Wall Street Giant Unlocks Bitcoin Liquidity in New Lending Push

Cantor Fitzgerald has quietly made its entry into the Bitcoin lending space, nearly a year after unveiling its crypto ambitions.

The Wall Street powerhouse has now issued BTC-backed loans to both FalconX and Maple Finance, marking its first live transactions in the sector.

FalconX confirmed it secured a lending facility worth over $100 million, while Maple Finance began drawing from a separate agreement. These deals allow firms to borrow against Bitcoin holdings without needing to sell, offering institutional players an alternative route to liquidity. The initiative is part of Cantor’s $2 billion crypto financing venture announced in mid-2024, with Anchorage Digital and Copper managing custody and collateral duties.

While traditional credit markets operate under clear regulations, crypto lending remains a more volatile frontier. This was evident during the sector’s 2022 meltdown, which saw major players like Celsius and BlockFi collapse under poor risk practices and exposure to failing exchanges like FTX.

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Despite a 43% drop from its $64.4 billion peak in 2021, the crypto credit market still held $36.5 billion in outstanding loans by the end of 2024, according to Galaxy Research. Notably, onchain lending platforms have seen a significant rebound, with open borrow positions reaching $19.1 billion—up nearly tenfold since late 2022.

Cantor’s move underscores growing institutional interest in Bitcoin finance. With a legacy dating back to 1945 and a client base across 20 countries, the firm is bringing traditional infrastructure to the digital asset space. CEO Howard Lutnick, a vocal advocate for treating Bitcoin like gold, has also been a prominent figure in policy circles, recently joining Donald Trump’s transition team and managing a portion of Tether’s U.S. Treasury reserves following a 5% stake in the company.

Alexander Stefanov

With over 8 years of experience in the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry, Alexander is a seasoned content creator and market analyst dedicated to making digital assets more accessible and understandable. He specializes in breaking down complex crypto trends, analyzing market movements, and producing insightful content aimed at educating both newcomers and seasoned investors. Alexander has built a reputation for delivering timely and accurate analysis, while keeping a close eye on regulatory developments, emerging technologies, and macroeconomic trends that shape the future of digital finance. His work is rooted in a passion for innovation and a firm belief that widespread education is key to accelerating global crypto adoption.