Key Points
- You can use your Bitcoin as collateral to access capital without selling your BTC.
- Avoid creating a taxable event by using your Bitcoin as collateral for a loan.
- Choose from centralized lenders or a growing number of DeFi protocols.
What Does It Mean To Borrow Against Bitcoin?
Buy and hold takes on a special meaning for Bitcoiners, but the investment strategy can also tie up capital you may want to use for other purposes. One potential solution is toborrowagainst yourBitcoin, unlocking its value to build your next project, make your next investment, or reallocate in some other way.
By using your Bitcoin as collateral, you can borrow up to 30%, 50%, or even more of its stored value to access cash without selling your Bitcoin. This strategy allows you to keep your Bitcoin while it continues to appreciate and avoid capital gains taxes that may result from selling your Bitcoin.
How Do Bitcoin Loans Work?
With a Bitcoin loan, you provide Bitcoin as collateral in exchange for a loan funded in USD (or another fiat currency), a stablecoin equivalent, or another cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency loans differ from traditionallendingin that the collateral makes the loan viable, rather than your credit history or income. In the event of default, the lender can use the crypto you’ve deposited to satisfy the loan balance.
Because BTC’s value can be volatile, lenders structure the loan to be overcollateralized, meaning the initial value of the collateral is higher than the loan amount. This structure allows some room for changes in the value of Bitcoin, reducing the risk of a margin call, which is a demand from the lender that you either pay down the loan or provide more collateral.
As An Example:
Let’s say you want to borrow$10,000. Depending on which lender you choose, you’ll need to deposit more than$10,000in BTC to fund the loan. One popular platform requires a$20,000deposit to fund a loan of this amount or a50%loan-to-value ratio. Others may let you borrow a higher percentage of your collateral.
A Bitcoin loan can be fixed-term interest-only or interest and principal. Some lenders also offer a line of credit you can access as needed. You’ll need to deposit the required amount of Bitcoin to a custodial account with the lender. Once you’ve made the deposit, the lender funds the loan, and you can use the money for any purpose, sometimes in just minutes.
Top 3 Bitcoin Loan Platforms For 2024
- Nexo
- Arch Lending
- Ledn
Borrowing options range from small loans up to larger funding of $2 million or more. Interest rates range from 0% to more than 10%.
| Platform | Crypto Accepted For Collateral | Origination Fees | Interest Rates | Minimum Provided Loans | Maximum Provided Loans | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nexo | BTC ETH XRP LTC & more | 0% | 0% – 13.9% | $50 | $2 million | Borrowing rates as low as 0% to 1.9% for Gold and Platinum |
| Arch Lending | ETH BTC AAVE AVAX BCH LINK LTC MATIC SOL UNI WBTC + Equity shares from one of 33 approved private companies | Liquidation fee of 2% | 12% | Depends on Location | None | Arch Lending puts security andtrust first, storing yourcollateral withcold storage providers |
| Ledn | BTC | 2% admin fee | 12.4% | $500 | $1,000,000 | Ledn offers proof-of-reserves, letting you verify your deposit at any time |
Nexo
As an all-in-one crypto platform,Nexooffers a convenient way to buy, sell, earn yield, or borrow. With Nexo’s credit line wallet, you can borrow up to 50% of your Bitcoin’s value. Rates favor Gold and Platinum loyalty level users, ranging from 0% for platinum loyalty level users up to 13.9% for base level users.
Borrowing With Nexo
- Low rates for Gold and Platinum users
- No origination fees and low minimum loans
- Borrow up to $2 million
| Crypto Accepted For Collateral | Origination Fees | Interest Rates | Minimum Provided Loans | Maximum Provided Loans | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTC ETH XRP LTC & more | 0% | 0% – 13.9% | $50 | $2 million | Borrowing rates as low as 0% to 1.9% for Gold and Platinum |
Visit Nexo
Read Our Nexo Review
Arch Lending
Arch offers world-class financial products for holders of cryptocurrencies and private shares in unicorn startups under a single destination, starting with the most flexible and seamless loan product on the market.
Borrowing With Arch Lending
- Startup Equity-Backed Loans
- Custom repayment schedules
- Borrow up to $2 million
| Crypto Accepted For Collateral | Origination Fees | Interest Rates | Minimum Provided Loans | Maximum Provided Loans | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETH BTC AAVE AVAX BCH LINK LTC MATIC SOL UNI WBTC stETH wstETH + Equity shares from one of 33 approved private companies | Liquidation fee of 2% | 12% | Depends on Location | None | Arch Lending puts security andtrust first, storing yourcollateral withcold storage providers |
Visit Arch Lending
Read Our Arch Lending Review
Ledn
Founded in 2018,Lednplaces its focus on the Bitcoin community and selected Bitcoin-centric financial services. The Toronto-based company prides itself on transparency, security, and privacy. Choose from Bitcoin-backed loans, which provide funding in USD or USDC, or B2X, a Bitcoin loan combined with a BTC purchase to increase your holdings.
Borrowing With Ledn
- Transparency: Verify your deposit with Ledn’s innovative proof-of-reserves feature
- Fast turnaround: Get funding in 24 hours or less
- Borrow from $500 to $1,000,000 with 50% LTV
| Crypto Accepted For Collateral | Origination Fees | Interest Rates | Minimum Provided Loans | Maximum Provided Loans | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTC | 2% admin fee | 7.9% | $500 | $1,000,000 | Ledn offers proof-of-reserves, letting you verify your deposit at any time |
Visit Ledn
Tax Advantages
Bitcoin loans can be attractive for a number of reasons, buttaxadvantages remain one of the key reasons BTC investors choose asset-backed loans.
- Capital Gains Taxes:If you sell your Bitcoin to access capital in the US, you’ll create a tax liability for either short-term or long-term capital gains, depending on how long you’ve held your Bitcoin. For those with sizable gains, the tax costs can be significant. Using a loan to access capital avoids the need to sell and create a taxable event.
- Deductible Interest:In some cases, particularly for loans used to fund real estate or business-related purchases, the interest for your loan may be tax-deductible. Discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax advisor.
What Do I Need To Get A Bitcoin Loan?
Unlike a traditional loan, for which you’ll typically need to provide income documentation and likely a bevy of other paperwork, to get a Bitcoin loan, you just need enough Bitcoin as collateral. The amount of Bitcoin you can provide as collateral drives the amount you can borrow.
Expect an easy process with minimally intrusive forms; some platforms ask how you’ll use the funds. To complete the loan, however, you’ll need access to the private keys to place your collateral in a custodialwalletwith the lender.
Ultimately, one of the most important assets you’ll need in the transaction is knowledge. It’s important to understand key terms, such as loan-to-value (LTV) and margin calls, and how they can affect your loan.
What Is Loan-To-Value (LTV), And How Does It Affect Loan Rates?
Loan-to-value compares the loan balance to the value of your collateral. For example, if you borrow$10,000and the Bitcoin you deposit for collateral is worth$25,000, then the loan-to-value is40%.
Unlike home loans or auto loans, where LTV also comes into play, Bitcoin loans use a more volatile asset, so LTV can change rapidly. You’ll find most loans don’t allow high LTV ratios, typically capping the loan at about50%LTV.
This LTV limit helps to safeguard the loan; a low LTV acts as a buffer against price volatility. Between 2021 and 2022, Bitcoin’s value fell by over70%. Using the previous example, if the value of your collateral fell by just60%, you only have about$10,000in collateral for a $10,000 loan.
In this example, the lender will require you to pay down part of the loan, bringing the LTV back in line with the loan terms, or post more collateral to reduce the LTV. In most cases, the lender would liquidate the collateral when LTV reaches80%to90%.
A loan with a higher LTV is riskier for the lender, so while you’ll find LTV limits as a safeguard against margin calls, you may also find lower interest rates for loans with a lower LTV.
Interest-Only Loans Vs. Interest & Principal Vs. Credit Lines: How Do They Compare?
You’ll find three distinct types of loans offered by Bitcoin lenders.
- Interest-Only Loans:With an interest-only loan, you don’t pay down the principal each month. Instead, you’ll pay interest only, with a lump sum due at the end of the loan term. You may be able to roll the balance over into a new loan.
- Interest And Principal:An interest and principal loan is similar to an auto or home loan, wherein your monthly payments cover interest but also pay down the loan balance.
- Credit Lines:Similar to a line of credit you might have based on your home equity, a Bitcoin-backed line of credit lets you access cash based on the amount of BTC you deposit. With a line of credit, you only pay interest on the amount you draw from the credit line, and there is no fixed term.
A given loan type may not be the best fit for the way you want to deploy capital. Some lenders may offer more than one type of loan. With several well-established lenders to choose from, you have options.
Margin Calls
A margin call refers to a notice from the lender informing you that you’ll need to add more collateral (or pay down the balance) to maintain an acceptable LTV ratio for the loan. Some lenders use the term collateral call.
With crypto loans, LTV and margin are linked. The “margin” is your collateral for the loan, and if the value of your collateral falls below a certain threshold, the lender’s risk increases. A fall in collateral value increases the loan’s LTV ratio.
A change in the value of Bitcoin can send you scrambling to pay down the loan, add more collateral, or even cause a liquidation if you can’t meet a margin call.
For example, if you provide$20,000worth of Bitcoin as collateral on a$10,000loan, the initial LTV is50%. But if the value of the Bitcoin falls to15,000without any change in the loan balance, the LTV rises to66-67%. With many lenders, you can expect a margin call if the LTV rises that high. If the value of the collateral falls much further, the lender may liquidate the collateral to settle the loan balance.
Here are the LTV guidelines from one well-known lender:
- Target LTV (50%):In this case, the target LTV is the ratio at which the loan started and the level at or below which the lender wants the ratio to remain.
- Margin Call LTV (70%):Expect a margin call notice from the lender when the LTV reaches 65 to 70%, assuming a 50% target LTV. This level varies depending on the initial LTV and sometimes by collateral type.
- Liquidation LTV (80%):If the value of the collateral continues to fall and you haven’t added collateral (or paid down the loan), the lender can liquidate your collateral to pay the loan balance.
BTC Loan Comparison
Several lenders offer a calculator that helps you understand the total costs for the loan as well as monthly payments. Before choosing, compare loan costs and loan types available from the providers you’re considering.
Different types of loans have differing interest costs as well. For example, here we compare an interest-only loan compared to a loan that requires interest and principal payments.
| Interest-Only | Interest And Principal | |
|---|---|---|
| Borrowed Sum | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Interest Rate | 9% | 9% |
| Term Of Loan | 12 months | 12 months |
| LTV | 50% | 50% |
| Monthly Repayment | $375 for 11 months with a final payment of $50,375 on month 12 | $4,373 monthly (12 payments) |
| Total Owed | $54,500 | $52,471 |
| Total Interest Charged | $4,500 | $2,471 |
How Do Taxes On Bitcoin Loans Work?
Funding from a Bitcoin-backed loan isn’t taxable because it’s not income, nor is it a realized investment gain. This aspect of Bitcoin loans makes Bitcoin loans appealing to many investors.
However, if you have an unrealized gain on the Bitcoin you’ve posted as collateral and the lender is forced to liquidate the collateral, you’ll have a realized gain on the amount of Bitcoin the lender had to liquidate.
A forced liquidation can result in acapital gains taxliability.
As another consideration, most lenders separate yield-bearing products from borrowing products, but theAlchemix protocol offers a BTC loan that uses your collateral to generate yield. Consult your tax advisor to understand the tax implications before you choose a yield-bearing loan.
Fees For Borrowing Against BTC
Fees for Bitcoin loans are straightforward in most cases.
- Origination Fee (Administration Fee):Some loans require a one-time fee for admin expenses. Some lenders call it an administration fee. Although it’s a one-time fee, BTC loans are typically short-term loans, so a one-time fee can have a big impact on borrowing costs.
- Withdrawal Fee:With some lenders, you may have to pay to withdraw your Bitcoin from the platform.
- Liquidation Fee:Check the fine print for details on fees for liquidations. On some platforms, you could pay up to 7% of the collateral value.
You’ll also want to consider conversion fees and costs associated with moving capital where it needs to be.
For example, a loan may fund in USDC, but maybe you need USD – and you need it in the bank. Moving the money will add to the loan cost. As another example, if you’re using a DeFi platform, there may be costs to moving your assets to and from the platform.
Are There Any Risks When Borrowing Against Bitcoin?
Bitcoin loans can bring distinct risks, some of which are unique to collateralized lending and specifically crypto loans.
- Custodial Risks:To fund a Bitcoin loan, you’ll need to deposit to a custodial wallet, which can bring its own risks. Much like an exchange, the platform can become a target for hackers. Research storage and security measures before depositing your Bitcoin.
- Rehypothecation:When you pledge your Bitcoin as collateral, that act is called hypothecation. If the lender then pledges the asset again for its own purposes, it’s called rehypothecation, and some lenders use this mechanism to gain access to lending funds. Consider this risk carefully and research the lender before committing your coins.
- Asset Exposure Risks:Early 2022 saw some lenders pushed to the brink of bankruptcy – and beyond, due in part to exposure to riskier assets. Some borrowers may prefer a Bitcoin-only lender.
- Margin Call:As discussed earlier, a margin call is a requirement for additional collateral or to pay the loan down so that the LTV is within the target range. A margin call can cause you to sell other assets or add more collateral at an inopportune time. Choosing a low LTV ratio can provide a larger buffer.
- Forced Liquidation:If you’re unable to meet the margin requirements, the lender can liquidate your Bitcoin to satisfy the loan balance. Loans with lower LTV ratios can help reduce the risk of liquidation.
DeFi Loans
While they make the process easier, centralized finance (CeFi) platforms aren’t the only way to borrow against your Bitcoin. A growing number of decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols now offer ways to borrow against crypto assets.
You can think of DeFi protocols as programs that automate the lending process in a permissionless way using smart contracts.
- Tax Risks (liquidation):While taking a Bitcoin loan isn’t a taxable event, a forced liquidation can create a taxable event for capital gains, assuming your cost basis is below the liquidation value.
- Tax Risks (self-repaying loans): Notably, the Alchemix protocol offers self-repaying loans that use your Bitcoin collateral to generate yield. Yields generated by your deposit may be taxable as investment income or create another type of tax liability. Discuss the possible implications with your tax advisor.
A protocol is just a set of rules. If the loan transaction conforms to the protocol requirements, it’s authorized without human intervention and funded through a lending pool of peers who can earn yield by providing liquidity.
Some common DeFi lending protocols include the following:
- Aave
- Compound
- Maker
- Alchemix
Note:Because current DeFi protocols don’t run on Bitcoin’s blockchain, you’ll need to convert your Bitcoin to a tokenized version, such as wBTC, which is a token on the Ethereum network designed to provide 1:1 value for BTC.
In Conclusion
Bitcoin loans come in all shapes and sizes, offering a solution to many borrowing needs and allowing you to keep the asset as it grows in value.
While there are often tax advantages to borrowing against your Bitcoin rather than selling, the practice also brings risks of liquidations or surprise tax bills. Keep an eye on borrowing costs, as well, and consider LTV ratios carefully.
A well-chosen and well-managed Bitcoin loan can be a powerful part of your financial strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use Bitcoin as collateral for a loan on several lending platforms as well as a growing number of decentralized lending protocols.
Bitcoin loans come with a number of risks, including margin calls and liquidation of your collateral.
Some providers, such as Goldfinch.finance, offer crypto loans without collateral. However, borrowing rates trend much higher compared to Bitcoin-backed loans.
Some lenders, such as SALT Lending and Ledn, allow BTC-backed loans for $1 million or more.
A few lenders, including Nexo, let borrowers borrow with 0% interest. However, 0% perks may be reserved for higher membership or loyalty tiers, possibly adding different costs to the platform.
Typically, lenders can complete funding within 24 hours. But some platforms, such as Nexo’s BTC-backed line of credit, offer instant approval.
Expect to make a deposit for crypto loans. The exception would be flash loans offered by DeFi platforms such as AAVE, in which the loan is paid back from the proceeds of an executed smart contract.
Eric Huffman
Staff Writer
Eric Huffman is a staff writer for MilkRoad.com. In addition to crypto and blockchain topics, Eric also writes extensively on insurance and personal finance matters that affect everyday households.
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Shannon Ullman
Managing Editor
Managing editor working to make crypto easier to understand. Pairing editorial integrity with crypto curiosity for content that makes readers feel like they finally “get it.”
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