SALT Lending CEO Declares Bitcoin’s First Institutional Cycle Has Arrived

Bitcoin's first institutional cycle — SALT Lending CEO Shawn Owen has declared that Bitcoin’s first true institutional adoption cycle is now underway, citing a wave of interest from banks and credit unions.

In an interview with Bitcoin Magazine, Owen stated that the barriers which previously held back banks and registered investment advisors from engaging with Bitcoin have finally come down. He described a sense of “FOMO” or fear of missing out, as these traditional financial entities race to understand and integrate the asset.

The CEO explained that Bitcoin is increasingly being viewed as “pristine collateral” for lending, a shift accelerated by the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States. Owen noted that these ETFs have significantly changed SALT’s borrower base, bringing in more institutional and accredited investors.

Owen also discussed the long-term potential for building a secondary market for Bitcoin-backed loans and argued that for younger generations, Bitcoin is becoming a more compelling store of value and collateral asset than traditional options like real estate.