How to Qualify for a BTC Loan: Requirements

The most common question I get about BTC lending is some variation of "what do I need to qualify?" And the honest answer is: it depends less on who you are and more on what you have. The qualification framework for BTC-backed loans is asset-based, not credit-history-based. Here is the complete requirements checklist.

The primary requirement: Bitcoin holdings

You need BTC. That is the fundamental requirement. The amount depends on how much you want to borrow. Most platforms use a 50% LTV model — meaning you can borrow up to half the USD value of your BTC collateral. Using a $100,000/BTC reference example, here is what that means in practice:

$25,000 loan: Requires ~$50,000 in BTC collateral (~0.5 BTC in this example)

$100,000 loan: Requires ~$200,000 in BTC collateral (~2 BTC in this example)

$500,000 loan: Requires ~$1,000,000 in BTC collateral (~10 BTC in this example)

Even a small loan can require meaningful BTC holdings once platform minimums, LTV, and BTC/USD price are applied. Use the calculator for the current benchmark instead of relying on a static blog example.

Platform-specific minimums

Each platform sets its own minimum loan and collateral thresholds:

Ledn: $500 minimum loan. At the tracked 50% LTV, that means roughly $1,000 in BTC collateral to actually qualify for the smallest draw. Most accessible platform for retail borrowers.

Figure: $500 minimum loan. At the tracked 50% LTV, that means roughly $1,000 in BTC collateral to actually qualify for the smallest draw. Same-day funding available. MPC custody. The tracked product in our dataset is BTC-only.

Arch Lending: $5,000 minimum loan. At the tracked 60% LTV, that means roughly $8,333 in BTC collateral to draw the smallest line. Line of credit structure. Best for $50,000+ loans.

Unchained: $150,000 minimum loan. At the tracked 50% LTV, that means roughly $300,000 in BTC collateral before fees. Collaborative multi-sig vault setup required. Best for larger positions.

Lava: $100 minimum loan. At the tracked 50% LTV, that means roughly $200 in BTC collateral. No KYC required. The most accessible platform in terms of minimums — but its custody model is unresolved (reportedly custodial as of Nov 2025; its site still markets self-custody).

KYC/AML documents required

Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements apply to all regulated CeFi platforms. These are legal requirements under banking regulations — not credit assessments. The documents required:

Government-issued photo ID: Passport, driver's license, or national ID card. Must be valid (not expired). Some platforms accept both front and back; others only front.

Proof of address: A utility bill, bank statement, or government document showing your current address. Typically must be dated within the last 90 days.

Identity verification: A selfie or short video verification. Used to confirm the person in the ID matches the applicant.

Social Security Number or Tax ID: Required for US-based platforms for tax reporting purposes (1099-INT for interest paid).

Lava, Aave, and Maker are the no-KYC exceptions in our tracked dataset. Lava is the most direct BTC-first flow (though its custody model is unresolved as of Nov 2025); Aave and Maker are genuinely non-custodial but require WBTC-based DeFi workflows.

Income verification: When it applies

Unlike conventional personal loans, most BTC lending platforms do not use income verification as the main approval gate for standard retail loans — your BTC collateral is the primary security. However, some platforms may still request income or financial documentation in specific cases:

Ability to service interest payments: You should still be able to comfortably make monthly interest payments. Most retail BTC products in our tracked dataset are not priced off W-2 income the way unsecured lenders are, but larger or manual-review cases may still involve bank statements, source-of-funds questions, or extra documentation.

Business loans: For BTC loans taken in the name of an LLC or S-Corp, platforms may review business financials, bank statements, or credit history for larger loan amounts.

Platform-specific requirements: Nexo has the most extensive verification tiers — higher withdrawal limits and better rates require additional verification beyond basic KYC.

State and jurisdiction restrictions

BTC lending platforms operate under different regulatory frameworks and not all are available in all US states. State restrictions are one of the key factors in choosing the right platform:

Ledn: Excluded in our tracked US dataset: CA, CT, DC, HI, LA, NV, ND, SD, TN, VT, and WA. Internationally, the regulated footprint is much broader at 90+ countries.

Unchained: US-only. No excluded states in our tracked US dataset.

Figure: Excluded in our tracked US dataset: DC, ID, IL, KY, MD, MS, SD, TX, VT, and VA.

Nexo: Excluded in our tracked US dataset: NY and RI. (See our guide to New York Bitcoin loans for state-specific options.)

YouHodler: Excluded in our tracked US dataset: NY and CT.

Lava has the broadest permissionless reach in our dataset, while Ledn has the widest regulated footprint at 90+ countries. Arch is broader than US-only lenders, but its tracked availability is limited to the US, Canada, UK, and EU. Always confirm availability for your state or country before starting an application.

Age requirements

All regulated platforms require borrowers to be at least 18 years old (21 in some jurisdictions and for business accounts). This is a legal requirement for entering into a loan agreement. No exceptions.

What can disqualify you

Unlike conventional lending, credit history and income are not disqualifying factors. The following can prevent you from qualifying:

Insufficient BTC holdings: You do not have enough collateral to meet the minimum loan threshold or the LTV requirement for your desired loan amount.

Restricted jurisdiction: You live in a state or country where the platform does not operate. This is the most common disqualifier that surprises people.

Active bankruptcy: Some platforms' terms prohibit borrowers who are currently in bankruptcy proceedings.

OFAC sanctions: Individuals on the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions list are automatically blocked.

Failed identity verification: If the documents provided do not pass automated or manual review, the application is rejected.

Further Reading

Check your eligibility across all platforms

Enter your state and collateral amount to see which platforms you qualify for and what rates are available.

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Key Takeaways

• 01 The primary qualification is BTC holdings — at 50% LTV, you need twice your desired loan amount in BTC collateral.
• 02 KYC/AML documents (government ID, proof of address, selfie) are required on all regulated CeFi platforms. The no-KYC options in our dataset are Lava, Aave, and Maker — all DeFi workflows rather than centralized lenders.
• 03 State restrictions are common — always confirm platform availability for your state before applying. Figure and SALT have some of the broadest US-state exclusions among the centralized lenders we track.
• 04 Credit history and income are not disqualifying factors — the only disqualifiers are insufficient collateral, restricted jurisdiction, active bankruptcy, sanctions list, or failed identity verification.