- Coinbase has introduced USDC loans with Bitcoin as collateral.
- The loans are available for US customers.
- The loans have no fixed repayment and they auto-adjust based on the activities on Base.
In a move to expand its decentralized finance (DeFi) offerings, Coinbase has introduced a novel service allowing its US customers (excluding those in New York) to borrow USD Coin (USDC) by leveraging their Bitcoin (BTC) as collateral.
This innovative feature, announced in a recent update, aims to provide users with quick and flexible access to funds without the necessity of selling their Bitcoin.
The process leverages Coinbase’s cbBTC stablecoin
Users pledge their Bitcoin (BTC), which is then converted into cbBTC, a wrapped version of Bitcoin specifically designed by Coinbase for use in DeFi applications. This conversion enables Bitcoin, which typically operates outside the DeFi ecosystem due to its technical framework, to interact seamlessly with DeFi protocols.
The cbBTC is subsequently sent to Morpho, a DeFi lending protocol built on Coinbase’s Base blockchain. In return, borrowers receive USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, which they can utilize for various purposes such as covering expenses, international transfers, or conversion into US dollars.
The interest rates on these loans are dynamically adjusted based on market activities on the Base blockchain, reflecting Coinbase’s commitment to aligning DeFi with user needs.
Notably, this loan service comes at a time when the crypto lending sector has been under scrutiny following the high-profile bankruptcies of entities like Celsius and BlockFi in 2022, which significantly dented trust in crypto lending.
By integrating with Morpho, Coinbase is stepping in as a middleman to potentially restore some confidence, offering a transparent, smart contract-based lending experience.
No fixed repayment timelines
What sets this service apart is the absence of fixed repayment schedules. Borrowers have the liberty to repay the loan at their own pace, as long as the value of the Bitcoin collateral remains above a certain threshold relative to the loan amount.
However, should Bitcoin’s value plummet, the system is designed to automatically liquidate enough collateral to cover the loan, safeguarding the protocol’s integrity.
The advantages of such crypto-backed loans are manifold. For one, they allow users to bypass immediate capital gains taxes by borrowing against their assets rather than selling them. Moreover, these loans operate on blockchain technology, ensuring transparency and efficiency through automated processes.