Nexo Launches Crypto-Backed Yacht Financing Program for Ultra-High-Net-Worth Clients

Nexo, a digital asset wealth platform, has introduced a specialized yacht financing program that allows crypto millionaires and billionaires to purchase or charter luxury vessels without selling their Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other digital assets. Loans of up to $100 million can be approved and funded within 24 hours, leveraging Nexo’s Zero-Interest Crypto Credit solution. This move targets the rapidly growing class of high-net-worth crypto investors while bypassing the slow, document-heavy processes of traditional marine lenders.

• Fast-track financing: Clients can access up to $100 million in 24 hours by using crypto as collateral, compared to 3–6 weeks with conventional yacht loans.
• Rising crypto wealth: Over 241,000 crypto millionaires and 36 billionaires globally (Henley & Partners 2025) create strong demand for luxury asset financing.
• Unique market position: Unlike Denison Yachting or Simpson Marine, which accept crypto payments, Nexo provides dedicated crypto-backed lending tailored to the yacht industry.
• Wealth preservation: Borrowers retain crypto exposure and potential upside while gaining liquidity for high-value purchases without triggering taxable events.
• Resilient platform: Backed by EU fintech Credissimo, Nexo survived the 2022 crypto downturn that collapsed BlockFi and Celsius, and is planning a U.S. return under friendlier regulations.

Nexo, a digital asset wealth platform founded in 2018, has introduced a specialized financing solution that allows wealthy crypto holders to purchase or charter luxury yachts without liquidating their digital asset portfolios.

The service leverages Nexo’s Zero-interest Crypto Credit program to provide loans of up to $100 million, backed by cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana. According to the company, funding can be delivered within 24 hours of approval.

Strategic Bet on Crypto Wealth

The move represents a strategic wager that ultra-high-net-worth individuals are increasingly engaged in the cryptocurrency space. Recent data supports this thesis: the number of crypto millionaires worldwide has surged to 241,700 individuals, with 450 centi-millionaires controlling crypto portfolios worth $100 million or more, and 36 crypto billionaires, according to Henley & Partners’ Crypto Wealth Report 2025.

A Capgemini survey indicated that around 71% of high-net-worth individuals had invested in digital assets, while Bitcoin millionaires alone reached 145,100, representing a 70% increase year-over-year. This rapidly growing demographic of crypto-wealthy individuals represents a natural target market for luxury asset financing that preserves their digital holdings.

By specifically targeting the superyacht market, where individual purchases can range from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars, Nexo appears to be positioning itself at the intersection of two wealth segments: the emerging crypto-rich and the traditional ultra-luxury market.

A Unique Position in the Market

While several crypto lending platforms offer loans that could theoretically fund yacht purchases, Nexo appears to be carving out a distinctive niche by explicitly marketing crypto-backed financing specifically for luxury vessels. Traditional yacht dealers like Denison Yachting and Simpson Marine have begun accepting cryptocurrency as payment, but these operate as standard sales transactions rather than collateralized lending products.

General-purpose crypto lenders such as Ledn, Unchained Capital, and others provide digital asset-backed loans, yet none prominently advertise specialized yacht financing with dedicated relationship managers and industry connections. Meanwhile, established marine lenders including JP Morgan Private Bank and Bank of America offer sophisticated yacht financing but don’t provide crypto-backed options.

This positions Nexo in what appears to be a largely unoccupied space: purpose-built crypto lending designed specifically for the luxury yacht market, complete with industry expertise and white-glove service typically associated with private wealth management.

Bypassing Traditional Marine Lending

The program aims to address pain points in conventional yacht financing, which typically requires extensive documentation, credit underwriting, and coordination among multiple third parties. Traditional marine lending can take three to six weeks or longer, involving audited financial statements, asset appraisals, Special Purpose Vehicle establishment, and flag registry mortgage registration.

In contrast, Nexo’s process requires clients to hold eligible digital assets in their account, request a quote from a dedicated relationship manager, sign a credit annex, and receive funds that can be transferred to a bank account for the purchase or charter.

Target Market

The service targets both individual buyers and industry professionals including luxury travel brokers, charter agents, and shipyards. For sellers and service providers, Nexo offers automatic crypto-to-fiat conversions to facilitate immediate transactions.

Private clients in the program receive personalized support through dedicated relationship managers who handle customized onboarding, provide priority assistance, and offer access to industry events.

Keeping Crypto Exposure

A key selling point of the program is that borrowers maintain their cryptocurrency holdings and potential upside rather than converting assets to fiat currency. This appeals to crypto investors who view their digital assets as long-term investments but require liquidity for major purchases.

The streamlined approach reflects growing interest in cryptocurrency-backed lending for high-value asset acquisitions, as digital asset holders seek ways to access their wealth without triggering taxable events or missing out on potential appreciation.

Platform Background and Resilience

Nexo is owned by Credissimo, a publicly traded fintech company established in 2007 and based in the European Union. The platform has over 5 million users globally and manages assets worth billions of dollars, with custody provided by BitGo, Fireblocks, and Ledger Vault.

Unlike competitors BlockFi, Celsius, and Voyager Digital that collapsed during the 2022 crypto market downturn, Nexo maintained operations. The company temporarily ceased U.S. operations in December 2022 and reached a $45 million settlement with U.S. regulators in January 2023, but has recently announced plans to return to the U.S. market under the more crypto-friendly regulatory environment of the Trump administration.

Nexo positions the yacht financing service as offering discretion, speed, and relationship-based banking typically associated with private wealth management, adapted for the digital asset era and the growing class of crypto millionaires seeking to leverage their holdings for luxury purchases.