This first-of-its-kind service in Switzerland combines Relai’s award-winning Bitcoin platform with Sygnum’s regulated banking infrastructure.
The partnership marks Relai’s first step toward broader European expansion. MiCA licensing is expected later this quarter, and Relai plans to reach 500M+ potential users.
Zurich, 1st May — Relai is committed to making bitcoin buying as accessible and rewarding as possible. The award-winning Swiss-made app allows users to buy bitcoin within a minute, and within its first five years on the market, it established itself as the golden bitcoin broker standard.
However, one aspect was missing from the Swiss platform: Bitcoin-backed loans, which they are changing today with a strategic partnership with Sygnum Bank, a Swiss digital asset bank.
Both companies unveil an elite bitcoin-backed lending service for Relai’s Private clients to unlock substantial liquidity for their BTC holdings.
For Bitcoin maximalists and high-net-worth investors who’ve long embraced the “Never Sell Your Bitcoin” philosophy, this alliance creates a financial bridge between diamond hands and real-world capital needs.
Clients with portfolios exceeding 100,000 Swiss francs or euros can now leverage their bitcoin holdings to get more liquidity while maintaining their long-term investment strategy.
Julian Liniger, CEO & Co-Founder of Relai said:
“At Relai, we’re building the future of Bitcoin-focused financial services. This partnership with Sygnum Bank is a huge milestone for us as a Startup. Bitcoin-backed loans are a game-changer for our wealthy clients, providing them with access to cash without the need to sell their bitcoin.
“We are seeing a strong demand for that service, especially from high-net-worth individuals and small to medium-sized businesses.”
Benedikt Koedel, CFA, Head Credit & Lending at Sygnum Bank stated:
“We’re proud to partner with Relai, a company that shares our commitment to simplicity, transparency, and Bitcoin-first innovation.
“This collaboration brings the strength of our regulated credit infrastructure to new groups of private investors, empowering them to unlock liquidity without compromising their long-term vision.”
This pioneering bitcoin-backed lending service represents just the first step in Relai‘s ambitious expansion strategy.
The company is advancing toward acquiring the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) license later this quarter, positioning Relai at the forefront of European-compliant digital assets innovation.
With the rollout of bitcoin-backed loans and strategic marketing initiatives across Europe, the Zurich-based company is poised to extend its reach to a market of over 500 million people.
As institutional adoption of bitcoin accelerates, Relai stands ready to bridge the gap between digital wealth and real-world financial needs for Europe’s growing community of bitcoin investors.
Press Contacts:
Joël Kai Lenz, Head of Communications
Email: joel@relai.app
About Relai
Relai is a Swiss startup founded in 2020 in Zurich by Julian Liniger and Adem Bilican. Their Bitcoin-only app is designed to be simple and intuitive, allowing anyone to buy and sell Bitcoin within minutes. Relai stands out in the crowded cryptocurrency market with its unique approach to self-custody.
Unlike other platforms, Relai does not hold user funds; instead, it empowers users to control their financial futures with an easy-to-use self-custodial wallet.
Relai is a Swiss-licensed financial service provider with over $500 million in trading volume. In 2024, Relai was named one of the fastest-growing startups in Europe, and the company is regularly listed among the top 50 Swiss startups. Learn more at relai.app.
