The loan market backed by Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies is showing signs of stagnation. This scenario came to light after a survey conducted by financial services company Ledn was disseminated.
The firm surveyed 1,244 Bitcoin holders in April 2026 to find out why these funds are not growing at the same pace as the overall digital asset economy.
The study, conducted in the United States and Australia, revealed that the main adversaries are: Users prioritize institutional trust and regulatory clarity over commercial interests Like interest rates.
The study showed that 88% of those surveyed are considering seeking a loan with BTC as collateral, but only 14% are currently doing so. As the report’s authors explained, “This represents a 6:1 ratio between overall borrowing appetite and current usage of Bitcoin-backed loans.”
When we asked people who didn’t use these services what prevented them from adopting them, they said, “Most often the barriers have to do with trust, not knowledge.” Users highlighted the following Any collateral or security they hand over while in custody must have safeguards to reduce the fear of losing funds..
The three most common concerns reported in the survey were “managing crypto price volatility, managing settlement risk, and regulatory uncertainty regarding crypto-backed loans.” Interest rates have been reduced to below these factors.
“Bitcoin is the only major asset class where secured loans are not growing at the same rate as portfolio assets,” the platform’s report details. The people who actually use this system constitute a certain class of people who avoid selling their belongings during price fluctuations.
“14% of those actually requesting loans belong to the economically sophisticated group.” This sector relies on leveragea system in which borrowed funds are used to obtain liquidity without giving up long-term holdings in the hope that their value will increase.
“These are not borrowers seeking emergency liquidity. “They use loans to raise capital without selling long-term positions. This is the same logic that drives margin loans for stocks and mortgage lines of credit for real estate,” the financial company elaborates.
The document adds that 72% of owners agree that these products “enhance the role these products play in facilitating access to capital without the need to sell, allowing owners to access capital while maintaining market exposure.”
“Tens of millions of people currently own Bitcoin, and Bitcoin is managed by regulated institutions and analyzed by major rating agencies. However, Bitcoin-backed loans are still in their infancy compared to other traditional asset classes of this size,” said Mauricio Di Bartolomeo, a Venezuelan businessman and co-founder of Redon.
“The lawsuit has been resolved. What is still being developed is the trust infrastructure that will provide the borrowers with the security they need to operate,” the executive added.
Ledn said this consumer market is Potential to expand from current $3 billion to $1 trillion within 5 to 10 years.
Despite this optimistic forecast based on infrastructure maturity, the realities of the commercial environment present a potential risk of capital loss. For example, as reported by CriptoNoticias, on March 16, 2026, lending, trading, and custody platform BlockFills formally filed for bankruptcy before US authorities. this entity Faced with a severe liquidity crisis and had to completely paralyze operations..
In contrast, there are commercial efforts to expand financing options. Mortgage company Better, in partnership with Coinbase exchange, launched the following program on March 26, 2026. Allows you to use Bitcoin or USDC stablecoins to cover your down payment on a home.
Resolving the 6:1 usage gap will depend on preliminary test audits and the introduction of a clear regulatory framework. The speed of adoption of these tools will determine whether the sector can overcome the fear of corporate bankruptcy and stabilize the financial ecosystem developed on the basis of Bitcoin and digital assets.
(Tag translation) Bitcoin (BTC)
