Membrane Labs on Empire Podcast: What’s Next for Institutional Crypto Lending?

Carson Cook, Founder & CEO and James Roth, Head of Partnerships at Membrane Labs joined Jason Yanowitz on the Empire podcast to explore the future of crypto lending and what it will take to rebuild institutional trust in digital credit markets.

In the episode, the team reflected on the breakdown of lending desks during the last market cycle and highlighted where real opportunities lie going forward. From custodial infrastructure to momentum-driven lending demand, the conversation focused on unlocking scalable solutions for institutional participants.

“It’s a momentum game, not a fundamentals game—at least not yet,” said Cook, describing how lending demand intensifies during market upswings. Roth added, “If markets behave, we could see numbers exceed those of the last cycle.”

The episode also addressed key barriers to growth, including fragmented crypto infrastructure and the continued need for regulatory clarity. Both guests pointed to custodians and post-trade service providers as critical enablers of market maturity.

Membrane’s appearance underscores its role in shaping the next phase of institutional lending and digital asset management infrastructure.

Listen to the full episode here