Bitcoin Loan Comparison

Strike vs. Morpho

Strike charges 7.49%–10.5% APR with $0 origination fees using custodial. Morpho charges ~4.3% (variable) APR with $0 origination fees using smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge). See the full breakdown of rates, thresholds, and custody risk below.

Rates verified 2026-06-09

How do Strike and Morpho compare for Bitcoin-backed loans?

Morpho advertises a lower headline rate at ~4.3% (variable) compared to Strike's 7.49%–10.5%. On a $1M loan held for 12 months, Morpho saves $47,000 in total first-year cost (interest plus origination fees). From a custody perspective, Morpho presents lower counterparty risk with its smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge) model.

Strike vs. Morpho: Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Strike
Morpho
Interest Rate (APR)
7.49%–10.5%
~4.3% (variable)Morpho
Origination Fee
$0
$0
Max Starting LTV
50%
86%Morpho
Margin Call Threshold
70% LTVStrike
None — liquidation at 86% LTV
Liquidation Threshold
85% LTV
86% LTVMorpho
Margin Call Window
72 hoursStrike
None — automated liquidation
Custody Model
Custodial
Smart contract (wrapped BTC via custodial bridge)Morpho
Rehypothecation
No
No
Interest Payment
Monthly
Capitalized
Minimum Loan
$10,000
No minimumMorpho

APR by Loan Size: Strike vs. Morpho

Strike offers tiered rates that decrease with larger loan amounts, while Morpho charges a flat rate regardless of loan size. Total year-1 cost includes both annualized interest and any origination fees charged upfront.

Loan SizeStrike APRMorpho APRStrike Total Year-1 CostMorpho Total Year-1 CostSavings
$100,00010.5%4.3%$10,500$4,300$6,200 with Morpho
$250,00010%4.3%$25,000$10,750$14,250 with Morpho
$500,00010%4.3%$50,000$21,500$28,500 with Morpho
$1M9%4.3%$90,000$43,000$47,000 with Morpho
$5M7.49%4.3%$374,500$215,000$159,500 with Morpho

Total year-1 cost includes annualized interest plus origination fees. Morpho rates are variable; the table uses a representative recent rate. Rates sourced from each lender's public rate pages as of 2026-06-09.

Custody and Collateral Security

Strike and Morpho take fundamentally different approaches to collateral custody. Strike uses Custodial. Your Bitcoin is held by Strike and could be at risk in the event of a hack, insolvency, or regulatory action. Morpho holds collateral in audited smart contracts rather than with a single lender, but borrowing requires wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC or cbBTC) — your underlying BTC is held by the wrapper's custodian (BitGo/BiT Global for WBTC, Coinbase for cbBTC), reintroducing custodial bridge risk. Smart-contract and oracle risk also apply.

Strike: High (Custodial)
  • Custodial
  • Rehypothecation: No
  • Monthly interest payments
  • Monthly-payment interest rates shown (10.
Morpho: Medium (Smart Contract + Bridge)
  • Smart contract (wrapped BTC via custodial bridge)
  • Rehypothecation: No
  • Interest capitalized (compounding)
  • DeFi lending protocol — variable utilization-driven rates: WBTC/cbBTC-USDC markets have run ~3-5% in recent months.

Margin Call and Liquidation: Strike vs. Morpho

Strike triggers margin calls at 70% LTV and liquidates at 85% LTV. Morpho has no margin-call mechanism: positions become liquidatable automatically the moment LTV crosses 86%, with no warning threshold or response window. Strike gives borrowers 72 hours to respond to a margin call before any collateral is sold.

ThresholdStrikeMorpho
Max Starting LTV50%86%
Margin Call70% LTVNone
Margin Call Window72 hoursNone — automated liquidation
Liquidation85% LTV86% LTV

Safety Buffer Comparison

Strike: 35.0 percentage point buffer between starting LTV (50%) and liquidation (85%). Morpho: 0.0 percentage point buffer between starting LTV (86%) and liquidation (86%). Strike provides a wider safety margin.

Which is better: Strike or Morpho?

Choosing between Strike and Morpho requires evaluating total cost, custody risk, and which platform aligns with your borrowing profile. Strike uses custodial with 7.49%–10.5% APR, while Morpho uses smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge) with ~4.3% (variable) APR.

On a $250,000 loan, Morpho costs $10,750 in the first year versus $25,000 at Strike, a difference of $14,250. Morpho charges no origination fee, so the only cost is interest.

The custody difference is material. Morpho uses smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge), which means your Bitcoin requires multiple key holders to coordinate, reducing single-point-of-failure risk. Strike uses custodial. In a platform insolvency scenario, Morpho borrowers' collateral is protected by the multisig architecture, while Strike borrowers may face creditor claims.

Strike is the better fit for borrowers who are borrowing $10,000 or more and are comfortable with custodial lending. Morpho is the better fit for borrowers who need smaller loans or more flexible access.

Key details to be aware of: Strike: Monthly-payment interest rates shown (10.5% = 11. Morpho: DeFi lending protocol — variable utilization-driven rates: WBTC/cbBTC-USDC markets have run ~3-5% in recent months. Single 86% LLTV parameter: you can borrow right up to it, but there is no margin call and zero buffer — positions are liquidatable the instant LTV exceeds 86%, and a liquidator may close up to 100% of the position (~4.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Strike or Morpho cheaper for a $500,000 Bitcoin-backed loan?

Morpho is cheaper. On a $500,000 loan held for 12 months, Strike costs $50,000 (10% APR) while Morpho costs $21,500 (4.3% APR). That is a $28,500 difference in the first year.

How does Strike's custody model compare to Morpho?

Strike uses custodial. Morpho uses smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge). Morpho presents lower custody risk because your collateral requires coordination among multiple key holders.

What is the minimum loan amount at Strike vs Morpho?

Strike's minimum loan is $10,000. Morpho has no minimum. Morpho is more accessible for smaller borrowers.

What happens if Bitcoin drops while I have a loan with Strike or Morpho?

Strike issues a margin call at 70% LTV with a 72-hour response window and liquidates at 85% LTV. Morpho has no margin call — positions are liquidated automatically the moment LTV crosses 86%. Starting from a 50% LTV, Strike provides a 35-point buffer before liquidation, while Morpho provides a 36-point buffer.

Should I use Strike or Morpho for a Bitcoin-backed loan?

It depends on your priorities. Strike (7.49%–10.5% APR, custodial, min $10,000) is better for borrowers who value custodial and have larger borrowing needs. Morpho (~4.3% (variable) APR, smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge), no minimum) is better for borrowers who value smart contract (wrapped btc via custodial bridge) and need smaller loan access. Use the rate table and cost comparison above to model your specific scenario.

Other comparisons

Looking for a non-custodial alternative?

Lygos offers 10% APR, $0 origination fees, and DLC-secured collateral where rehypothecation is cryptographically impossible.

Strike vs Morpho: Bitcoin Loan Comparison | Lygos