Global Borrowing Against Bitcoin to Become More Affordable, Ledn Executive Predicts

Bitcoin Lending to Go Global as Competition Heats Up, Says Ledn Co-Founder

Bitcoin-backed lending is entering a new era — and borrowers worldwide could soon reap the benefits of cheaper, more accessible financing.

Mauricio Di Bartolomeo, co-founder of crypto lending platform Ledn, believes the next four years will bring a wave of innovation and falling interest rates to the bitcoin loan market, driven by both policy shifts and growing institutional interest.

Speaking to CoinDesk, Di Bartolomeo said, “We’re about to see a global explosion of bitcoin-backed credit products. Rates will drop sharply — potentially rivaling traditional loans like home equity lines or personal credit offerings.”

That’s thanks in part to the Trump administration’s more favorable stance on crypto, which has already led to regulatory rollbacks. Most notably, the SEC’s repeal of SAB 121 — a rule that previously deterred banks from entering crypto custody — has removed a major roadblock for traditional financial institutions.

With banks now able to participate, Di Bartolomeo expects heavy competition to push lending rates down, benefiting consumers. “Right now, we lend at 12.5%, fully collateralized, and haven’t taken a loss in seven years. But soon, you’ll see banks offering 12%, then 10%, then 9%. The pressure will drive rates lower and make crypto lending more mainstream,” he said.

What makes bitcoin uniquely positioned to scale globally is its digital, borderless nature. “Gold in one country isn’t the same as gold in another. But bitcoin is the same asset no matter where you are,” Di Bartolomeo noted. “That opens the door for truly global underwriting.”

For borrowers in emerging markets, this could be a breakthrough. Many have long lacked access to competitive financing options. But with bitcoin as uniform collateral, Ledn and similar firms can extend credit worldwide under consistent terms.

Founded in 2018, Ledn emerged during Venezuela’s hyperinflation crisis. Di Bartolomeo and his brother first got into bitcoin mining, then realized miners and early adopters needed ways to unlock fiat without selling their crypto. That insight led to Ledn’s creation, offering loans, savings products, and yield accounts.

While many crypto lenders collapsed in 2022, Ledn’s cautious strategy helped it weather the storm. Today, it has issued more than $9 billion in loans and continues to expand globally, especially in Spanish-speaking markets where it was an early mover.

With traditional banks entering the game, Di Bartolomeo sees massive potential ahead. “The market’s going to grow dramatically. As long as Ledn keeps doing what we do best, we’ll have our spot at the table — and the table is only getting bigger.”