Latest news with #BitcoinDeFi
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bitlayer's YBTC Enters Solana as the DeFi Project Partners With Kamino Finance, Orca
Bitlayer, a bitcoin (BTC) DeFi infrastructure project, has partnered with Kamino Finance and Orca to bring its bitcoin-backed token, YBTC, to the Solana ecosystem. This integration is intended to combine Bitlayer's security with Solana's speed and scalability, aligning with Bitlayer's goal of expanding the Bitcoin DeFi sector. It will provide bitcoin holders with native BTC exposure and yield opportunities, said Charlie Hu, co-founder of Bitlayer. "By combining Bitlayer's security roots with Solana's performance frontier through YBTC, we're delivering what BTC holders demand: native Bitcoin exposure with yield opportunities. Kamino and Orca provide the essential liquidity rails to make this vision operational at scale," Hu said in a press release shared with CoinDesk. YBTC, pegged 1:1 with BTC, is central to Bitlayer's BitVM bridge, which is designed for trust-minimized bitcoin transfers by eliminating centralized intermediaries. The token serves as a direct representation of users' locked BTC within the Bitlayer ecosystem, enabling seamless interoperability between Bitcoin and decentralized finance applications. By holding YBTC, Solana users can maximize yields through Kamino's institutional-grade earn vaults, which provide auto-compounding and optimized BTC-denominated returns, helping assets grow effortlessly. They also enjoy seamless trading with Orca's Concentrated Liquidity Market Maker (CLMM), which offers zero-slippage swaps between YBTC.B and other mainstream assets, providing smooth access to Solana's DeFi ecosystem. Last but not least, users maintain complete asset freedom, with the ability to redeem native BTC at any time via efficient, frictionless cross-chain operations. Bitlayer's BitVM Bridge has already established partnerships with other networks, including Sui, Base, and Cardano, to advance its ecosystem collaboration. To promote early adoption, a limited-time incentive program for the mainnet beta is now underway, rewarding participants with Bitlayer's native token, BTR, for minting YBTC and utilizing its cross-chain features. Kamino Finance is a Solana-based DeFi protocol, offering automated and optimized concentrated liquidity management for DEX market makers. Orca is a decentralized exchange built on Solana network. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Business Insider
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Maestro Advances Native Ordinals and Runes Indexer on ICP to Power Bitcoin DeFi
Maestro, the leading infrastructure provider for Bitcoin DeFi, has been awarded a grant from the DFINITY Foundation to build an enterprise-grade, native Bitcoin metaprotocol indexer for the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP). The collaboration delivers a high-performance ICP canister capable of providing real-time Ordinals and Runes data within ICP's Bitcoin integration. Since its launch in 2023, ICP's Bitcoin integration has become a leading Bitcoin smart contracts platform through Chain Fusion technology. It powers some of the most successful Bitcoin DeFi applications, including Liquidium, Omnity and Maestro's contribution will further expand these capabilities by enhancing infrastructure for Ordinals and Runes-based apps. Maestro Indexer offers native validation of Bitcoin assets like Ordinals and Runes directly within ICP canisters. The system is designed for reliability, with features such as mempool-awareness for fast responsive times and protection against blockchain reorganizations. This ensures high performance and secure data delivery for any application built on ICP. Liquidium, Bitcoin's largest lending protocol, will be the first to utilize the new indexer. Maestro will power Liquidium's upcoming instant cross-chain loans product built directly on Bitcoin. Users will be able to lock BTC on Bitcoin Layer 1 and borrow USDT on Ethereum without relying on bridges or wrapped tokens. 'I'm thrilled to collaborate with the DFINITY Foundation to extend ICP's Bitcoin integration with secure Runes and Ordinals indexing necessary for financial apps like Liquidium and This partnership further strengthens ICP's lead in the Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem and unlocks new functionality for users,' said Maestro Co-Founder and CEO Marvin Bertin. Maestro's infrastructure is already trusted by more than 1,000 developers and powers 200+ applications. Now, its services will extend to the ICP ecosystem. The indexer will be fully open-sourced, giving developers a powerful, transparent tool for building native Bitcoin applications, from DeFi to gaming. By integrating deeply with Bitcoin's protocol, Maestro's system offers developers on ICP secure and reliable access to Bitcoin data. This unlocks entirely new categories of applications that combine Bitcoin's liquidity with ICP's contract and cross-chain capabilities through Chain Fusion technology. "Maestro's native indexer adds a valuable piece of infrastructure for the growing Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem on the Internet Computer," said Lomesh Dutta, VP of Growth at the DFINITY Foundation. "Now we're able to provide developers with direct, trustless access to Ordinals and Runes data to further enable the massive wave of innovation that relies on Chain Fusion's unique ability to interact with Bitcoin without bridges or intermediaries." The project represents a major step toward scaling Bitcoin-native innovation. With the support of Maestro's technology, ICP continues to position itself at the forefront of the evolving Bitcoin DeFi economy. About Maestro Maestro is the first enterprise-grade infrastructure provider tailor-made for Bitcoin DeFi. Its mission is to accelerate the world's transition to the Bitcoin Economy by delivering a comprehensive, scalable infrastructure stack optimized for on-chain finance. By empowering developers and businesses with robust software tooling, Maestro is setting a new standard for how financial applications are built on Bitcoin, fueling the evolution of a decentralized, blockchain-native financial system. Learn more: About the Internet Computer The Internet Computer (ICP) represents a fully decentralized web3 cloud platform, enabling developers to deploy code directly onto the blockchain without relying on servers or centralized infrastructure. This fast, cost-efficient, and highly scalable protocol redefines the operational paradigm of a decentralized web3 platform. ICP offers the same functionalities as centralized clouds but with economically efficient computation, heightened security, and rapid processing speeds intrinsic to decentralized technology.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bitcoin DeFi Has Ballooned 20x Since Start of 2024 as Builders Bet on Yield
Bitcoin DeFi is no longer a fringe experiment. A new report by Arch Network, shared with CoinDesk, shows that the total value locked (TVL) in Bitcoin-native protocols has surged from $307 million in January 2024 to $6.36 billion by mid-2025 — a 20-fold increase driven by lending apps, stablecoins, and institutional inflows. The data, gathered from 125 developers, investors, and users across Asia and Africa, paints a picture of a shifting narrative away from 'digital gold' and toward programmable, yield-bearing bitcoin (BTC). Lending and borrowing protocols are the most frequently cited usage protocols, mentioned by 59% of the respondents. Bitcoin-backed stablecoins followed (41%), then DEXs (32%) and real-world assets like tokenized real estate (29%). These aren't speculative side bets — they're early signs of product-market fit, especially for users who want access to liquidity without selling BTC. But trust issues remain. 36% still keep their Bitcoin in cold storage, citing a lack of confidence in current DeFi platforms. Another 25% avoid Bitcoin DeFi due to high perceived risk, while 60% of all respondents flagged smart contract exploits as the top security concern. 'Bitcoin's true potential lies beyond being a passive store of value,' Arch CEO Matt Mudano wrote in the report. 'Unlocking its liquidity is the next frontier.' Developers are split between optimism and frustration. 44% said they build on Bitcoin because of its unmatched security and decentralization, while 43% also cited limited smart contract functionality as their biggest pain point. Tooling, composability, and documentation were also cited as major hurdles. As a result, many Bitcoin DeFi builders are multichain, with 63% also building on Ethereum, 47% on Solana, and 44% on Base. Nevertheless, nearly half say they plan to become Bitcoin-native in the long term — particularly as new infrastructure, such as ArchVM, a Bitcoin-based virtual machine, promises native smart contracts without the need for bridges, wrapped assets, or trust assumptions. What's needed to scale Bitcoin DeFi? Respondents say better dev tooling (45%), wider Layer 2 adoption (43%), and deeper liquidity. Security is non-negotiable, and most developers say they won't build unless onchain assets are fully auditable and bridges are hardened. Despite the challenges, investors are watching closely. 'If even a fraction of Bitcoin's $2 trillion market cap gets productive,' said DPI Capital's Shahan Khoshafian, 'the upside is massive.' For now, Bitcoin DeFi is where Ethereum was in 2019 — niche, raw, and full of potential. However, if these builders prevail, BTC won't just be held. It'll be used. Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Threshold Network's tBTC is Now live on Sui: Ushering in a new era for Bitcoin DeFi
Key Takeaways: Resolving Bitcoin's Utility Paradox: tBTC on Sui Eliminates the Choice Between Security and Utility. Web3 Benefits with Web2 Ease: Experience Bitcoin DeFi with 400ms finality and near-zero fees on Sui's high-performance network. Unprecedented Capital Efficiency: Bitcoin liquidity flows freely across an ecosystem of protocols, maintaining deep liquidity without fragmentation. Complete Bitcoin DeFi Suite: Immediate access to trading, lending, and leveraged DeFi strategies through tBTC, backed by 1:1 Real Bitcoin. tBTC Meets Sui: Liberating Bitcoin from Digital Vaults Threshold and Sui have announced a major integration to bring tBTC, the leading decentralized Bitcoin asset, to the Sui blockchain, engineered for mass adoption. This collaboration unlocks access to over $500 million in Bitcoin liquidity for Sui's high-performance DeFi ecosystem, known for its near-zero fees, sub-second finality, and exceptional capital efficiency. Threshold Network's tBTC is a decentralized, trust-minimized onchain version of Bitcoin that preserves Bitcoin's core principles while enabling liquidity across DeFi ecosystems. Now live on Sui, tBTC empowers users to trade, lend, and engage in advanced DeFi strategies within a secure, scalable environment, with transaction finality as fast as 400 milliseconds. Sui will be the first non-EVM chain to support direct minting on the Threshold app, expanding accessibility and reinforcing its position as a premier destination for Bitcoin liquidity. On Sui, tBTC can participate in DeFi strategies within a high-speed, scalable environment—from trading and lending to more specialized use cases, such as serving as collateral on protocols like Bucket, while preserving its core properties. "Bitcoin was designed to be used, not locked away," says Callan 'Sap' Sarre, Co-founder and CPO at Threshold Labs. "With tBTC on Sui, we're combining the security of threshold cryptography with a high-throughput network to create a new standard for Bitcoin utility. The integration will expand Sui's growing Bitcoin ecosystem across four Sui-native protocols: Bluefin: Trade tBTC across select pairs and unlock additional APR rewards. Bucket: Save, spend, and explore Bitcoin-powered DeFi with ease. AlphaLend: Access advanced lending pairs and APR% rewards by supplying tBTC. AlphaFi: Enable high-leverage BTC DeFi strategies with auto-looping vaults. Additionally, users can also mint tBTC directly on Sui via the Threshold dApp, providing a secure and easy access point to BTCFi. Key benefits of tBTC on Sui include: Sub-Second Finality: Transactions complete in 400 milliseconds. Eliminate Fragmentation: Move Bitcoin seamlessly between protocols with near-zero fees. True Sovereignty: No reliance on centralized custodians. Web3 Power, Web2 UX: Fast, cheap, and user-friendly. Lastly, Wormhole will serve as the key interoperability provider for tBTC's expansion to the Sui network. A dedicated bridge enabling users to move tBTC from other networks to Sui will soon be available on the Portal website. This integration will streamline cross-chain activity, making it easier for users to access Bitcoin DeFi across various ecosystems, including Sui, Ethereum, and others. 'We're excited to support Bitcoin's growth on Sui through Wormhole's cross-chain infrastructure,' said Robinson Burkey, Co-Founder of Wormhole. 'This integration advances Bitcoin's interoperability and unlocks new DeFi opportunities while preserving the security and decentralization users expect.' Bitcoin DeFi is thriving on Sui, with a significant portion of Sui's TVL now composed of BTC-backed assets. Since February 2025, a substantial amount of Bitcoin volume has flowed into Sui-native protocols. The integration of tBTC will strengthen this ecosystem by: Unlocking seamless Bitcoin liquidity on Sui through direct tBTC minting. Supporting leveraged DeFi strategies without compromising decentralization. Delivering frictionless DeFi interactions backed by industry-grade infrastructure. As the world's most valuable digital asset gains momentum and utility, Bitcoin expands beyond serving as a store of value to power decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Strategic Three-Month Campaign To support the launch of Threshold's tBTC on Sui, Threshold and Sui are kicking off a three-month campaign to facilitate long-term adoption. The initiative includes protocol-level developer support and ecosystem-wide activations to ensure the Bitcoin Standard flourishes in modern DeFi applications. This also includes limited-time incentives on select Sui DeFi Protocols, namely Bucket, AlphaLend, and Bluefin. 'BTC is expected to bring a massive amount of Bitcoin liquidity to Sui, creating a bridge that truly matters for institutions and everyday people who love Bitcoin,' said Adeniyi Abiodun, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Mysten Labs, the original contributors to Sui. 'This integration opens another door to accessible, sovereign BTCfi participation. Getting Involved Bitcoin was never meant to sit idle. With tBTC on Sui, it won't have to. Users can get involved in this campaign by: Direct Minting of tBTC on Sui via Threshold dApp: How to Mint tBTC to Sui Tutorial: Participating in Galxe Quest and Other Quests: / Experience fluid trading on Bluefin DEX: Access tBTC lending options through AlphaLend: Transform idle BTC into everyday utility with Bucket Automate complex Bitcoin strategies with AlphaFi Learn more about Sui and the Threshold Network at and or follow them on X at @SuiFoundation and @TheTNetwork. Threshold Network is the decentralized protocol behind tBTC, a fully non-custodial, 1:1 Bitcoin-backed asset secured by a 51-of-100 threshold signer model. tBTC enables native BTC to move across chains like Ethereum, Base, BOB, and Arbitrum without requiring custodians or compromising security. With over $ 500 M in TVL and over $ 3.6 B in bridge volume, Threshold offers the most battle-tested, trust-minimized Bitcoin infrastructure in DeFi. For more information about Threshold Network, users can visit About Sui Sui is a first-of-its-kind Layer 1 blockchain and smart contract platform designed from the ground up to make digital asset ownership fast, private, secure, and accessible to everyone. Its object-centric model, based on the Move programming language, enables parallel execution, sub-second finality, and rich on-chain assets. With horizontally scalable processing and storage, Sui supports a wide range of applications with unrivaled speed at low cost. Sui is a step-function advancement in blockchain, providing a platform on which creators and developers can build amazing, user-friendly experiences. For more information about Sui, users can visit
Business Insider
15-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Charles Hoskinson Wants to Swap $100M in ADA for Bitcoin & More
Here we go again. Hot on the heels of Polkadot's proposal to diversify into Bitcoin, Cardano (ADA-USD) co-founder Charles Hoskinson just floated his own $100 million crypto chess move. The idea? Convert a chunk of ADA treasury into Bitcoin and stablecoin, and inject real liquidity into Cardano's DeFi ecosystem, where stablecoin adoption and user activity still lag far behind rivals like Solana (SOL-USD). Confident Investing Starts Here: Hoskinson pitched the plan on a livestream, suggesting that $100 million worth of ADA be swapped into a mix of Bitcoin, USDM, and USDA. The goal is bold: supercharge Cardano's DeFi scene by pumping up stablecoin activity and kickstarting Bitcoin DeFi on the network. While it echoes Polkadot's recent strategic reserve idea, the Cardano twist adds fuel to an already simmering internal debate. Because not everyone's on board. Hoskinson Defends the Sale, Blasts Critics Critics immediately flagged the risk of market impact. But Hoskinson wasn't having it. He dismissed the concern as noise from 'inexperienced' voices. Liquidity, he claimed, isn't a problem. 'This wouldn't cause any problems at all,' Hoskinson said, adding that ADA's depth and trading volume can absorb the move. That may be true in theory. But a $100 million offload, even via a slow DCA strategy, still raises questions in a market where sentiment can turn on a dime. Stablecoins Are 'Killing Cardano,' Says Hoskinson In a post on X, Hoskinson got blunt: Cardano's lagging DeFi and stablecoin footprint is 'killing' the network. Currently, only about 10% of Cardano's $356 million total value locked (TVL) is in stablecoins. Compare that to Solana's $9.8 billion TVL and $11 billion in stablecoins, and the contrast stings. Hoskinson wants to push that ratio to 30%–40%. He believes the proposed swap would unlock 'non-inflationary revenue' and establish Cardano as a serious DeFi player, not just a speculative token. Internal Split Deepens as Gregaard Stays Cautious But not everyone at Cardano agrees on the path forward. Frederik Gregaard, CEO of the Cardano Foundation, previously downplayed the importance of TVL as a metric for adoption. He's taken a more cautious, infrastructure-first view of Cardano's future, one that doesn't rely on flashy capital moves. Hoskinson's proposal seems to throw that playbook out the window. It's not just a bet on assets, but a bet on an entirely new pace for Cardano growth. What's Happening with ADA? While prices haven't cratered on the news, the market isn't exactly cheering either. Traders seem to be waiting to see whether the proposal actually makes it to a governance vote—and how it's structured. The method, if adopted, would likely involve dollar-cost averaging over a long period to avoid price shock. But as with Polkadot, the broader impact may be psychological: is this the moment when altcoin projects quietly admit that Bitcoin is the safer bet? This Could Be a Turning Point for Cardano If the $100 million swap goes through, it would mark the biggest capital shift in Cardano's history. It signals urgency, a recognition that without a thriving DeFi and stablecoin ecosystem, ADA risks getting left behind. More than a treasury move, it's a philosophical change. Less narrative, more numbers. Less ideology, more interoperability. Whether the community embraces that reality or fights it, the next chapter for Cardano is already being written—in Bitcoin. At the time of writing, ADA is sitting at $0.64.
