2026 is here, and the relationship between traditional finance and Bitcoin has entered a new stage.

Since the global implementation of Basel III on January 1, a group of top-tier banks have collectively entered the scene, officially launching Bitcoin-backed lending services. This is not a trial run, but real business deployment.

JPMorgan Chase (the largest bank in the US, with assets around $3.9 trillion) took the lead. Through their Onyx blockchain platform, from accepting Bitcoin ETFs to now, some institutional clients can directly pledge BTC and ETH. Wells Fargo (the fourth largest in the US, with about $1.9 trillion in assets) is also not willing to fall behind, opening BTC ETF-backed loans to private banking clients. As the world's largest custodian bank, BNY Mellon has directly connected the full chain of "custody + collateralization." Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Citibank, and others are also entering the market through ETFs or partnerships with professional custodians.

Currently, the threshold is indeed high—mainly for institutional investors and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Most banks accept Bitcoin spot ETFs as collateral (with clear regulation and strong liquidity), and some have already begun experimenting with native BTC custody and pledging.

The core logic is simple: you don’t need to sell your coins or pay capital gains tax to access fiat liquidity. This is called Tax Efficiency, which is a major weapon for large holders.

The key mindset shift is here—big players are no longer asking "Is Bitcoin worth money?" now they are calculating "How much can I borrow with it?" The mainstream is no longer knocking on the door; they are sitting at the poker table.