Debifi and Sygnum Are Letting Bitcoin Holders Borrow Without Losing Control

TLDR:

• Sygnum Bank and Debifi’s MultiSYG platform will let borrowers keep control of their BTC while securing loans.
• MultiSYG uses a five-party wallet requiring three approvals to move Bitcoin collateral, ensuring transparency.
• The platform targets institutional and high-net-worth users seeking safer, bank-grade crypto lending.
• MultiSYG launches in early 2026, blending regulated finance with verifiable onchain Bitcoin control.
  

A new partnership is setting the stage for a different kind of Bitcoin lending. Swiss digital asset bank Sygnum Bank and fintech firm Debifi are developing MultiSYG, a Bitcoin-backed loan platform expected to launch in the first half of 2026. 

The project aims to give borrowers full control of their BTC while securing access to regulated, bank-grade loans. It’s being designed for institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals seeking transparency and safety in crypto lending.

Crypto analyst @CryptosR_Us highlighted the development on X, calling it “a new era of Bitcoin banking.” The idea is simple but powerful: users can borrow against their BTC without surrendering their keys to a custodian.

Bitcoin-Backed Loans Without Losing Custody

According to a report, Sygnum and Debifi plan to eliminate one of crypto lending’s biggest risks, loss of asset control. Traditional Bitcoin-backed loans often require full custody by the lender, meaning the borrower’s assets remain locked until repayment.

With MultiSYG, that changes. The system uses a multi-signature wallet shared among Sygnum, the borrower, and independent signers. Any movement of collateral requires three out of five approvals, allowing borrowers to keep verifiable, onchain control of their BTC.

Debifi CEO Max Kei said the model addresses a long-standing concern: trust in custodians. He explained that borrowers shouldn’t have to “trust blindly” when securing loans. This setup makes it harder for lenders to reuse collateral or engage in rehypothecation, a practice that contributed to failures in firms like BlockFi and Celsius.

Sygnum’s initiative lead Pascal Eberle described the model as combining “the best of both worlds,” regulated banking services and cryptographic proof of funds. Borrowers will have flexible terms, transparent drawdowns, and continued visibility into their holdings throughout the loan.

Institutional Demand for Safer Crypto Finance

The move comes as institutional investors look for secure ways to leverage digital assets. Traditional lenders left a gap in the market after the collapse of centralized crypto platforms in previous cycles. That vacuum opened space for regulated banks like Sygnum to introduce compliant, transparent lending structures.

Debifi’s involvement signals a shift in how crypto lending platforms are being built. By focusing on user control and blockchain verification, the partnership bridges the gap between traditional finance and decentralized ownership.

Sygnum, which already operates under Swiss banking regulations, aims to make MultiSYG a model for risk-managed crypto lending. The launch, set for early 2026, could mark a step toward bank-grade adoption of Bitcoin-backed financial products.

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