Bitcoin-backed loans grow as Ledn co-founder hedges against US dollar weakness Banco Industrial integrates SukuPay for cheaper dollar transfers Strategy buys 7,390 BTC for $765 million as Bitcoin tops $109,000

Ledn co-founder Mauricio di Bartolomeo, who previously hedged against the collapsing Venezuelan Bolivar by shorting it in favor of the US dollar, is now employing a similar strategy. He is borrowing against his Bitcoin to hedge against the perceived weakness of the US dollar. This strategy involves holding Bitcoin as a stable asset while taking a borrow position on the US dollar, which he views as a weaker currency.

Di Bartolomeo shared his insights during Canada Crypto Week in Toronto, highlighting the advantages of Bitcoin-backed loans and the rapid growth of collateralized BTC lending. He emphasized the benefits of continuing to accumulate Bitcoin, even as its price rises.

Ledn, the company founded by di Bartolomeo, allows Bitcoin investors to access dollar liquidity without selling their BTC. This approach mirrors his earlier strategy in Venezuela, where he borrowed Bolivars to buy US dollars, holding the stronger currency while maintaining a borrow position on the weaker one.

Banco Industrial, Guatemala’s largest bank, has integrated crypto infrastructure SukuPay into its mobile banking app. This integration enables users to receive US dollars more easily and at a significantly lower cost compared to traditional methods. SukuPay’s technology allows app users to receive dollars from the US for a flat fee of $0.99, which is much lower than the typical 6% to 10% fee.

According to SukuPay CEO Yonathan Lapchik, the key to mainstream adoption of blockchain technology is making it invisible to the end-user. This integration marks the first time a major Latin American retail bank has used a crypto-native protocol for its payment services.

America’s banking lobby views yield-bearing stablecoins as a threat to its traditional business model, which relies on taking deposits and using those funds for higher-risk investments. NYU professor Austin Campbell claimed that there is growing panic among bankers over new stablecoins offering interest payments and other monetary rewards.

Campbell suggested that banks are lobbying to protect their business model, which involves taking deposits, paying depositors minimal interest, and using those funds for higher-risk investments. He urged Democratic lawmakers to address this issue, stating that banks want protection for their cartel so they can continue to benefit at the expense of voters.

Strategy, the business intelligence firm led by Michael Saylor, has resumed its Bitcoin buying spree. The firm acquired 7,390 BTC last week for approximately $765 million, bringing its total Bitcoin holdings to 576,230 BTC. This purchase comes as Bitcoin surged past its previous all-time high, climbing above $109,000 for the first time since January. The improved investor sentiment, following the suspension of tariff hostilities between the United States and China, has benefited Bitcoin and other risk assets.