Cantor Fitzgerald has launched a new $2 billion loan program backed by Bitcoin. According to a report, the firm has already closed its first deals. This move comes as crypto lending starts to find its feet again after big defaults in 2022.
By April 2025, the global financial services firm teamed up with Tether, SoftBank and Bitfinex on Twenty One Capital, a $3.6 billion fund. That fund aims to hold more than 42,000 Bitcoin and was structured using a $200 million SPAC. The big picture: Cantor is serious about making Bitcoin loans a regular product.
FalconX secured the first slice of credit, planning to tap more than $100 million. Maple Finance followed with a similar deal for its customers. Both firms confirmed they’ve drawn on the new line already.
These early loans show that trustworthy names can still access crypto financing. Demand is there, and lenders seem ready to pick up the pieces after the Celsius and BlockFi collapses.
The bank’s faith in Bitcoin goes deeper than loans. Cantor Equity Partners quietly bought about $459 million of Bitcoin in May 2025 through a merger with Twenty One Capital. On top of that, Cantor holds nearly $2 billion in Strategy stock.
This stake ties their fortunes to price swings. They say they’ll keep buying even if prices drop sharply, showing they aren’t scared of the ups and downs.
Other players are moving in, too. Strive raised $750 million to build a Bitcoin stash and chase special credit deals. Blockstream grabbed new investments, and Xapo Bank started offering its own crypto loans this year.
Traditional banks haven’t sat out. The Bank of Montreal put $150 million into crypto ETFs. Barclays added $130 million. BNY Mellon availed of $68 million in Strategy shares. Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and UBS are set to roll out spot Bitcoin ETF services by year-end.
Even so, Bitcoin can swing wildly. A sudden price drop or a margin call could force quick sales. Lenders and borrowers will need clear rules and solid plans to keep things running smoothly.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
