Crypto Holders Turn to Digital Asset Loans as Markets Cool
Crypto holders have been increasing their use of digital asset-backed loans in response to weaker markets. According to research from CryptoQuant, which analyzed data from CoinRabbit, a crypto lender, borrowing activity among both retail and high-net-worth users rose significantly in 2026.
The report found that the average number of loans taken by retail users increased by 74%, while those taken by high-net-worth users rose by 18%. Repeat borrowing also became more common, with the share of users taking multiple loans increasing from 61.9% to 65.1%.
The data also showed that collateral preferences shifted, particularly among wealthier users. Bitcoin's share of pledged assets fell from 57.8% to 30.5%, while Zcash's share rose significantly due to its sharp price rally, which saw it climb from around $50 in late 2025 to $800.
Other assets, such as Monero and Chainlink, also gained larger shares among high-net-worth collateral, while retail users continued to rely heavily on XRP but at a lower share of 35.2% compared to 41.7% in the previous year.