LUGANO, SWITZERLAND – Swiss digital asset bank Sygnum Bank has partnered with bitcoin Lending startup Debifi will launch what they say is the first bank-backed lending platform that does not require borrowers to give up full control of their BTC.
The offering, called MultiSYG and set to launch in the first half of 2026, will target institutions and high-net-worth individuals who want access to bank-grade lending services but are wary of remortgaging, a common practice in traditional finance where lenders repurpose customer collateral to back other deals.
The move underscores the growing market for financial products backed by digital assets, which has evolved far beyond early, failed cryptocurrency lenders like BlockFi and Celsius. Institutional players are increasingly demanding more sophisticated structures, especially those that avoid the single point of failure risks that plagued centralized platforms in the last cycle.
“Borrowers should not blindly trust a custodian,” Debifi CEO Max Kei said in a statement, pointing to years of demand for non-custodial lending options.
Most banks that offer bitcoin-backed loans typically require full escrow, separating the borrower from their assets until payment. With MultiSYG, potential borrowers can deposit BTC into a wallet controlled by five parties (Sygnum, the borrower and independent signatories) and any collateral movement requires three signatures. That model helps prevent remortgage and allows borrowers to verify the existence of their funds on-chain over the life of the loan.
“[This] “It combines the best of both worlds: the ability to have your own keys while accessing regulated banking products and white-glove service,” Pascal Eberle, leader of the Bitcoin@Sygnum and MultiSYG initiative at Sygnum Bank, said in a statement. “Borrowers can benefit from bank-grade terms on pricing, withdrawal flexibility, and loan duration, while maintaining cryptographic proof of their holdings and partial control of their BTC.”
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