Pristine Collateral: Arch & Onramp's Vision for the Next Era of BTC Lending
March 6, 2025
On this episode of Final Settlement, a show presented collaboratively by Early Riders and Onramp Media, the hosts discuss Onramp's partnership with Arch Lending, which provides USD loans secured by bitcoin. They cover demand for liquidity without selling, how the loans are structured, and the case for bitcoin as collateral. Rates and terms are set by Arch Lending. Borrowing against bitcoin carries risk, including margin calls and liquidation.
Final Settlement hosts Michael Tanguma, Brian Cubellis, and Liam Nelson discuss Onramp's partnership with Arch Lending, which provides USD loans secured by bitcoin: why borrowers want access to dollars without selling, how the loans are structured, who is asking for them, and the argument for bitcoin as pristine collateral. Borrowing against bitcoin carries risk, including margin calls and liquidation if the collateral falls in value. The episode closes with takeaways from Bitcoin Investor Week.
Chapters
00:00 - Onramp & Arch Partnership 03:50 - The Demand for Bitcoin-Backed Loans 06:58 - How Bitcoin-Backed Loans Work 09:49 - Customer Demographics and Market Reach 12:57 - The Future of Bitcoin Lending 15:38 - Understanding Pristine Collateral 18:43 - Market Trends and Interest Rates 25:00 - The Role of Banks in Bitcoin Lending 27:52 - Key Takeaways from Bitcoin Investor Week 35:40 - Outro & Disclaimer
Full transcript
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Onramp's lending partnership with Arch?
Onramp has partnered with Arch Lending to offer USD loans secured by bitcoin. Lending services are provided by ChainFi, Inc (dba Arch Lending), an independent entity not affiliated with Onramp. Collateral is held in a segregated on-chain address at Anchorage, a regulated qualified custodian; lending on Multi-Institution Custody is not yet available.
What are the risks of borrowing against bitcoin?
Bitcoin-backed loans carry real risk. If the value of the collateral falls, a borrower can face a margin call, and the collateral can be liquidated. Rates and terms vary and are set by Arch, the lender. Nothing in this episode is a recommendation to borrow.
Why do borrowers want bitcoin-backed loans?
The hosts discuss demand for bitcoin-backed loans (03:50) and who is asking for them (09:49): borrowers who want access to dollars while retaining exposure to bitcoin rather than selling. This is the show's framing, not investment advice from Onramp.
What does the episode mean by pristine collateral?
A segment covers the hosts' argument for bitcoin as pristine collateral (15:38) — that it settles quickly, can be verified independently, and does not depend on a counterparty's performance. Segments on interest rates (18:43) and the role of banks (25:00) follow.
This episode is editorial and educational content. Onramp does not provide tax, legal, or investment advice. Bitcoin is volatile and may lose value. Past performance does not guarantee future results.