Bitcoin holders are increasingly turning to crypto-backed loans to purchase real estate, enabling them to access liquidity without selling their Bitcoin holdings and incurring capital gains taxes. This emerging trend is gaining traction among early adopters, high-net-worth individuals, and entrepreneurs who are “crypto-rich” but face challenges qualifying for traditional financing.
Mauricio Di Bartolomeo, co-founder of the lending platform Ledn, explained that Bitcoin-backed loans allow borrowers to retain exposure to Bitcoin’s price appreciation while leveraging their holdings for property purchases. “Borrowing against Bitcoin doesn’t trigger capital gains taxes in most jurisdictions because it’s not a taxable event—you’re not selling the asset,” he said.
To secure such loans, borrowers typically post Bitcoin as collateral at a 50% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, receiving fiat currency or stablecoins to fund property purchases. The process is efficient, with average funding times as short as 9.6 hours. Borrowers can use the funds as a down payment or to cover the entire purchase.
The loan structure offers flexibility, with no mandatory monthly payments and the ability to repay at any time without penalties. Additionally, if Bitcoin appreciates during the loan term, borrowers can withdraw excess collateral, capitalising on the asset’s growth.
However, Bitcoin’s volatility remains a key consideration. If the LTV ratio rises to 80% due to price drops, lenders can liquidate a portion of the collateral to cover the loan, ensuring the borrower retains ownership of the purchased property.
The appeal of Bitcoin-backed loans is widespread, with significant adoption in markets such as Latin America, the U.S., and Europe. “Bitcoin as collateral is borderless, deeply liquid, and trades 24/7, making it an ideal form of collateral,” said Di Bartolomeo. Ledn reported issuing over $300 million in Bitcoin-backed loans in Q1 2025 and anticipates exceeding $1 billion by year-end. The company also noted that clients in 2024 earned eight times more from Bitcoin’s appreciation than they paid in loan interest.
This lending model is not limited to retail borrowers. High-net-worth individuals are increasingly leveraging Bitcoin-backed loans to acquire hard assets, such as real estate, while maintaining exposure to what they view as their best-performing investment.
Similarly, Gibraltar-based Xapo Bank launched a Bitcoin-backed lending product in March 2025, allowing clients to borrow up to $1 million against their Bitcoin holdings. Xapo Bank CEO Seamus Rocca highlighted that growing market confidence has made Bitcoin-backed borrowing an attractive option for many investors.
As cryptocurrency adoption continues to expand, Bitcoin-backed loans are becoming a transformative tool in real estate financing, offering a tax-efficient and flexible alternative for crypto investors.
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