Stricter rules being considered for P2P lenders

Industry players fear thresholds, conditions could be too harsh and limit development

China's banking regulator is considering setting a threshold for market access, and introducing strict conditions on the leverage management of Chinese peer-to-peer lending companies, which industry experts said could help control risks, but also limit the sector's development.

P2P lending platforms differ from others, in that they lend money to unrelated individuals, or peers, without using a traditional financial intermediary such as a bank.