Swiss-based Bitcoin startup Relai has announced a strategic partnership with Sygnum Bank to launch a Bitcoin-backed loan (HNWIS) for High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIS), enabling users to access liquidity without selling their Bitcoin, according to a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine.
The service marks the first service in Switzerland and merges Relai’s intuitive bitcoin investment platform with Sygnum-regulated digital banking infrastructure. With this product, Relai’s private customers can unleash the value of their Bitcoin holdings without sacrificing their long-term cryptocurrency positions.
“At Relai, we are building the future of Bitcoin-focused financial services. This partnership with Sygnum Bank is a huge milestone for us as a startup,” said Julian Liniger, CEO and co-founder of Relai. “Loans supported by Bitcoin are a game-changing for our wealthy customers, providing them with cash without selling Bitcoin. We see a strong demand, especially for High Network Value Individuals (HNWI) (HNWI) (hnwi) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) (SME) (SME) (SME). It’s about freedom and flexibility.
Relai has become the leading app for buying Bitcoin in one minute, and he said they see the development as a key step in its broader European expansion plan. The company aims to acquire a market for Crypto-Assets Regulation (MICA) license later this quarter, targeting more than 500 million user bases across Europe.
“For Bitcoin’s top and high net worth investors who have long advocated the ‘never sell your Bitcoin’ philosophy, this alliance has built a financial bridge between diamond hands and real-world capital needs,” the company said in a press release. Now, customers with portfolios of over CHF 100,000 or Euros can gain a lot of liquidity while maintaining long-term exposure to Bitcoin.
“We are honored to work with Relai, a company that shares our commitment to simplicity, transparency and Bitcoin-first innovation,” Benedikt Koedel, CFA, Head Credit & Lending at Sygnum Bank. “This collaboration brings the strength of our regulated credit infrastructure to a new community of private investors, giving them the ability to unleash liquidity without damaging their long-term vision.” With the growth of Bitcoin adoption, Relai’s Bitcoin-backed loans can play a greater role in making up for Bitcoin across Europe with traditional financial services.
