Coinbase Launches $1 Million ETH-Backed Loans as Base Lending Activity Increases
On November 21, 2025, Coinbase introduced a new lending service allowing eligible U.S. customers to borrow up to $1 million in USDC using Ethereum as collateral. This initiative leverages the Morpho lending protocol on Coinbase's Layer 2 network, Base, facilitating access to decentralized finance (DeFi) liquidity through a centralized interface. The move coincides with a surge in on-chain lending on Base, which has now surpassed $1.25 billion.
Coinccino 
Market Context
- Service: ETH-backed USDC loans up to $1 million
- Platform: Coinbase (utilizing Morpho protocol on Base)
- Base Lending Volume: >$1.25 Billion
- Recent Precedent: Coinbase recently raised Bitcoin-backed loan limits to $5 million.
- Availability: Most of the U.S. (excluding New York)
Technical Details with AttributionAccording to ETHNews, the loan mechanism operates via Morpho’s smart contracts on the Base network.
- Tax Efficiency: Borrowers receive USDC without selling ETH, avoiding immediate taxable events.
- Risk Management: The system employs an automatic liquidation trigger if the Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio reaches 86%.
- Future Integration: Plans are in place to expand collateral options to include cbETH (Coinbase Staked ETH).
Analyst Perspectives
- Strategic Positioning: Industry observers note that by integrating DeFi protocols like Morpho, Coinbase is effectively "positioning itself at the center of the next phase of crypto-native credit markets," blending centralized ease of use with decentralized infrastructure.
- Risk Warning: Analysts advise caution regarding the 86% liquidation threshold, emphasizing that while the product unlocks liquidity, the "inherent volatility of crypto-backed credit" requires strict monitoring of collateral health to avoid automatic sell-offs.
Global Impact Note
- United States: This product is currently rolling out to U.S. customers (excluding NY), bridging the gap between traditional fintech user experiences and complex on-chain DeFi mechanics.
- DeFi Ecosystem: The integration drives significant volume to the Base Layer 2 network, potentially setting a precedent for how centralized exchanges globally might utilize Layer 2 solutions to offer compliant financial services.
