Bitcoin Magazine

Beyond HODLing: How Bitcoin-Backed Loans Can Unlock New Financial Opportunities

For long-term Bitcoin holders, accessing capital has traditionally presented a difficult choice: sell a portion of their holdings or leave that value untouched.

Bitcoin-backed lending offers another option, allowing holders to borrow against their Bitcoin while maintaining exposure to the asset.

In a recent video shared on X, SALT Lending highlighted how borrowers can use Bitcoin-backed loans for more than simply accessing cash, outlining several ways liquidity can support broader financial goals.

Bitcoin-backed loan = liquidity without selling.

Real estate. Business growth. Diversification.

Keep your long-term position. Put capital to work.

The key is intentionality.#SALT #SALTLending #Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/iZ8xY7oIJG

— SALT (@SALTLending) October 14, 2026

Turning Bitcoin Holdings Into Financial Opportunity

Rather than selling Bitcoin to fund a major purchase or investment, borrowers can pledge their holdings as collateral to access capital while preserving their long-term position.

One potential use case is real estate. Bitcoin holders looking to purchase property may be able to leverage their holdings for liquidity instead of liquidating Bitcoin to fund the transaction.

Business expansion presents another opportunity. Entrepreneurs and business owners can potentially use Bitcoin-backed loans to fund operations, hire employees, or pursue growth opportunities without selling their Bitcoin or giving up equity in their businesses.

SALT Lending also pointed to investment diversification as another possible application. Borrowers may use loan proceeds to access other markets or investment opportunities while retaining exposure to Bitcoin.

Another consideration is tax planning. Selling appreciated Bitcoin can trigger capital gains taxes, while receiving proceeds from a properly structured loan generally does not constitute a taxable sale. However, individual tax circumstances vary, and borrowing introduces additional financial risks.

A Strategic Approach to Bitcoin Liquidity

The broader takeaway from SALT Lending’s video is that Bitcoin-backed borrowing should be viewed as a financial planning decision rather than simply a way to access cash.

Real estate purchases, business investments, and other opportunities all require borrowers to weigh the potential benefits of liquidity against borrowing costs, repayment obligations, and the risks associated with Bitcoin’s price volatility.

Because Bitcoin-backed loans are secured by a volatile asset, significant price declines can increase loan-to-value ratios and potentially require additional collateral or trigger liquidation, depending on the loan terms.

For borrowers with a clear financial strategy, however, the ability to access capital without immediately selling Bitcoin creates another avenue for putting their holdings to use.

SALT Lending provides Bitcoin-backed lending solutions designed to help eligible borrowers access liquidity while maintaining their long-term Bitcoin exposure.

As Bitcoin continues to evolve beyond an asset primarily associated with buying and holding, lending may play an increasingly important role in how holders manage their finances and pursue opportunities without necessarily selling their Bitcoin.

SALT Lending is the Official Liquidity Sponsor of BMTV. Learn more about borrowing against your bitcoin and explore SALT’s BMTV offer at https://saltlending.com/bmtv/?utm_source=bmtv&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=52783658-BMTV%20article&utm_term=BMTV.

Disclaimer: SALT Lending is a paid sponsor of BMTV and serves as BMTV’s Official Liquidity Sponsor. This article is sponsored content and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Bitcoin Magazine. The information provided is for promotional purposes and should not be considered financial advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research before making any investment decisions related to Bitcoin or other financial products mentioned herein.

This post Beyond HODLing: How Bitcoin-Backed Loans Can Unlock New Financial Opportunities first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Josh Plischke.

Bitcoin Magazine

Why Bitcoin’s Liquidity Advantage Matters as Institutions Move In

Bitcoin’s portability, divisibility and accessibility could increasingly distinguish it from traditional stores of value as more institutions enter the market, according to SALT Lending CEO and Co-Founder Shawn Owen.

Speaking on BMTV, Owen pointed to Bitcoin’s resilience while gold and other long-duration assets sold off, arguing that some of Bitcoin’s most basic characteristics give it advantages over competing assets.

“It is easier to buy Bitcoin than gold,” Owen said.

That advantage becomes even more apparent when mobility matters.

“It’s easier to move Bitcoin out of, say, somewhere where you need to leave quickly because there’s unrest in the area than gold,” Owen said. “It’s far more portable and divisible and easy to use than real estate.”

SALT CEO Shawn Owen (@Shawn_OwenJ) on why Bitcoin held up while gold and other long duration assets sold off:

"It is easier to buy Bitcoin than gold."

"It's easier to move Bitcoin out of, say, somewhere where you need to leave quickly because there's unrest in the area than… pic.twitter.com/YQ9KGauue8

— BMTV (@watchbmtv) October 7, 2026

Bitcoin’s Liquidity Advantage

Gold, real estate and bitcoin can all serve as long-term stores of value, but accessing and moving that value looks very different.

Physical gold requires storage and transportation. Real estate is tied to a specific location and can take time to buy or sell. Bitcoin can be transferred globally and divided into small units without those same physical constraints.

Those characteristics can also give Bitcoin holders more flexibility when they need liquidity.

Rather than selling bitcoin to access dollars, holders can potentially use it as collateral and borrow against its value while maintaining exposure to the underlying asset.

That model becomes particularly relevant if Owen’s longer-term outlook for Bitcoin adoption proves correct.

Institutional FOMO Is Arriving

Owen believes the experience many individual Bitcoin holders have already gone through, discovering Bitcoin and wishing they had gotten involved earlier, may eventually play out among much larger institutions.

“Every human goes through this experience where you learn about Bitcoin and wish you’d been earlier,” Owen said. “I think that will be true of sovereigns and banks and institutions of all sizes.”

Banks have taken considerably longer to enter the market, but Owen believes that is beginning to change as many of the hurdles surrounding Bitcoin have been addressed.

“Banks have been slow, but are now getting in after all the boxes have been checked,” he said. “FOMO is real.”

JUST IN: Salt Lending CEO says sovereign wealth funds and banks are realizing the importance of Bitcoin

"Every human goes through this experience where you learn about Bitcoin and wish you'd been earlier…I think that will be true of sovereigns and banks of all sizes." pic.twitter.com/2pxKVh1Q2O

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) October 7, 2026

Owen cautioned that adoption and price appreciation will not necessarily happen in a straight line. As Bitcoin matures and more capital enters the market, he expects some dampening of its historic volatility.

That does not change his longer-term outlook.

“Adoption depends on the time horizon we’re talking about,” Owen said. “Dampening of volatility, and we will continue to see that, but that doesn’t mean over the next decade we won’t see serious adoption and increase in price.”

“Never Sell Your Bitcoin”

That long-term view also shapes how Owen thinks holders should approach their bitcoin.

“I have always said never sell your bitcoin,” Owen said. “Long term we will continue to see prices increasing significantly in comparison to fiat currencies.”

For holders who share that outlook, selling bitcoin to cover a large purchase, business expense or other liquidity need means giving up future exposure to the bitcoin they sell.

Bitcoin-backed lending provides an alternative.

SALT allows eligible borrowers to use bitcoin as collateral to access cash without selling the underlying bitcoin. Once the loan is repaid, the collateral is returned to the borrower.

The model aligns closely with Owen’s broader thesis. If Bitcoin continues becoming easier to access and more widely adopted by banks, institutions and potentially sovereigns, long-term holders may become increasingly reluctant to sell simply because they need liquidity.

Instead, they can potentially maintain their bitcoin position while accessing the value stored within it.

As Bitcoin adoption expands, the conversation may increasingly move beyond how to acquire bitcoin and toward how holders can use the wealth they have accumulated without necessarily selling the asset.

SALT Lending is the Official Liquidity Sponsor of BMTV. Learn more about borrowing against your bitcoin and explore SALT’s BMTV offer at https://saltlending.com/bmtv/?utm_source=bmtv&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=52783658-BMTV%20article&utm_term=BMTV

Disclaimer: SALT Lending is a paid sponsor of BMTV and serves as BMTV’s Official Liquidity Sponsor. This article is sponsored content and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Bitcoin Magazine. The information provided is for promotional purposes and should not be considered financial advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research before making any investment decisions related to Bitcoin or other financial products mentioned herein.

This post Why Bitcoin’s Liquidity Advantage Matters as Institutions Move In first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Josh Plischke.

Bitcoin Magazine

Shawn Owen: Bitcoin’s First Institutional Cycle Has Arrived

Banks and credit unions are racing to adopt Bitcoin, and SALT Lending CEO Shawn Owen says the FOMO is real. In this interview, Shawn Owen joins Grace Remington and Sean Hagan to talk about Bitcoin as pristine collateral, compressing volatility, and why institutions can no longer ignore Bitcoin. He explains how the barriers holding back banks and registered investment advisors have finally come down. If you want to understand where Bitcoin-backed lending is headed, this conversation is a must-watch.

Chapters:
0:00 – SALT Lending CEO Shawn Owen on Bitcoin Volatility and Loan-to-Value
1:38 – Bitcoin as Pristine Collateral for Banks and Wealth Advisors
3:20 – Why Credit Unions and Banks Have Bitcoin FOMO
4:38 – Dampening Volatility and Bitcoin’s Long-Term Upside
6:16 – Bitcoin vs. Real Estate for Younger Generations
7:21 – Building a Secondary Market for Bitcoin-Backed Loans
8:56 – Bitcoin Regulation, the Clarity Act and Stablecoins
10:31 – Bitcoin Strength as Bonds and Gold Sell Off
13:11 – How Bitcoin ETFs Changed SALT’s Borrower Base
15:40 – Never Sell Your Bitcoin: When to Borrow Instead

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BTC Inc., Bitcoin Magazine, or any affiliated entities. This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice. Nothing contained in this show constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. Viewers should consult their own advisors before making financial or business decisions.

This post Shawn Owen: Bitcoin’s First Institutional Cycle Has Arrived first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Patrick Green.