Relai is pleased announce the launch of a new feature: Bitcoin-backed loans.
Also known as Lombard loans, this financial instrument enables Bitcoin holders to “spend CHF or EUR” without having to sell their Bitcoin (BTC).
In partnership with Sygnum Bank— a Swiss digital assets bank —Relai is bringing (what it claims is) “a new level of financial flexibility to their HNWI and SME clients.”
With this launch, Relai reportedly became the first Bitcoin Broker in Europe “to offer Bitcoin-collateralized lending.”
This means Relai Private and Business clients can now “unlock liquidity without ever having to part with their Bitcoin.”
Many investors and companies are seeking “to finance projects, invest in new opportunities, or need access to cash without having to liquidate their Bitcoin holdings.”
Relai Private’s Bitcoin-backed loan offering provides:
- Maintain exposure to Bitcoin’s potential upside
- Avoid triggering taxable events by not selling
- Skip the stress of re-entering the market at higher prices
- Stay entirely within the Bitcoin ecosystem
Julian Liniger, CEO & Co-Founder of Relai said:
“At Relai, we’re building the future of Bitcoin-focused financial services. This partnership with Sygnum Bank is a huge milestone for us as a Startup. Bitcoin-backed loans are a game-changer for our wealthy clients, providing them with access to cash without the need to sell their Bitcoin. We are seeing a strong demand for that service, especially from high-net-worth individuals and small to medium-sized businesses.”
With Relai and Sygnum, your Bitcoin becomes “more than a long-term store of value—it becomes a versatile financial tool.”
Benedikt Koedel, CFA, Head Credit & Lending at Sygnum Bank said:
“We’re proud to partner with Relai, a company that shares our commitment to simplicity, transparency, and Bitcoin-first innovation. This collaboration brings the strength of our regulated credit infrastructure to new groups of private investors, empowering them to unlock liquidity without compromising their long-term vision.”
To access this service, you must be a “qualified private investor under the Swiss Financial Services Act (FinSA).”
This typically includes individuals who:
- Possess professional or financial sector experience and/or relevant education, and
- Hold at least CHF 500,000 in financial assets
- Are interested in a minimum deposit or trading volume of CHF 100,000
Swiss Quality, Bitcoin Simplicity
This offering is more than just a loan—it’s describe as “a reflection of our vision at Relai: to be the most complete, secure, and user-friendly Bitcoin-only app in Europe.”
With Swiss-made security, regulatory clarity, and an intuitive user experience, they’re putting financial tools into the hands of Bitcoin holders, “without compromising the core ethos of decentralization and long-term ownership.”
As clarified in the update, Relai services are “exclusively recommended for residents of Switzerland and Italy.”