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JPMorgan Considers Bitcoin‑Secured Lending
JPMorgan Chase is exploring a policy to lend directly against clients’ Bitcoin and crypto holdings, according to the Financial Times. This would mark the first time the largest U.S. bank has accepted digital assets themselves—not ETFs—as collateral for loans.
In the past, CEO Jamie Dimon’s past remarks have alluded to the fact that he does not support Bitcoin or crypto. More recently, however, his tone has softened. “I don’t think you should smoke, but I defend your right to smoke. I defend your right to buy Bitcoin. Go at it,” Dimon said in May.
JPMorgan declined to comment on the plans, which could launch as early as 2026. Any finalized program would require the bank to address technical challenges—such as how to handle crypto seized from defaulted loans—and would likely involve a third-party custodian to hold the digital assets, since JPMorgan does not custody Bitcoin and crypto on its own balance sheet.
In May 2025, Dimon reiterated his skepticism at JPMorgan’s annual Investor Day, stating, “I am not a fan of Bitcoin.” However, he confirmed the bank would continue offering clients access to Bitcoin investments—even if JPMorgan itself would not hold the assets. That same month, the bank’s analysts issued a report forecasting that bitcoin would continue outperforming gold, citing growing corporate demand and increasing interest from U.S. states building Bitcoin reserves.
In June 2025, JPMorgan expanded its Bitcoin and crypto lending framework to allow clients to use Bitcoin ETFs—including BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT)—as collateral for loans. The bank also began factoring Bitcoin and crypto holdings into clients’ net worth evaluations, placing them on par with traditional assets like stocks and real estate.
This development of Bitcoin and crypto secured lending is just one of many major financial institutions to interact more directly with digital assets, especially during changing regulatory winds in Washington. The second Trump administration has taken a more favorable approach toward Bitcoin, encouraging large banks to expand their digital asset offerings.
This post JPMorgan Considers Bitcoin‑Secured Lending first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.
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Jenna Montgomery
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