Crypto-Backed Loans Soar 74%, High-Net-Worth Investors Favor Zcash
Crypto-backed loan volumes surged 74% in 2026, according to new research from CryptoQuant based on CoinRabbit data. This significant increase came as both retail and high-net-worth investors responded to weakening crypto market conditions by borrowing against their digital assets.
The report highlights a substantial rise in crypto-backed loan activity across major user groups, with average loans per person increasing 74% among retail borrowers and 18% among high-net-worth users. Repeat borrowing became increasingly common, with 65.1% of CoinRabbit users taking out multiple loans in 2026, up from 61.9% the previous year.
The data also indicates that retail borrowers waited longer between loans, averaging 21 days between transactions compared to 11 days previously. This trend coincided with a shift in collateral preferences, as Zcash and XRP gained ground among high-net-worth investors.