A massive $1 trillion hidden market is waiting to be unlocked in bitcoin, says new report
Ledn forecasts the bitcoin-backed lending market could grow to $1 trillion within a decade as new research highlights strong borrower demand.
What to know:
- Ledn forecasts the consumer bitcoin-backed lending market could grow from roughly $3 billion today to as much as $1 trillion within 10 years.
- A new survey found 88% of crypto holders would consider borrowing against their assets, while only 14% currently do.
- The biggest barriers to adoption are concerns over volatility, liquidation risk and regulatory uncertainty.
Ledn estimates the bitcoin-backed consumer lending market currently stands at roughly $3 billion. By comparison, Galaxy Research previously estimated the broader crypto lending market reached an all-time high of $73.6 billion in the third quarter of 2025.
The sector, however, still carries the scars of the 2022 crypto credit collapse, when major lenders including Celsius Network, Voyager Digital and BlockFi either filed for bankruptcy or were forced into restructuring after crypto prices plunged and liquidity evaporated. The failures wiped out billions of dollars in customer funds and severely damaged trust in centralized crypto lending models, prompting regulators globally to tighten scrutiny of the sector. Ledn’s report suggests rebuilding that trust remains the industry’s biggest challenge.
