Block Earner launches Australia's first crypto loans

Block Earner has launched Australia's first crypto-backed lending platform to hold an Australian Credit Licence, using infrastructure from Fireblocks.

The platform lets Australian borrowers take out loans in Australian dollars against their crypto holdings without selling the underlying assets. It is aimed at digital asset holders seeking access to credit through a regulated structure.

Fireblocks provides the custody technology behind the service. Block Earner has adopted its multi-party computation technology to manage customer collateral and remove single points of failure in its digital asset operations.

That is significant because crypto-backed lending has often sat outside mainstream consumer finance rules, while most digital asset products in Australia have focused on trading. The launch marks a move into a more regulated part of the market.

Block Earner already holds an Australian Credit Licence and is registered with AUSTRAC. Its model allows customers to borrow AUD while retaining exposure to the crypto they pledge as collateral.

Security focus

Secure custody was a central requirement for the product because it holds customer assets against outstanding loans. Block Earner also needed infrastructure that could support a growing lending operation.

Since going live on Fireblocks, Block Earner reports no security incidents. It has also expanded its lending offer, increased the size of loans it supports, and introduced a business-to-business lending product for exchanges and other digital asset platforms.

That product is designed to let third-party platforms offer crypto-backed loans without building their own custody systems. The approach could lower the operational barrier for firms looking to add lending services to existing digital asset offerings.

Amy Zhang, Head of APAC, Fireblocks, said, "As digital assets become increasingly embedded in financial services, it is clear that institutional-grade infrastructure is the foundation for innovation. We're proud to support Block Earner as it brings Australia's first crypto-backed lending platform to market and demonstrates that security isn't just a nice-to-have, but enables businesses to scale with confidence, from launching new products to expanding into new jurisdictions."

Lauren Minicozzi, Growth and Partnerships Manager, Block Earner, said, "Security is fundamental when you're holding customer assets as collateral. Fireblocks gave us the confidence to launch our lending product, knowing our customers' digital assets would be protected by institutional-grade infrastructure. That allowed us to focus on building innovative financial products instead of custody technology."

Market shift

The move also highlights a broader shift in Australia's digital asset sector as companies look beyond brokerage and trading services. Providers are increasingly exploring lending, payments, and other products that fit more closely within established financial regulation.

Fireblocks has expanded its presence in Australia through work with exchanges, custodians, and payments companies, as well as bank-led digital money research projects including Project Acacia. According to the company, this reflects rising demand for systems that can support regulated digital asset products.

For Block Earner, the launch may also serve as a base for overseas expansion. The company said Fireblocks' international network and compliance framework could help it enter other markets without rebuilding its custody arrangements in each jurisdiction.

That could be significant for Australian fintechs, which often face high compliance and infrastructure costs when moving abroad. In digital assets, custody and security requirements can be a particular obstacle because local rules and operational expectations vary sharply between markets.

Block Earner describes itself as a fintech focused on credit products for digital asset holders. Its crypto-backed loans are intended to give consumers and investors access to liquidity while allowing them to keep ownership of their crypto.

The company has also received industry recognition for its lending model, winning Excellence in Consumer Lending at the 2026 Finnies Awards. The award cited its work on regulated digital asset lending products for Australian consumers and investors.

Fireblocks said it secures more than $14 trillion in digital asset transfers across its platform, serving banks, payment providers, exchanges, and custodians. Thousands of organisations rely on its systems across more than 150 blockchains.

In Australia, where regulators and financial institutions have been examining how digital assets fit into existing financial frameworks, the launch offers a fresh example of a crypto product delivered through a licensed credit structure rather than a purely trading-based model.

The service was built to let customers borrow AUD against their crypto holdings without selling.