Lava Has Developed a Self-custodial Bitcoin Borrowing Platform

Unlike traditional crypto loan services that take custody of users’ assets (and sometimes engage in risky practices like rehypothecation), Lava is self-custodial

Lava, a startup building a self-custodial Bitcoin borrowing platform, has raised over $30 million in funding. The company's technology allows users to borrow dollars against their Bitcoin holdings, providing liquidity without requiring them to sell their Bitcoin. This is particularly appealing to Bitcoin HODLers who want to maintain long-term exposure to BTC’s potential appreciation while accessing cash for immediate needs. Lava’s unique Discreet Log Contract (DLC)s enable it to provide these loans on a self-custody basis, reducing counterparty and rehypothecation risk.

Stablecoin Integration – LavaUSD

Lava has also launched its own stablecoin offering – LavaUSD – to combine Bitcoin with dollar-based spending. LavaUSD is redeemable 1:1 for the US dollar via reserves invested in cash and highly liquid instruments. The reserve portfolio contains a mix of short-dated US Treasuries, overnight US Treasury repurchase agreements, and money market funds all custodied with partners such as BlackRock and Fidelity. LavaUSD enables users to make payments anywhere in the world frictionlessly.

Here’s why they launched it:

The team has attracted significant investment. Since inception Lava has raised over $30 million from investors including Khosla Ventures, Founders Fund, and Susquehanna International Group with angel participation from people and institutions including Bijan Tehrani, the Qatar Investment Authority, Google, and Franklin Templeton among others. FULL DISCLOSURE: UTXO participated in Lava’s seed round.

The Case for Spending BTC vs. Spending Dollars

Last week, this tweet by Caitlin Long and amplified by our favorite Bitcoiner in Congress Cynthia Lummis received significant pushback from some bitcoiners, offended at the idea of perpetuating the fiat system instead of transaction directly with Bitcoin, as it was intended by Satoshi.

(Special S/O to our Bitcoin Magazine OG Mike Germano and PubKey extraordinaire Thomas Pacchia for so graciously holding beers – wine is better!)

Spending BTC directly with merchants or individuals is often hailed as a step toward Hyperbitcoinization—the hypothetical scenario where BTC becomes the dominant global currency. This approach strengthens Bitcoin’s network effect, encourages adoption, and aligns with its peer-to-peer philosophy, bypassing intermediaries like banks. However, this strategy faces significant hurdles. Firstly, BTC’s price appreciation potential remains substantial. Historical data shows BTC’s value has surged from negligible levels in 2009 to over $100,000 by early 2025, driven by finite supply (capped at 21 million coins) and growing institutional interest (e.g., MicroStrategy’s treasury strategy). Spending BTC now risks forgoing future gains, especially as halvings and market dynamics continue to constrain supply against rising demand.

Secondly, tax conditions in many jurisdictions, including the United States, impose restrictive burdens on spending BTC. In the U.S., the IRS treats BTC as property, meaning each transaction triggers a taxable event. Selling or spending BTC at a profit incurs capital gains tax—up to 37% for short-term gains or 20% for long-term holdings—based on the difference between purchase price and sale value. This complexity discourages direct spending, as users must track cost basis, report gains, and navigate administrative overhead, often outweighing the convenience of BTC payments. For instance, a $1,000 BTC purchase spent at $10,000 would trigger a $2,800 tax liability (assuming a 28% effective rate), making dollar-based spending via stablecoins a more tax-efficient alternative.

Why Holding BTC Outweighs Spending Now

Given BTC’s upward trajectory spending it now may undermine long-term wealth preservation. Analysts suggest BTC could reach $200,000 or more by 2030 if current trends persist, driven by inflation hedging and a weakening fiat system. Spending BTC at current prices locks in value at a fraction of its potential, especially when alternatives like Lava’s lending model provide liquidity without forfeiture. Moreover, the tax burden amplifies this disincentive, as frequent transactions erode net returns. This aligns with the “HODL” philosophy, where retaining BTC maximizes appreciation while using borrowed dollars or stablecoins meets immediate needs.

Mitigation Strategy: Buy-Back Mechanism

To balance the desire to spend with BTC retention, a buy-back strategy offers a pragmatic solution. After borrowing dollars against BTC via Lava’s platform, users can spend these funds while committing to repurchase BTC at a later date when market conditions or personal finances allow. This approach leverages Lava’s self-custodial lending (with its 5% interest cost) to access liquidity without selling, preserving the original BTC stash. The buy-back can be timed to capitalize on market dips or post-tax season liquidity, potentially at lower prices, enhancing overall holdings. For example, borrowing $10,00