the default to the CNV. Platforms cannot simply absorb defaults without following the regulated process.
Registered platforms must submit periodic reports to the CNV detailing their operations. These reports include information about projects facilitated, investor participation, default rates, and financial position. The frequency and content of required reports are specified in CNV regulations.
CNV regulations prohibit platforms, their directors, and related parties from investing in projects listed on their own platform. This conflict of interest prohibition is designed to ensure that platform incentives are aligned with investor interests, not with specific borrowers.

Go deeper into
the regulations.

Our Regulations page breaks down each CNV resolution article by article with plain-language explanations.