Anchorage–Mezo partnership opens institutional access to BTC-backed loans
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Mezo, a Bitcoin-native DeFi platform for BTC-backed borrowing and yield, has partnered with Anchorage Digital to bring low-cost stablecoin loans and short-term veBTC rewards to institutional clients.
The move gives public companies and digital asset treasuries a compliant on-ramp into Bitcoin-native finance.
Through Anchorage’s Porto wallet, institutions can borrow against their Bitcoin (BTC) at a fixed 1% rate using Mezo’s Bitcoin-backed stablecoin, MUSD, according to Wednesday’s announcement.
The integration also adds short-term yield tools. Clients will be able to lock Bitcoin for a period of six to 30 days and receive veBTC. This tokenized position shares onchain network fees and offers higher rewards for longer commitments, along with governance rights over Mezo’s fee structure and economics.
Matt Luongo, CEO of Thesis and co-founder of Mezo, said:
“Mezo is realizing Hal Finney’s vision for a Bitcoin banking experience that issues its own digital currency backed by Bitcoin, acting as banks did before they became nationalized.”
Mezo is a Bitcoin-native finance protocol that lets users borrow, save and earn yield through onchain tools powered by MUSD. It was built by Thesis, a Bitcoin venture studio founded in 2014 that builds decentralized products and infrastructure.
Related: Advocacy group proposes DeFi solutions to address global poverty
Bitcoin-backed borrowing surges
Bitcoin-backed borrowing has gained momentum in 2025, with a steady stream of new platforms and products emerging online. The trend is expected to grow sharply, with a February report from Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt estimating the market could surge to $45 billion by 2030.
Tether revealed yesterday that it has taken an undisclosed stake in Ledn, a Bitcoin-backed lending platform that offers consumer loans secured by crypto. In October, Ledn said it had originated $392 million in Bitcoin-backed loans during the third quarter of 2025.
In May, Cantor Fitzgerald teamed up with Maple Finance and FalconX to execute its first loan backed by Bitcoin, a move that underscored Wall Street’s growing push into crypto credit markets.
In July, Block Earner rolled out Bitcoin-backed home loans in Australia, providing buyers with a way to tap their BTC for up to half of a property’s value as housing prices continue to surge in the country.
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