Jack Mallers Unveils Strike's Bitcoin-Backed Lending Solution With Single-Digit Rates

During the 2025 Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, Jack Mallers, founder and CEO of Strike, introduced a groundbreaking lending platform that fundamentally challenges traditional banking practices. The Strike lending solution offers borrowers the opportunity to leverage their Bitcoin holdings as collateral for loans ranging from $10,000 to $1 billion, with interest rates positioned between 9-13%—a radical departure from conventional financial institutions charging double-digit premiums on crypto-backed borrowing.

Rethinking Bitcoin’s Volatility Profile

At the core of Mallers’ pitch lies a compelling argument about Bitcoin’s market behavior. He challenged the prevailing narrative that Bitcoin represents excessive volatility, presenting comparative data showing Bitcoin’s one-year volatility metrics. According to Mallers’ analysis, Bitcoin’s volatility profile sits comfortably between blue-chip stocks like Apple and Tesla, with some datasets suggesting it’s actually less volatile than Tesla stock historically.

“As Bitcoin matures, its volatility profile stabilizes,” Mallers explained during his keynote. The implication is significant: if traditional finance is willing to lend against equity positions in companies demonstrating similar or higher volatility, the rationale for charging 20% interest rates on Bitcoin-collateralized loans becomes indefensible. This perspective reframes how institutional capital should approach cryptocurrency lending, challenging banks’ justifications for premium pricing on crypto loans.

Strike’s New Lending Framework: $10K to $1B Capacity at 9-13% Rates

The practical parameters of Strike’s offering represent a meaningful shift in the lending landscape. By offering loans starting at $10,000 and scaling up to $1 billion with single-digit to low double-digit interest rates, Mallers is positioning Strike to capture a previously underserved market segment—Bitcoin holders seeking liquidity without forced asset sales.

This pricing structure suggests that competitive market pressures and improved risk modeling are enabling platforms to lower lending costs. For borrowers sitting on substantial Bitcoin positions, the ability to access capital at 9-13% without liquidating holdings could prove transformational for business operations or personal financial strategies.

Building Sovereign Financial Independence With Bitcoin

Mallers framed the Bitcoin lending initiative within his broader philosophy of financial sovereignty. He opened his address by critiquing the erosion of purchasing power in traditional fiat currency systems, noting that the optimal time to conduct routine purchases was in 1913, before decades of monetary expansion diluted the dollar’s value.

“Bitcoin exists precisely to prevent this,” Mallers stated. “You cannot print Bitcoin. You cannot debase it. It protects your time, your energy, your ability to build wealth and escape debt while maintaining sovereignty over your future and assets.”

However, Mallers acknowledged the behavioral complexity surrounding Bitcoin ownership. While he advocates for accumulating Bitcoin, he recognizes that complete holdings without occasional expenditure defeats practical wealth objectives. His philosophy endorses selective spending—using Bitcoin to enhance quality of life while maintaining a core position in the asset class.

Balancing Opportunity With Responsible Borrowing

In closing his presentation, Mallers shifted to a cautionary perspective on debt utilization. “Debt functions like fire in civilization,” he warned the audience. “It can warm homes and drive progress, but mismanagement leads to destruction. Exercise responsibility.”

This balanced stance distinguishes Mallers’ approach from aggressive growth narratives. Rather than encouraging maximum leverage, he advocates thoughtful, measured engagement with lending products—using them strategically without overextending. The underlying message suggests that Strike’s lending platform should serve as a liquidity tool for the financially disciplined, not a vehicle for reckless speculation.

The convergence of improved product design, competitive pricing, and philosophical emphasis on sovereignty suggests a maturing Bitcoin financial ecosystem where borrowers gain genuine alternatives to traditional banking infrastructure.