Aven Financial Inc. has introduced a new Bitcoin Visa Card aimed at long-term bitcoin holders who want access to liquidity without selling their assets. Announced at Bitcoin Conference 2026 in Las Vegas, the product allows eligible users to unlock up to $1 million in bitcoin-backed credit while keeping their BTC in place as collateral.
The launch reflects a growing effort across the digital asset industry to connect crypto wealth with traditional payment rails. Rather than requiring users to liquidate bitcoin and potentially trigger taxes or lose upside exposure, Aven is positioning the card as a way to borrow against holdings for everyday spending, cash access, and balance transfers.
How the Bitcoin-backed credit card works
According to Aven, the card provides a revolving line of credit secured by bitcoin. The company said rates start at 7.99% APR, and the product comes with no annual fee and no setup fee. In addition, cardholders are offered unlimited 2% cashback on purchases, combining a crypto-collateralized credit structure with features that resemble mainstream premium consumer credit cards.
Aven also said the product includes fixed-rate, fixed-term borrowing options for both cash-outs and balance transfers. Those plans can run for up to 10 years, which is a notable distinction in the crypto lending market, where shorter repayment windows are often the norm. The company said both the fixed-term plans and the broader credit line start at 7.99% APR.
This structure is designed to appeal to bitcoin holders who want flexibility. Instead of selling BTC to fund spending or large expenses, users can maintain exposure to the asset while accessing credit through a familiar Visa payment format.
Positioning against other crypto lending products
Aven framed the card as an alternative to existing bitcoin-backed borrowing products that, according to its April 2026 comparison, often feature effective annual rates of 10% or more and terms of no more than 12 months. By contrast, Aven is emphasizing longer-duration financing, fixed-rate repayment options, and direct card-based usability.
The company’s message is clear: crypto lending does not have to be limited to short-term loans or specialized borrowing interfaces. A credit card tied to bitcoin collateral could make the borrowing experience more accessible for users who are already familiar with card spending but are less interested in navigating separate lending platforms for every liquidity need.
At the same time, the product does not eliminate the core trade-offs of collateralized borrowing. Users gain liquidity without selling, but their access to credit depends on posting bitcoin as collateral and accepting the operational and market risks that come with a BTC-backed structure.
Bitgo handles custody, Coastal Community Bank issues the card
Aven said borrowers will post bitcoin collateral through Bitgo Inc. and Bitgo Bank & Trust, National Association. The company noted that Bitgo Bank & Trust is a digital asset trust bank regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). That custody arrangement forms a central part of the product’s architecture, separating collateral management from card issuance.
The Visa credit card itself is issued by Coastal Community Bank, which also manages the related accounts within the traditional banking framework. Aven added that Coastal Community Bank is an FDIC member institution. However, the company also made an important distinction: the bank is not the issuer or custodian of bitcoin, and bitcoin itself is not FDIC-insured.
That clarification matters for users evaluating the product. While the card component is connected to a regulated bank issuer and the bitcoin collateral is handled through specialized digital asset custody providers, the protections associated with bank deposits do not automatically extend to crypto collateral. In practical terms, this is a hybrid financial product that combines familiar payment infrastructure with a separate crypto collateral stack.
A broader push into asset-backed consumer finance
Aven said its wider platform is built around helping consumers tap the value of existing assets in order to lower borrowing costs. The company reported that it has funded more than $3 billion to customers, generated more than $215 million in cumulative interest savings, and raised more than $400 million in capital.
The company also highlighted the profile of its advisory board, which includes several well-known figures from U.S. finance and politics. Those advisors include Kevin Warsh, former Federal Reserve governor and current nominee for Fed chair; Jim Messina, former White House deputy chief of staff; and Patrick McHenry, former chairman of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee. Other advisors listed by Aven include Michael DeVito, former CEO of Freddie Mac, and Timothy Mayopoulos, former CEO of Fannie Mae and Silicon Valley Bridge Bank.
By emphasizing those names, Aven appears to be signaling institutional credibility at a time when consumer-facing crypto lending remains under close scrutiny. The company is effectively trying to position its bitcoin-backed card as a more structured and transparent credit product rather than a speculative lending tool.
Why the launch matters
The introduction of the Aven Bitcoin Visa Card adds another example of how bitcoin is being integrated into mainstream financial services. For years, bitcoin holders largely faced a binary choice: either continue holding and remain illiquid, or sell and convert into fiat for spending and financial flexibility. Products like this attempt to create a third option—retain the asset while borrowing against it.
That approach may be especially attractive to users who view bitcoin as a long-term store of value but still need access to working capital, consumer credit, or refinancing tools. The inclusion of cashback and standard card spending functionality suggests Aven is not only targeting high-net-worth borrowers but also trying to make bitcoin-backed credit feel closer to a conventional retail banking product.
Still, the launch also underscores a key theme in crypto finance: innovation often comes through layered partnerships. In this case, Aven provides the financial technology platform, Bitgo supplies the custody infrastructure for collateral, and Coastal Community Bank issues the card through the established banking system. The result is a product that sits at the intersection of crypto custody, regulated banking, and global payments.
As digital asset adoption expands, financial products that bridge on-chain wealth and off-chain spending are likely to draw increasing attention. Aven’s new card enters that landscape by offering bitcoin holders a way to access credit, longer repayment options, and card-based utility without requiring a direct sale of their BTC.