Latest news with #BitcoinDeFi
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How Stacks is looking to power a second wave of Bitcoin DeFi
How Stacks is looking to power a second wave of Bitcoin DeFi originally appeared on TheStreet. While the crypto world continues to watch publicly traded companies build their own Bitcoin treasuries, builders in the Stacks ecosystem are quietly preparing to scale ways for more people to earn yield on their Bitcoin via their Layer-2. A new draft proposal — SIP-031, titled Fueling Stacks Builders & Growth — marks the next step in a long-term plan to turn Bitcoin into more than just digital gold, according to co-founder Muneeb Ali. "I think the analogy would be that if Bitcoin is sort of like a highway and it's congested, Stacks is like a more modern highway right next to it where you can pay a small toll and use it," Ali said about the ecosystem's efforts to expand Bitcoin's usage. "And I feel like now, projects are reaching that level of maturity — that it's not just initial experimentation, it's not just building the thing, but it's actually maturing to real usage and then generating protocol revenue and then figuring out what happens with the protocol revenue." The new Stacks proposal seeks to answer that, by establishing a Stacks Endowment that will be fueled in-part by higher emissions over the next five years, raising from 3.52% to an average of 5.75% per year. As the proposal highlights, Stacks is somewhat unique in how it has operated with less firepower than other top-50 projects in crypto after raising about $80 million six years ago. It's also unique in that Stacks was born out of one of the few U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) qualified offerings in the space. (Despite that, the SEC still opened a probe into Stacks and later closed it in 2024.) Now, Ali says Stacks is looking to accelerate its unique positioning under new leadership at the SEC. "Stacks is all about making Bitcoin productive, so people are bringing their Bitcoin into the into the L2 and they're using it either for payments or in DeFi or lending, whatever they want to do. But as more Bitcoin capital comes in and gets used on the network, there are very clear value accrual models where value accrues back to STX," he said. "And I think we can be much more explicit about it now ... we feel more comfortable because the ecosystem is so decentralized. The SEC already looked into the project for three years and gave a letter saying, you know, you guys are all clear." One of the clearest use cases to come from Stacks' early efforts has been the advent of their challenger to centralized custodians expanding Bitcoin to other blockchains. Rather than offering wrapped Bitcoin that may be operated by centralized players like BitGo or others, Stacks' sBTC has sought to offer a more decentralized alternative by tokenizing Bitcoin and bringing it to other blockchains like Solana and Sui. After launching in December with a 1,000 sBTC cap, the project expanded a few months later to a 3,000 sBTC cap — which it hit just 24 hours later. After raising the cap again this month, total sBTC surpassed 5,000 may soon be showing up in more places. 'We want to take Bitcoin to where the users are ... and open almost like this two-way street. That helps them discover Stacks. That helps them discover Bitcoin DeFi," Ali said. Behind it all is a simple yet powerful bet: Bitcoin can do more. And with regulatory attitudes shifting and protocol maturity setting in, Ali believes Stacks is finally in a position to show how. 'We want to be the most trust-minimized way for people to keep their Bitcoin in a programable environment where they can actually earn yields ... [and] deploy easily in applications and so on,' he said. After a community comment period, SIP-031 will be voted on by the Stacks community and could very well help to accelerate progress. How Stacks is looking to power a second wave of Bitcoin DeFi first appeared on TheStreet on May 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten
Business Upturn
27-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Asigna Announces a $3M Funding Round and a Multisig v2 Upgrade
New York, NY, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Asigna, the leading smart multisig vault operator for Bitcoin, its metaprotocols and Layer-2s is launching a major v2 upgrade with support for Embedded Apps and a developer SDK. The project also announced it raised a $3M funding round led by Hivemind Capital and Tykhe Block Ventures with participation from Sats Ventures, Trust Machines, and various angels. Asigna previously completed a pre-seed round led by Portal Ventures, with support from Bitcoin Frontier Fund. Asigna is a non-custodial smart multisig vault designed for secure Bitcoin asset management that protects over $1.1B of funds. It enables teams, DAOs, and institutions to securely manage shared Bitcoin treasuries and participate in Bitcoin DeFi while minimizing the risks of hacks and conflicts. Asigna integrates the Bitcoin base layer and execution environments like Stacks, Arch, Citrea, Botanix, and enables all standard wallet operations, including direct interactions with dApps, decentralized exchanges, bridges, and metaprotocols, such as Ordinals, Runes, Alkanes, BRC-20, Rare Sats, and others. 'With Asigna, we are establishing foundational infrastructure for institutions and large holders to securely and confidently participate in the evolving Bitcoin ecosystem,' said Viven, Co-Founder at Asigna. 'There's a critical need for robust, transparent, and programmable non-custodial solutions, and the multisig infrastructure is at the heart of this transformation.' With this v2 release, Asigna's users will be able to interact with Bitcoin-based applications directly from within the multisig environment via Embedded Apps. The app now also provides a customizable dashboard for portfolio tracking and enables direct swaps between Bitcoin Assets and BTC. In addition to this, Asigna released its Connection SDK and Multisig SDK to empower third-party developers to connect user multisig wallets directly to their Bitcoin and Stacks applications. They can make multisig vaults, create, sign and execute transactions, sign messages, manage funds, contract deployments and calls. New features also include the ability for vaults to have Sub Accounts, Email notifications, Governance, Customizable signer permissions, Privacy mode, and advanced UTXO Management. 'What's unique about Asigna is that, unlike many other onchain smart wallet implementations, it is fully native to the Bitcoin layer, with no smart contract risks. We don't directly interact with private keys and account owners can use any wallet to sign their transactions,' said Vlad, Co-Founder at Asigna. 'Which means these multisig wallets can never be frozen or lost, regardless of what happens to Asigna. As it should be'. Over $2.2 trillion of assets were stored in Bitcoin in late 2024 when it reached the previous peak price of $108,135. Fueled by unprecedented ETF demand that significantly outpaced mining production, Bitcoin's ecosystem is experiencing explosive growth, particularly within its DeFi sector, which boasts a $6 billion Total Value Locked and is expected to grow rapidly along with the launches of scaling metaprotocols. Asigna is perfectly positioned to support this growth and will use the raised funding to build offerings for enterprise customers to provide access to DeFi and yield generation through staking and lending with a white-glove service. 'We believe Asigna's innovative approach to Bitcoin security and its seamless integration with Layer-2 protocols make it a game-changer for institutional investors', said Kayla Phillips, Senior Investment Principal at Hivemind Capital. 'We are thrilled to support their mission to provide robust and transparent non-custodial solutions for the evolving Bitcoin ecosystem.' About Asigna Asigna is a smart multisig vault operator for Bitcoin and its Layer-2 metaprotocols, protecting over $1.1B in assets. Its multi-party custody approach allows teams, DAOs, and institutions to securely manage shared Bitcoin treasuries and DeFi assets with collective control. Asigna integrates the Bitcoin base layer and metaprotocols, enabling direct interactions with dApps, decentralized exchanges, bridges, and metaprotocols. For more information, please visit Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Business Upturn
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Best Crypto to Buy Now: StratoVM Surges 2,939% Amid Renewed Market Optimism
By GlobeNewswire Published on May 27, 2025, 00:37 IST ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, May 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With crypto markets on edge following legal setbacks for major tokens like XRP, and volatility surging across altcoins, crypto enthusiasts are once again turning to emerging assets with high innovation potential. One name now dominating the conversation? StratoVM ($SVM) . After a prolonged downturn that followed the end of last year's rally, StratoVM has surged by a staggering 2,939% over the past three months. Fueling this growth is the exponential rise of Bitcoin DeFi (BTCFi), which has injected new life into Layer-2 innovation for the Bitcoin network. With its compelling value proposition as a smart contract–enabled, AI-integrated DeFi platform for Bitcoin, StratoVM is quickly gaining traction among the crypto community. Some are even comparing it to Solana in its early days—quiet at launch, but now gaining serious momentum. What truly sets StratoVM apart—and could it be the top contender for those wondering what the best crypto to buy now is? Could it even rival Solana as the next big player in the space? StratoVM: Just Launched, Barely Noticed — But Now It's Turning Heads Initially overlooked by the broader market, StratoVM has recently become a magnet for attention among crypto whales, DeFi enthusiasts, and early adopters. Much like Solana in its early days—when it combined speed, narrative, and community momentum to carve out a dominant position—StratoVM employs a lean go-to-market strategy with strong disruptive potential. It stands out as one of the few platforms introducing advanced AI functionality and smart contracts directly into the Bitcoin ecosystem—bridging the gap between innovation and decentralization in the world's most secure blockchain. StratoVM Gears Up for Its Big Moment with Mainnet Launch Amid BTCFi Surge The platform's upcoming mainnet launch is poised to act as a breakthrough moment. If successful, this launch will shift Bitcoin from a passive store of value into a vibrant, programmable financial layer capable of supporting complex DeFi structures. Comparatively, where CoreDAO currently commands a fully diluted valuation of $822 million, StratoVM sits at $5 million—suggesting room for growth if adoption scales. Much like the appeal of BTC Bull amid Bitcoin's institutional run, StratoVM taps directly into the current narrative tailwinds: decentralized finance, cross-chain functionality, and real Bitcoin utility. StratoVM Gains Traction as BTCFi Booms According to DeFiLlama, BTCFi has ballooned from $307 million to $6.6 billion. StratoVM is strategically riding this wave. Recent milestones boosting the platform include: Uniswap Integration: Unlocks liquidity and credibility within DeFi circles Unlocks liquidity and credibility within DeFi circles Over 50 Strategic Partnerships: Supporting development, tooling, and go-to-market Supporting development, tooling, and go-to-market Community of 100,000+ Followers: Driving early-stage awareness Driving early-stage awareness Rumored CEX Listing: Potentially a powerful catalyst for more exposure This momentum resembles the early-stage energy seen in other breakout projects before they gained mainstream attention. Could StratoVM Be the Next Solana? The Solana comparison is increasingly justified. Solana's early growth was fueled by speed, efficiency, and developer energy. StratoVM checks similar boxes while targeting an untapped frontier—Bitcoin programmability. Its advantages: Lightning-fast Layer-2 infrastructure Integrating AI into Bitcoin's Financial Ecosystem Low market cap with high exposure to BTCFi tailwinds Solana showed how niche utility, combined with a compelling narrative, could spark a breakthrough moment in the market. StratoVM may follow a similar path—especially with Bitcoin's evolving narrative as a DeFi-compatible base layer. Final Thoughts As major players like XRP face legal gridlock and Ethereum's scaling journey continues, crypto enthusiasts are shifting focus to nimble, highly innovative projects. StratoVM has surged from silence to spotlight—and it's doing so while riding one of the strongest narratives in the market: Bitcoin DeFi. If you're looking for the best crypto to buy now—something early, innovative, and built on real product momentum— StratoVM ($SVM) deserves a place on your radar. Disclaimer: This article does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency markets are volatile, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Readers are encouraged to conduct independent research and consider all risks before making any investment decisions. Forward-looking statements are speculative and subject to change. Contact Details:Jason M. [email protected] Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by StratoVM. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an 'as-is' basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. Images accompanying this announcement are available at: Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Protocol: Lido Avoids Major Hack
Welcome to The Protocol, CoinDesk's weekly wrap-up of the most important stories in cryptocurrency tech development. This is Margaux Nijkerk and Sam Kessler, CoinDesk's Tech team. In this issue: Hacking Attempt on Lido Results in 1.4 Ether Lost From Oracle Provider Bitcoin DeFi Security Improves as Rootstock Boosts Hashrate Share Ethereum's Next Upgrade 'Fusaka' Could Cut Layer-2 and Validator Costs Telegram Cracks Down on $8 billion Crypto Crime Marketplace Unknown block type "divider", specify a component for it in the ` option LIDO AVOIDS MAJOR SECURITY BREACH: Lido, Ethereum's largest liquid staking protocol, avoided a major security incident after one of its nine oracle keys was compromised in what appears to be a low-impact but serious breach involving validator operator Chorus One. Lido secures over 25% of all ether (ETH) staked on Ethereum, making it one of the most systemically important protocols in the Ethereum ecosystem. The compromised key was tied to a hot wallet used for oracle reporting, leading to the theft of just 1.46 ETH ($4,200) in gas fees. No user funds were affected, and no broader compromise was detected, per X posts from both Lido and Chorus One. — Tim Craig Read more. BITCOIN DEFI BLOSSOMING: Decentralized finance (DeFi) on the Bitcoin blockchain may still be in its infancy relative to Ethereum, but Bitcoin DeFi (BTCFi) is becoming safer and cheaper, crypto analytics firm Messari said in a new report. A central participant is Rootstock, one of the oldest Bitcoin layer-2 projects, crypto analytics firm Messari said in its "State of Rootstock" report. Rootstock is now secured by 81% of Bitcoin's total hashrate, meaning miners that account for amount the hashrate are also approving transactions on the layer 2. The figure was just 56% before the the onboarding of Foundry and Spiderpool, the world's largest and sixth-largest mining pools, respectively, in February. — Jamie Crawley Read more. FUSAKA PLANNING BEGINS: After the successful deployment last week of Pectra, Ethereum's biggest upgrade in more than a year, the network's core developers are already shifting focus to the next major chain upgrade: Fusaka. Pectra, the biggest code change to Ethereum since the Merge in 2022, introduced key changes aimed at making staking easier for institutions, improving wallet accessibility, and boosting transaction efficiency. Developers have already begun planning for Fusaka, the network's next upgrade, and have thus far agreed to include an Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) called "PeerDAS" that could help the network support larger "blobs" of transaction data. — Margaux Nijkerk Read more. TELEGRAM CRACKS DOWN ON CRYPTO CRIME MARKETPLACE: Messaging app Telegram has closed thousands of channels belonging to suspected Chinese crypto-crime marketplaces after new research shed light on the situation, according to Elliptic. The closure follows a report published by the blockchain analytics firm on Tuesday into the fast-growing Telegram-based marketplace called Xinbi Guarantee. The Colorado-incorporated marketplace has processed over $8.4 billion worth of transactions using Tether's USDT stablecoin since 2022. It facilitates services relating to money laundering, operating crypto scam compounds and other illicit services, such as intimidation and sex trafficking, according to Elliptic. — Tim Craig Read more. Unknown block type "divider", specify a component for it in the ` option Robinhood Markets (HOOD), the California-based financial services company, said it agreed to buy Canadian crypto firm WonderFi (WNDR) for $178.98 million. The all-cash acquisition values WonderFi at 36 Canadian cents per share, a 41% premium over its closing price prior to the announcement. — Omkar Godbole Read more. Stock and crypto trading platform eToro (ETOR) debuted at $52 a share on the Nasdaq exchange. The company raised about $312 million from investors by selling 6 million shares at a price of $52 a piece. The listing values the company at $4.2 billion. EToro became the first U.S. crypto company to go public following the market uncertainty wrought by President Donald Trump's tariff actions. — Helene Braun Read more. Unknown block type "divider", specify a component for it in the ` option The Gibraltar government said it plans to establish the world's first rules for the clearing and settlement of crypto derivatives, creating a regulatory framework to improve market integrity and reduce key risks. Working with the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) and crypto exchange Bullish (whose owner, Bullish Group, is also the parent of CoinDesk), the government has built a framework over the past six months that tailors traditional financial clearing regulations to the virtual asset market. — Jamie Crawley Read more. Unknown block type "divider", specify a component for it in the ` option May 14-16: Consensus, Toronto May 19-23: Solana Accelerate, New York City May 20-22: Avalanche Summit, London May 27-29: Bitcoin 2025, Las Vegas May 27-29: ETHPrague, Prague June 8-22: Berlin Blockchain Week, Berlin June 30-July 3: EthCC, Cannes July 16-18: Web3 Summit, Berlin Sept. 22-28: Korea Blockchain Week, Seoul Oct. 1-2: Token2049, Singapore Dec. 11-13: Solana Breakpoint, Abu Dhabi
Finextra
13-05-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Unlocking Payments in Bitcoin: What Does the Next Evolution in DeFi Look Like?: By James Strudwick
No matter how big, institutionalised, or mainstream crypto becomes, Bitcoin remains central to the entire movement. Even today, it's still the most recognised, widely held, and deeply trusted digital asset in the world. While its popularity and brand recognition continue to dwarf its competitors, Bitcoin's utility has remained somewhat limited. Until now. Since its creation by the enigmatic Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin which was originally meant to be digital cash, has largely been treated as digital gold. But this positioning places unnecessary limits on one of the most powerful assets in the crypto space. There's no reason Bitcoin shouldn't be a core part of the DeFi ecosystem, not just as a store of value, but as a medium for global, permissionless payments, as it was originally meant to be. Reducing Bitcoin to a passive asset misses its greater potential as a building block for innovative financial primitives. Fortunately, change is on the horizon. From Dormant to Dynamic: Unlocking Bitcoin's Liquidity Today, trillions in Bitcoin lie idle – locked in wallets, collecting digital dust. But unlocking this liquidity presents a huge opportunity for Bitcoin holders and the broader DeFi landscape. Imagine a world where users can borrow, lend, earn yield, and participate in DeFi protocols directly with Bitcoin. This would offer access to a robust, trustless, decentralised asset class – leveraging Bitcoin's strong monetary foundations to power the next wave of innovation in finance. A Playground for Developers and Founders Bringing together Bitcoin's stability with the speed and programmability of smart contracts unlocks entirely new possibilities for developers and founders alike. We're not talking about clones of existing DeFi protocols. This is an opportunity to build new primitives that honour Bitcoin's ethos while introducing powerful new mechanisms. What could native yield on Bitcoin look like? How could Bitcoin-backed assets reshape collateral markets? And what would it mean to bring composable, Bitcoin-based stablecoins into the fold? These are the questions developers should be asking. The answers will redefine what 'Bitcoin DeFi' really means. The Promise of Permissionless Commerce It's no exaggeration to say that unlocking Bitcoin's real-world utility could reshape global commerce for the better. Right now, Bitcoin is often used in underbanked regions as a hedge against local currency instability – a store of value in economies where financial inclusion is limited. That alone is a powerful use case. But Bitcoin has the potential to do far more. It could serve as a payment rail for stablecoins, or act as a foundational layer for entirely new decentralised marketplaces. This would enable users in emerging markets to access financial tools that are fast, transparent, and free from the grip of centralised intermediaries. In this context, Bitcoin becomes more than an asset. It becomes a financial lifeline, a backbone for open, borderless commerce and deeper inclusion. Moving Beyond the Basics of Privacy with Bitcoin A vastly underexplored benefit of making Bitcoin programmable is the design space for privacy. Historically, privacy on Bitcoin and Ethereum has been limited due to constraints at the base layer and a lack of computational capacity. But as Bitcoin becomes interoperable with more advanced computing environments, new possibilities for privacy emerge. We're no longer limited to mixer-style tools like Tornado Cash. Instead, we can begin building robust, decentralised privacy protocols – systems capable of supporting everything from anonymous payments to confidential DeFi applications, all powered by Bitcoin. This isn't just an upgrade – it's a leap forward in what private, trustless finance can look like. The Next Evolution of Bitcoin Is Underway For too long, Bitcoin's narrative has been one of preservation: a hedge, a vault, a long-term store of value. It has acted as a safe bet for storing value; never creating it But that's about to change. Bitcoin is evolving into an engine for decentralised innovation – enabling yield generation, real-time payments, inclusive access to financial tools, and privacy built into the fabric of the ecosystem. The age of simply holding Bitcoin is coming to an end. The time has come to use it – and to use it well.
