
KEY POINTS
- For now, the loans will utilize Bitcoin as collateral but Coinbase plans to add more assets in the future
- Base open-source lending protocol Morpho will calculate interest rates based on market conditions
- Users can convert $USDC to USD 1:1 for free for major expenses such as car purchases or mortgage payments
Cryptocurrency exchange giant Coinbase today announced the launch of its Bitcoin-backed USDC loans powered by Morpho, an open-source lending protocol on Base that's also the first decentralized finance (DeFi) offering at this scale, marking a major step toward providing customers with more control over their finances through the power of onchain technology.