Bitcoin-Backed Loans with Ledn – Unlocking Liquidity for HODLers - Milk Road

Ledn’s Bitcoin-Backed Loans

If you’re a Bitcoin HODLer who’s been in the trenches a while, you’ve probably wrestled with the important question:

How can you tap into your Bitcoin stack’s value, without selling it?

Bitcoin-backed loans are the sharpest solution today, and Ledn’s a top-notch platform that helps investors around the world with exactly that.

As a Milk Road reader, you’re probably not just here for the hype. You actually want tools that align with your crypto’s long-term potential, while handling real-world needs… Needs like home projects, market bets, or even just everyday bills.

Ledn’s got your back, and this post dives into how their Bitcoin-backed loans work in a way that’s clear, practical, and won’t mess with your hard-earned stack of Sats.

Getting Started with Ledn Bitcoin Loans

Now, you may already know the key value proposition of Bitcoin-backed loans:

Selling your $BTC can mean missing out on gains. Even worse, it most often means facing a tax hit – and nobody wants to waste away a portion of their gains on taxes.

Unlike a sale of $BTC for dollars, a Ledn loan usually won’t be a taxable event.

You deposit your coins, get cash wired or $USDC funded (often within 18 hours), and repay when you’re ready to reclaim your $BTC. No credit checks, no piles of paperwork – just your Bitcoin’s value opening doors.

Ledn’s core offering of Bitcoin-backed loans is straightforward:

1. Pledge your Bitcoin as collateral
2. Borrow USD, local fiat or $USDC
3. Don’t pay interest while your loan is live
4. Pay it back whenever you’re ready
5. Keep your $BTC stack untouched!

You can borrow about half as much USD as you have Bitcoin (i.e. a Loan-to-Value ratio of 50%).

What grabbed my attention the most about Ledn, was its transparency and track record. This could be the most important thing for users to watch, after a disastrous year for many crypto-based lenders in 2022 (if you know, you know!).

Ledn publishes monthly Open Book Reports detailing their operations, and works with third parties for Proof-of-Reserves attestations.They also have an option to opt-out of rehypothecation, meaning your collateral stays put.

You don’t have to just trust that your Bitcoin isn’t being lent out or mishandled – you can verify it.

For someone who’s seen platforms get absolutely wrecked in the past, Ledn provides a real foundation you can lean on.

Real Ways to Use a Bitcoin-Backed Loan

Your Bitcoin is a long-term play – but life doesn’t always wait for the next bull run.

Ledn’s Bitcoin-backed loans give you access to real-world cash without forcing a sale or triggering capital gains taxes.

Whether you need quick liquidity or want to make your Bitcoin work harder, here’s how it might fit into different parts of your financial life:

1. Lifestyle Upgrades

Let’s say you’ve got your eye on a kitchen upgrade, a better car, or that dream trip you’ve been putting off forever.

You don’t want to sell your Bitcoin – especially if you think the price is heading up. On the other hand, you still want to make moves in the real world. That’s where borrowing against your $BTC comes in handy.

For example, you could borrow $25K against $50K worth of Bitcoin. You get the cash to start your project, and if $BTC’s price goes on a run, you haven’t missed a beat.

Your Bitcoin’s still working for you – it’s just pulling double duty.

2. Emergencies & Unexpected Expenses

If there’s one thing that’s certain about life, it’s this: Shit happens.

Maybe it’s a medical bill, an urgent tax payment, or just a bunch of things breaking all at once.

Selling your Bitcoin in a panic – especially during a dip – can feel like the worst possible timing.

Instead, you could borrow $10K against a slice of your stack, handle the emergency, and sort out repayment later when things calm down.

This gives you space to breathe without losing your long-term position. Basically, it’s damage control without regret.

3. Business & Growth Investments

If you’re building something – a side hustle, a small business, even just a passion project – chances are you’ll hit a moment where you need some capital to take the next step.

That could be inventory, a website, ads, or gear. You don’t really want to sell $BTC to fund it, especially if you’re in this for the long haul.

So instead, you borrow.

Let’s say you pull $15K against $30K or more worth of $BTC. Now you’ve got the funds to grow, and your Bitcoin’s still in the game.

Once your business starts making money, you pay it back on your own terms. Clean, simple, and no FOMO on the next pump.

What Sets Ledn Apart?

In addition to its product offerings, Ledn’s got a whole lot of other stuff going for it under the hood.

In contrast to a lot of previous crypto-based lending platforms, Ledn’s most incredible asset is its dedication to security and transparency.

As someone who’s worked hard for their Bitcoin, you’ll want to know it’s in good hands.

Here’s why you can have faith in those hands being Ledn’s:

Rock-Solid Security & Track Record

If you’ve been in crypto since 2022, you’ve probably seen your share of lenders collapse and take customer funds with them.

That’s why Ledn puts security and transparency front and center.

They use BitGo for cold storage, AES-256 encryption, and meet SOC 2 Type 2 standards – the kind of stuff that keeps your $BTC safe.

Ledn’s been doing this since 2018, never lost a single satoshi of client assets, and funded over $9 billion in loans.

They've also earned a 4.8-star rating on TrustPilot (almost unheard of among crypto platforms) and were named one of the top three CeFi lenders in Galaxy’s latest industry report.

If you’re looking for peace of mind and a lender that actually lets you call the shots – you’ve found it.

Clarity and Control

Standard loan rates start at 12.4%, with no sneaky fine print or hidden fees. The terms are easy to understand, and if you ever have questions, the support team’s quick to help.

With loans, it's completely up to you to decide if your collateral can be rehypothecated, or if you’d rather keep it fully separate.

They also provide frequent Open Book Reports, so you can always see how they’re putting assets to work to set your interest rate.

Ledn’s setup treats you like you know what you’re doing. It’s clear, open, and built for people who care about where their money goes.

Community-Driven Innovation

Ledn listens to its users, and has rolled out features like B2X and Transaction Accounts based on real needs. They’re not chasing trends – they’re solving problems for Bitcoin holders.

Their blog and updates on social media keep you in the loop, offering insights on market moves and loan strategies. This is a big nod to investors who like to stay informed.

Smart Investor Moves with Bitcoin-Backed Loans

Ledn’s loans aren’t just for spending, of course. They can also be a tool for Bitcoin-native financial strategy.

Here’s how intermediate investors use them for smarter plays:

Timing Your Taxes Like a Pro

Sometimes the reason you don’t want to sell your Bitcoin isn’t the market – it’s the tax bill.

Maybe you’re still within the short-term gains window, or it’s just not the right financial year to realize profit. Whatever the case, taking out a loan gives you breathing room.

You can unlock the value of your $BTC now without triggering a taxable event. Then when the timing’s better – say next financial year or after the 12-month long-term gains mark – you can sell if you want to.

It’s less about avoiding taxes and more about managing them on your terms.That kind of flexibility goes a long way.

Buying the Dip Without Selling Your Stack

If you’ve been in crypto long enough, you know the feeling – Bitcoin tanks, and every part of you wants to buy more.

The problem? You don’t always have cash sitting around when the opportunity hits.

That’s where Ledn loans come in. Instead of selling off what you’ve already got, you can borrow against your $BTC and use that liquidity to scoop up more at a discount.

Say Bitcoin drops from $60K to $40K. You borrow $20K against your holdings, buy half a $BTC, and wait for the rebound.

No selling. No regret. Just a smart way to lean into the dip while keeping your long-term stack intact.

And that’s what brings us to B2X:

Double Your Bitcoin Position with B2X

Ledn’s B2X feature is where things get spicy – perfect if you’re looking to double down on Bitcoin without using more cash.

Usually, Ledn lets you borrow a maximum 50% of your Bitcoin’s value. But with B2X they’ve given us extra leeway if we want to maximize their Bitcoin exposure at any moment.

Here’s how it works. You deposit $BTC, and Ledn uses that as collateral to take out a loan – except this loan is worth 100% of your original $BTC’s value.

Why do they allow this? It’s because this newly acquired Bitcoin is allocated directly to your collateral pile for the loan. This means you’ve got twice the $BTC, and your loan is backed by both your original and newly purchased coins.

That setup creates a 50% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio right out of the gate.

The loan runs up to 12 months, starts at 10.4% interest, and you can pay it off early without fees.

Example time: Say you deposit 1 $BTC, when it’s worth $60K.

• Ledn uses that to borrow $60K and buy another 1 $BTC. You’re now holding 2 $BTC, and your $60K loan equals 50% of the total value.
• If $BTC goes up to $80K, that’s $160K in $BTC. Pay back the loan plus a little in interest, and you’ve locked in a solid gain – without dipping into your bank account.

This provides a clean way to get leveraged exposure, without the complex trading platform experience.

Be careful, though – if $BTC drops to $40K, you’ll need to top up to avoid a forced sell. Like anything involving leverage, this should be used by experienced investors only.

Staying Safe When You Borrow

Borrowing against Bitcoin isn’t a free lunch. As a money-savvy user, you’re probably already thinking about the risks – good job.

Here’s a rundown of what you should be looking out for when using Ledn’s Bitcoin-backed loans:

1. Know Your LTV

Being in crypto, you’ll know that Bitcoin’s price swings are part of the deal.

If you borrow at 50% LTV and $BTC drops from $60K to $40K, your collateral’s value shrinks. Ledn might ask for more $BTC or cash to maintain the ratio – also known as a margin call.

They’re up-front about these thresholds, and allow you to monitor your loan-to-value ratio in real-time.

Keep your eyes on this, and make sure you act early to top-up your collateral or pay down the loan.

1. Watch Interest

Interest rates start at 12.4%, both for standard loans and B2X.

Competitive, but also an important figure to take into account. At the same time, you’ll also be avoiding a $BTC sale, which is great – justmake sure you run the numbers.

For a $10,000 loan over a year, that’s $1,140 in interest. If $BTC grows 20% in that time, you’re still ahead.

Ledn’s no-prepayment-penalty policy also helps. You can settle early if rates pinch or the market shifts – flexibility is there for you if things change.

1. Keep a Buffer

Worst case, if $BTC tanks and you can’t cover a margin call, Ledn might liquidate part of your collateral.

They give notice and options first, but it’s a risk to weigh.

To stay safe, you should keep a buffer on your loan. This could be via using a lower loan-to-value ratio, or simply keeping some extra crypto reserves on-hand, just in case.

In great customer-centric fashion, Ledn’s thought of this and offers users an auto top-up function. This allows you to automatically allocate some additional funds to cover your butt in volatility, so you can sit back and enjoy your loan.

Track your position closely, especially in volatile times.

Put Your Bitcoin to Work with Ledn

Ledn’s loans and B2X are for investors who look past just the basics – people who see Bitcoin as both an asset and a tool.

• Need $25K for a reno or $15K for your business? Sorted, no sale needed.
• Want to 2x your $BTC for a market run? B2X delivers.
• Even daily costs can be covered without touching your stack.

You can squeeze value out of what you’ve already got – liquidity, growth, control.

For someone who tracks trends, weighs risks, and plans ahead, Ledn’s blend of security, clarity, and utility hits the mark. Their risk management approach respects your broader game plan, with clear thresholds, flexible repayments, and more.

Whether it’s a car, a bigger position, or just keeping life rolling, Ledn’s worth exploring.

Your Bitcoin’s got legs. Why not let it run?