Global Securities Lending Tops $15.3 Billion, Rising 26% in 2025

Why It Matters

The boom underscores rising short‑selling activity and collateral reuse, boosting fee income for lenders and reshaping capital‑market dynamics. It also signals shifting regional and sectoral investment priorities.

Key Takeaways

• 2025 securities lending hits $15.3 billion, 26% YoY growth.
• Loan balances exceed $4 trillion, generating $11.7 billion revenue.
• Broker‑to‑broker segment rises 41%, now $3.61 billion.
• APAC equity lending revenue jumps 42% to $2.87 billion.
• AI, EV batteries, nuclear energy drive lending demand.

Pulse Analysis

The securities‑lending market has entered a new growth phase, with total activity climbing to $15.3 billion in 2025. This expansion reflects broader market liquidity and the increasing appetite for short positions across asset classes. Advanced analytics platforms, such as EquiLend, have streamlined loan matching and risk management, enabling lenders to deploy larger balances while maintaining compliance. As a result, loan balances have breached the $4 trillion threshold, delivering $11.7 billion in fee revenue and reinforcing securities lending as a core income stream for custodians and prime brokers.

Regionally, the surge is uneven but pronounced. North America’s lender‑to‑broker segment posted a 22% revenue lift, driven by a 20% rise in loan balances, while EMEA mirrored this momentum with a 15% increase. The most dramatic jump came from the Asia‑Pacific corridor, where equity‑lending revenue surged 42% to $2.87 billion, led by Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. This regional dynamism highlights a diversification of capital‑market activity, as Asian investors seek higher yields through securities lending amid tighter domestic funding conditions.

Sector‑specific demand is reshaping the composition of high‑value loans. Companies tied to artificial‑intelligence, electric‑vehicle batteries and nuclear energy have become premium collateral, reflecting investor bets on next‑generation technologies. The top five revenue‑generating securities—CoreWeave, Paramount Global, Infosys ADR, CATL and Nano Nuclear Energy—collectively contributed $821 million, underscoring the premium placed on tech‑forward assets. Looking ahead, continued AI‑driven analytics, evolving regulatory frameworks, and sustained appetite for green and energy transition investments are likely to keep securities lending on an upward trajectory, cementing its role in modern portfolio strategies.