The growth case rests on a simple dynamic: as bitcoin ownership broadens and prices rise, holders increasingly want to borrow against appreciated collateral for tax efficiency, working capital or lifestyle needs, while lenders gain comfort underwriting overcollateralized loans secured by a highly liquid asset.
The bitcoin lending industry was reshaped by the failures of Celsius, BlockFi, and Genesis during the 2022–2023 crypto credit crisis. While each firm had different business models, they shared common vulnerabilities: maturity mismatches, excessive leverage, concentrated counterparty exposure and the rehypothecation of customer assets.
Their collapses underscored the importance of conservative underwriting, transparent risk management, and fully collateralized lending-principles that have become the foundation of the next generation of BTC-backed lenders, the SVB report said.
Landmark transactions, including Ledn’s $188 million asset-backed security, the first bitcoin-collateralized deal to receive an investment-grade rating from a Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization, underscore growing confidence in BTC-backed credit structures, according to SVB.
While bitcoin-backed loan rates still generally range from 7.5% to 16% annual percentage rate (APR), well above comparable traditional financing, SVB expects increased participation from banks and private credit funds to narrow spreads over time. Early signs are already emerging, including Strike’s recently announced 7.5% rate on term loans larger than $5 million, backed by a $2.1 billion credit facility from Tether.