JPMorgan Eyes Crypto-Backed Loans Amid Shifting Regulatory Winds
JPMorgan is reportedly planning to offer loans backed directly by clients’ cryptocurrency holdings, including bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH), according to sources cited by the Financial Times. The move would mark a major step toward deeper involvement in digital assets for the Wall Street giant.
While JPMorgan already permits clients to borrow against crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs), such as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the new initiative would allow collateralization using the actual digital tokens. The bank could roll out the service as early as 2026, depending on regulatory conditions.
The shift comes as the Trump administration signals a more favorable stance toward crypto markets, creating an environment that could encourage traditional financial institutions to expand digital asset services.
CEO Jamie Dimon—who once dismissed bitcoin as a “fraud”—recently hinted at the firm’s growing interest in the space. Speaking last week, Dimon acknowledged JPMorgan’s intention to become more active in stablecoins, though he maintained skepticism over their practical advantages compared to traditional payments infrastructure.
The proposed lending product would deepen JPMorgan’s digital asset footprint and align it with peers expanding crypto offerings for institutional clients.
JPMorgan declined to comment on the report.
