Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Imagine accessing the value of your crypto without selling it! James Coombes, CCO of Block Earner, delivered a game-changing talk at #AusCryptoCon, explaining how crypto-backed loans can revolutionize financial accessibility.
🔹What You'll Learn:
🔹How to unlock crypto equity without triggering a taxable event.
🔹The benefits of crypto-backed loans, lines of credit, and fixed-term options.
🔹Why traditional banks ignore crypto assets and how Block Earner is filling the gap
🔹Future innovations: Crypto-backed mortgages and borderless crypto credit
Key chapters:
[00:00:02] Introduction: James Coombes, Director and CCO of Block Earner.
[00:00:39] Releasing Equity Without Selling Crypto: The core concept and its significance in the evolving financial landscape.
[00:00:57] James's Background: Transitioning from traditional finance to decentralized finance (DeFi).
[00:02:01] Before Crypto (BC) vs. After Crypto (AC): Comparing traditional finance tools with the accessibility and inclusivity of crypto finance.
[00:03:18] The Membrane Layer: Block Earner's role in bridging traditional finance and blockchain finance.
[00:03:48] Meme: Illustrating the challenges young Australians face in saving for a home, contrasting it with previous generations.
[00:04:26] Banks Ignoring Crypto: Highlighting the disconnect between traditional finance and the growing importance of crypto for young Australians.
[00:05:08] Block Earner's Product Suite: Cash, DeFi access, trading, and loans.
[00:05:52] Loan Products: Line of credit and fixed-term loans explained.
[00:06:27] Daily Settlement: Australian dollar settlements at 4 PM daily for the line of credit.
[00:06:47] Loan Amounts: $50 to $5 million per user.
[00:07:37] Fixed Interest Rate: 9.5% fixed for the duration of the loan.
[00:08:06] Loan Repayment: Monthly repayments for a line of credit, flexible repayment for a fixed-term loan.
[00:08:23] Future Product: Crypto-Backed Debit Card: Tap and pay with a card backed by your crypto holdings anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
[00:09:23] Future Product: Crypto-Backed Mortgage: Exploring the possibility of 0% deposit mortgages using crypto as collateral.
[00:10:34] Lending Innovation of the Year Award: Recognition from WeMoney for Block Earner's lending products.
[00:11:05] Supported Assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others (Solana coming soon, but not meme coins).
[00:11:38] App Accessibility: Managing loans and accessing services through the Block Earner app.
[00:12:16] Local Currency Lending: Focus on lending in the user's local currency (AUD, NZD, SGD, HKD, etc.).
[00:13:13] Crypto Storage: Using Fireblocks custody with multi-sig security and whitelisting.
[00:14:13] Self-Custody: Not currently supported but a long-term goal.
[00:15:47] Tax Implications: Potentially not a taxable event based on current advice, but not tax advice.
[00:16:21] Insurance: No government-backed insurance like banks, but assets are insured through Lloyd's.
[00:17:29] Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR) and Asset Decline: Process for managing declining asset value and notifying borrowers.
[00:18:29] 30-Day Cure Period: Borrowers have 30 days to bring their LVR below 55% if it crosses the 60% threshold.
[00:19:28] Mortgage Product: Details to be announced early next year.
[00:19:56] Interest Rate Setting: Based on Block Earner's borrowing costs plus a margin, reviewed monthly.
[00:20:52] Refinancing: Possible if interest rates drop.
[00:21:05] Lockup Period: No lockup period after loan repayment; crypto is released the same day (currently 4 PM, soon to be 10 AM and 4 PM).
[00:21:46] Financials and Tax Returns: Required on a declaration basis, with lighter assessment if repaying with crypto.
[00:22:59] Business Lending: More flexible lending arrangements for businesses.
Imagine accessing the value of your crypto without selling it! James Coombes, CCO of Block Earner, delivered a game-changing talk at #AusCryptoCon, explaining how crypto-backed loans can revolutionize financial accessibility.
🔹What You'll Learn:
🔹How to unlock crypto equity without triggering a taxable event.
🔹The benefits of crypto-backed loans, lines of credit, and fixed-term options.
🔹Why traditional banks ignore crypto assets and how Block Earner is filling the gap
🔹Future innovations: Crypto-backed mortgages and borderless crypto credit
Key chapters:
[00:00:02] Introduction: James Coombes, Director and CCO of Block Earner.
[00:00:39] Releasing Equity Without Selling Crypto: The core concept and its significance in the evolving financial landscape.
[00:00:57] James's Background: Transitioning from traditional finance to decentralized finance (DeFi).
[00:02:01] Before Crypto (BC) vs. After Crypto (AC): Comparing traditional finance tools with the accessibility and inclusivity of crypto finance.
[00:03:18] The Membrane Layer: Block Earner's role in bridging traditional finance and blockchain finance.
[00:03:48] Meme: Illustrating the challenges young Australians face in saving for a home, contrasting it with previous generations.
[00:04:26] Banks Ignoring Crypto: Highlighting the disconnect between traditional finance and the growing importance of crypto for young Australians.
[00:05:08] Block Earner's Product Suite: Cash, DeFi access, trading, and loans.
[00:05:52] Loan Products: Line of credit and fixed-term loans explained.
[00:06:27] Daily Settlement: Australian dollar settlements at 4 PM daily for the line of credit.
[00:06:47] Loan Amounts: $50 to $5 million per user.
[00:07:37] Fixed Interest Rate: 9.5% fixed for the duration of the loan.
[00:08:06] Loan Repayment: Monthly repayments for a line of credit, flexible repayment for a fixed-term loan.
[00:08:23] Future Product: Crypto-Backed Debit Card: Tap and pay with a card backed by your crypto holdings anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
[00:09:23] Future Product: Crypto-Backed Mortgage: Exploring the possibility of 0% deposit mortgages using crypto as collateral.
[00:10:34] Lending Innovation of the Year Award: Recognition from WeMoney for Block Earner's lending products.
[00:11:05] Supported Assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others (Solana coming soon, but not meme coins).
[00:11:38] App Accessibility: Managing loans and accessing services through the Block Earner app.
[00:12:16] Local Currency Lending: Focus on lending in the user's local currency (AUD, NZD, SGD, HKD, etc.).
[00:13:13] Crypto Storage: Using Fireblocks custody with multi-sig security and whitelisting.
[00:14:13] Self-Custody: Not currently supported but a long-term goal.
[00:15:47] Tax Implications: Potentially not a taxable event based on current advice, but not tax advice.
[00:16:21] Insurance: No government-backed insurance like banks, but assets are insured through Lloyd's.
[00:17:29] Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR) and Asset Decline: Process for managing declining asset value and notifying borrowers.
[00:18:29] 30-Day Cure Period: Borrowers have 30 days to bring their LVR below 55% if it crosses the 60% threshold.
[00:19:28] Mortgage Product: Details to be announced early next year.
[00:19:56] Interest Rate Setting: Based on Block Earner's borrowing costs plus a margin, reviewed monthly.
[00:20:52] Refinancing: Possible if interest rates drop.
[00:21:05] Lockup Period: No lockup period after loan repayment; crypto is released the same day (currently 4 PM, soon to be 10 AM and 4 PM).
[00:21:46] Financials and Tax Returns: Required on a declaration basis, with lighter assessment if repaying with crypto.
[00:22:59] Business Lending: More flexible lending arrangements for businesses.
