Rates and terms in this article were verified in August 2026. Some links are affiliate links; see our editorial integrity policy for how we handle that.
If you’re wondering how to get a Bitcoin loan, here’s the short version: choose a platform, deposit collateral, and receive your funds. That’s it: no credit check, no branch visit, and you never have to sell your Bitcoin to get cash.
This guide walks through all three steps, plus a checklist of things to confirm before you deposit a single satoshi. The goal is to help you pick the platform and terms that actually fit your situation, not to rush you into a loan.
1. Choose a Bitcoin Lending Platform
Choosing the right platform matters more than picking the first one you find. Before you compare specific lenders, get clear on your own answers to a few questions:
- How much Bitcoin (or other crypto) do you have available as collateral?
- Do you want cash in your bank account, or stablecoins in a wallet?
- How comfortable are you with liquidation risk if Bitcoin’s price drops?
- Do you want a fixed rate you can plan around, or a lower variable rate that can move?
With that in mind, here’s how the current field of trustworthy U.S. Bitcoin lenders differs.
Best Bitcoin Lending Sites in 2026
Every platform below is currently operating for U.S. borrowers (with state-level exceptions noted), discloses how it holds your collateral, and has a credible track record. Rates and LTV caps below are current as of August 2026; confirm the live number on the lender’s site before applying, since crypto lending rates move.
Ledn – Best for Custody
Ledn is Bitcoin-only, but it has the strongest custody story in the industry: your collateral sits with qualified custodians (BitGo, Anchorage, and Fidelity Digital Assets) rather than on Ledn’s own balance sheet, and it’s never re-lent. Ledn publishes monthly proof-of-reserves and holds SOC 2 Type 2 certification.
Rates run roughly 9.25%-11.49% APR, LTV is capped at 50%, and U.S. clients pay no admin fee. Loans start at $1,000. Note that Ledn isn’t available in every state, so check availability before you apply.
Coinbase – Best for Low Rates
Coinbase’s loan product is built on Morpho, an on-chain lending protocol. Your Bitcoin converts to cbBTC and secures a USDC loan enforced entirely by smart contract, with the terms visible on-chain.
That transparency comes with the lowest headline rates on our list: a variable APR that’s been reported as low as 5-6%, recalculated continuously with market demand. You can borrow up to $5 million against Bitcoin. Liquidation is automatic once your outstanding loan reaches roughly 86% of your collateral’s value; there’s no human on the other end to negotiate with. Not available to New York residents.
Nexo – Best for Flexibility
Nexo returned to the U.S. market in 2026 after a multi-year absence, and it’s the most flexible platform here: over 100 cryptocurrencies accepted as collateral, loans starting at just $50, and a revolving credit line with no fixed repayment schedule.
Standard rates run from 10.9% up to 18.9% depending on your loyalty tier, but Nexo also offers a genuine 0% APR “Zero-interest Credit” product on qualifying low-LTV loans in BTC or ETH, with no fees. The best rates are tied to holding the NEXO token, and its state-by-state U.S. rollout is still in progress, so confirm availability in your state first. Our guide to Nexo loans covers the loyalty tiers in detail.
Strike – Best for No Fees (and No-Liquidation Option)
Strike’s standard Bitcoin-backed loans carry no origination fee, no early-repayment fee, and no late fee. Rates run roughly 9.5%-11.25% APR over a 12-month term, with a 50% LTV cap.
Strike also offers a newer volatility-protected loan: a slightly higher rate (roughly 10.7%-14.2%) in exchange for no margin calls and no liquidation during the loan term, as long as payments stay current. That’s a meaningful trade for anyone who’s been burned by a liquidation before. The volatility-protected product isn’t available in California, New York, or Texas; standard loans have their own state footprint, so check before applying.
Unchained – Best for Multisig Security (Business/HNW Only)
Unchained uses collaborative multisig custody. Your Bitcoin is secured by three keys: you hold one, Unchained holds one, and an independent key agent holds the third. No single party, including Unchained, can move your collateral alone. It’s the closest thing to self-custody you’ll find at a lending platform.
The trade-off is access: Unchained’s loan product is now aimed at businesses and high-net-worth borrowers, with a $150,000 minimum loan and rates around 14-16.21% APR. If you don’t meet that minimum, this one’s aspirational rather than practical, but worth knowing about as your holdings grow.
2. Verify Your Identity and Deposit Your Collateral
Once you’ve picked a platform, the next step is straightforward: create an account, complete identity verification, and deposit your collateral.
Verification (KYC) typically asks for a government-issued ID, your phone number, and mailing address, the same information any regulated financial company collects. Expect this step to take anywhere from a few minutes to a day, depending on the platform.
Once you’re verified, you’ll deposit Bitcoin (or another accepted asset) into the lender’s custody. The amount you deposit, combined with the platform’s LTV ratio, determines your maximum loan size: at a standard 50% LTV, $20,000 in Bitcoin collateral gets you roughly a $10,000 loan.
This is also the moment to double-check how your specific lender custodies collateral. Some, like Ledn, use independent qualified custodians. Others, like Unchained, use multisig arrangements where you retain a key. Understanding this now, not after something goes wrong, is part of doing your homework.
3. Agree to Terms and Receive Your Funds
With your collateral deposited, you’ll be presented with your final loan terms: the amount you’re borrowing, the interest rate, the LTV ratio, the repayment schedule, and, critically, the liquidation threshold.
Read all of it before you accept. Once you agree, funds are typically disbursed within minutes to a day, either as fiat to your bank account or as stablecoins to a wallet, depending on the platform.
From there, your obligation is simple: make your payments (or, on a revolving line like Nexo’s, manage your balance) and keep an eye on your LTV. If your collateral’s value drops enough to approach the lender’s threshold, you’ll get a margin call, a request to add collateral or pay down principal. Miss it, and the lender can sell enough of your collateral to bring the loan back into a safe range. Repay in full, on the other hand, and your original collateral comes back to you.
Before You Borrow: A Quick Checklist
Before you deposit collateral anywhere, confirm these four things:
- LTV headroom. A lower starting LTV (say, 50% vs. 90%) gives your collateral more room to fall in value before you’re at risk of a margin call.
- Liquidation threshold. Know the exact point at which the lender can sell your collateral, and whether liquidation is automatic (as with Coinbase’s on-chain loans) or gives you a grace period.
- State availability. Not every lender operates in every state. Confirm your state is covered before you go through verification.
- Fee vs. rate. A low headline rate with a 2% origination fee can cost more over a 12-month term than a slightly higher rate with no fees. Compare the real, all-in cost.
FAQs About Bitcoin Loans
How does Bitcoin lending work?
Bitcoin lending connects a borrower who wants cash with a lender who accepts Bitcoin as collateral. You deposit your Bitcoin, receive a loan sized to a percentage of its value, and get your Bitcoin back once you repay in full.
Because Bitcoin’s price is volatile, you may need to deposit more collateral over the life of your loan or risk being margin called. If you can’t add collateral, the lender can liquidate your Bitcoin to recover the loan value.
What is a Bitcoin loan?
A Bitcoin loan is a type of crypto-backed loan that lets you borrow cash or stablecoins using your Bitcoin as collateral, instead of selling it. It gives you access to liquidity while keeping your market exposure intact.
How do I get Bitcoin to use as collateral?
You can buy Bitcoin with cash, a debit card, or another cryptocurrency at exchanges like Coinbase or Strike, or through apps like Cash App. Once you own it, you can move it to your chosen lending platform to use as collateral.
Final Thoughts on Getting a Bitcoin Loan
Getting a Bitcoin loan in 2026 is faster and more transparent than it’s ever been, with regulated, well-documented platforms to choose from. Most applications are approved within minutes to a day, there’s no credit check, and your credit score is untouched either way.
The trade-off for that speed and flexibility is risk you have to manage yourself: watch your LTV, understand your liquidation threshold, and only borrow what you’re comfortable owing if Bitcoin’s price moves against you. Do that homework up front, and a Bitcoin loan can be a genuinely useful way to access cash without giving up your position.
