'Average Joe' reveals how he swapped life on land for a Caribbean yacht he bought with a Bitcoin-backed loan

The wealthy have borrowed against appreciating assets for decades - I realized Bitcoin holders could finally do something similar.

For most people, buying a yacht would mean selling investments or spending years saving. For business-owner Tyler Martin, it meant finding another way.

Instead of selling the Bitcoin he had spent years accumulating, Martin used it as collateral for a Bitcoin-backed loan through Arch Lending to purchase the sailboat that has since become both his home and his office.

Today, he and his wife sail between Caribbean islands including St Lucia, Martinique and St Vincent, waking up somewhere different every few weeks while Martin runs his hospitality business remotely.

“I’ve been able to buy the boat, maintain it, insure it and keep it running without having to sell my Bitcoin,” Martin said. “It meant I didn’t have to choose between holding onto an investment I believe in and living the life I’d always wanted.”

Martin’s journey to life at sea wasn’t entirely spontaneous. He previously worked as a professional sailing captain before launching a hospitality business in Panama, but owning a blue-water cruising yacht had remained a long-term ambition.

“I’d always dreamed about having a boat that could become our home,” he said. That dream became even more important after his wife, who is Venezuelan, faced ongoing residency and visa challenges that made settling together in one country difficult.

“The boat has become our home,” Martin explained. “It gives us the flexibility to stay together while continuing to work and travel.” Rather than selling his Bitcoin to fund the purchase, Martin chose to borrow against it through Arch Lending, allowing him to access liquidity while keeping ownership of the asset.

“I realized I didn’t have to choose one or the other,” he said. “I could buy the boat while still holding the Bitcoin I’d worked hard to accumulate.” The financing also helped cover insurance, maintenance, and repairs - ongoing costs that come with living aboard a sailing yacht full-time.

Martin says life at sea has transformed his daily routine. Instead of commuting, he spends his mornings at anchor, explores different islands with his wife and works remotely from the boat before sailing to their next destination.

“It’s freedom,” he said. “We’re living the life we’d talked about for years.” For Arch Lending, Martin’s story highlights how some cryptocurrency holders are beginning to use digital assets as collateral rather than immediately selling them when they need access to capital.

“People increasingly view Bitcoin as a long-term asset,” said Himanshu Sahay, Co-Founder of Arch Lending. “For borrowers who understand the risks, crypto-backed lending can provide access to liquidity without requiring an outright sale.”

Arch Lending emphasizes that crypto-backed loans are designed for borrowers who understand the volatility of digital assets and are comfortable managing collateral requirements.

“It’s not about encouraging people to take unnecessary risks,” added Sahay. “It’s about providing another option for people who want to access capital while maintaining ownership of assets they intend to hold over the long term.”

Looking back, Martin says buying the boat wasn’t just about fulfilling a childhood ambition, it changed how he and his wife live. “Most people think Bitcoin only matters when you sell it,” he said. “For us, it became the thing that made this whole lifestyle possible.”

About Arch Lending

Arch Lending provides crypto-backed loans that allow clients to access liquidity without selling their digital assets. Supporting Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and XRP as collateral, Arch Lending combines transparent lending, real-time collateral monitoring and qualified custody to help clients unlock liquidity while maintaining long-term ownership of their holdings. Client assets are held 1:1 in segregated custody with Anchorage Digital, a federally chartered bank and qualified custodian.

For more information visit archlending.com.