Latest news with #BTCfi
Business Insider
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
No. 1 DeFi Protocol on Aptos, Echo, Launches Token Generation Event
A participant in Aptos Foundation's LFM program, Echo's TGE further cements its role in Bitcoin DeFi on Aptos Echo Protocol, the first Bitcoin liquid restaking and yield layer on MoveVM and the largest protocol on Aptos by total value locked (TVL), has launched its Token Generation Event (TGE). Echo's TGE follows a period of record-breaking growth and community engagement, underpinned by participation in Aptos Foundation's LFM program—a premier initiative that provides hands-on guidance to Aptos-native projects preparing for major product and token launches. Driving the BTCfi Momentum on Aptos With over $285 million in aBTC minted and Echo securing 65% of all bridged BTC assets on Aptos, the protocol has emerged as a key player in the growth of BTCfi (Bitcoin DeFi) on Aptos. Echo enables users to unlock yield opportunities on their Bitcoin holdings via aBTC—a cross-chain liquid Bitcoin token, backed 1:1 by BTC—while powering liquidity and collateral mobility across Aptos-native DeFi protocols. Echo recently surpassed an all-time high of $878 million in TVL, fueled by incentive campaigns, integrations with leading DeFi projects in the Aptos ecosystem and high user engagement. To date, the protocol is responsible for more than 1 million user transactions and 60,000 daily active users. 'The launch of the ECHO token marks a major milestone in our mission to bring BTCfi to life. With this TGE, we are unlocking a new phase of growth for our ecosystem and creating real opportunities for users, builders and the broader Aptos community,' said Jonathan Phay, Co-Founder of Echo Protocol. Accelerating Growth with Aptos LFM Program Echo's rapid evolution has been supported through participation in Aptos Foundation's LFM program, which offers strategic mentorship, marketing resources and ecosystem-wide support for Aptos-native projects preparing for TGEs and beyond. 'Echo Protocol has been instrumental in making BTC a productive, on-chain asset within the Aptos ecosystem,' said Ash Pampati, Head of Ecosystem at Aptos Foundation. 'This a major milestone—not just for Echo, but for BTCfi adoption on Aptos as a whole. Supporting Echo through its participation in LFM has been a key part of our mission to help Aptos-native projects scale and succeed.' Building the Future of Bitcoin Utility on Aptos Echo's TGE represents the next step in advancing Bitcoin utility on Aptos. Starting today, ECHO tokens will be available to users via Binance Alpha, Gate and Kucoin. Following its TGE, Echo plans to continue driving BTC liquidity and composability across the ecosystem, with new products and integrations aimed at expanding BTCfi use cases. About Echo Protocol Echo Protocol is a Bitcoin liquidity aggregation and yield infrastructure layer on MoveVM designed to make Bitcoin productive for holders, ecosystems, and DeFi protocols. By unifying fragmented BTC liquidity, enabling seamless DeFi integration, and amplifying yield opportunities, Echo provides the foundational infrastructure for unlocking BTC utility across chains. Echo Protocol is backed by leading investors such as Aptos, Maelstrom, and Selini, and is rapidly becoming the go-to layer for BTC capital efficiency in the modular DeFi stack. Angus
Business Wire
17-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Core Leads Bitcoin Track at Permissionless IV Amid Growing Institutional Interest
SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Core Foundation, the entity powering Core, the leading Bitcoin scaling protocol, is set to present the most exciting Bitcoin track at Permissionless IV, one of the industry's largest builder and developer gatherings, taking place June 24–26. As institutional and developer interest in Bitcoin-based applications grows, Core is anchoring key conversations on Bitcoin's expanding financial use cases, through curated panels, fireside chats, and community showcases. Bitcoin Track Curated by Core On June 24 at Permissionless IV, there will be a dedicated Bitcoin Track presented by Core, spotlighting key voices driving the next chapter of Bitcoin, from DeFi and credit markets to scaling debates and infrastructure design. The afternoon kicks off with 'Bitcoin DeFi: Making BTC a Productive Asset' (1:30–2:10pm), a deep dive into structured yield and Bitcoin-native credit markets. Speakers include Darren Mims (Blockworks Research), Sid Powell (Maple), Brendon Sedo (Core), Jacob Phillips (Lombard), and MacLane Wilkison (Threshold Network), who explore how institutional appetite for BTC as collateral is evolving. Next up, from 2:10–2:30pm, 'How Should Bitcoin Scale?' pits different approaches against each other in a lively debate featuring Simanta Gautam (Alpen Labs), Willem Schroe (Botanix), and Macauley Peterson (Blockworks). At 2:30pm, Pete Rizzo (Blockworks) moderates 'Where to Build in the Bitcoin Network,' a conversation with Rich Rines (Core), Jeff Garzik (Hemi), and Muneeb Ali (Stacks) on how to approach L2s, smart contract layers, and modular execution on Bitcoin. From 3:10–3:30pm, the spotlight shifts to energy and infrastructure in 'Bitcoin & The Energy to Compute Value Chain' with Meltem Demirors (Crucible) and Michael Bucella (Neoclassic Capital). The day wraps up with a technical session at 3:30pm: 'The Core Dev's Guide to Bitcoin Network Upgrades,' led by Hunter Beast (Anduro), Jeremy Rubin (Judica), and William Foxley (Blockspace Media), offering a look at the mechanics and trade-offs behind proposed improvements to the Bitcoin base layer. On June 25 from 11:50am–12:10pm, Rich Rines, Initial contributor at Core, will deliver a main stage keynote titled 'The PoS Layer for Bitcoin'. He will outline how Core's infrastructure enables native Bitcoin staking while preserving the security guarantees of Bitcoin's base layer. The Bitcoin Yield House: A Dedicated Bitcoin Lounge In addition to the mainstage programming, Core will host its own Bitcoin Yield House to foster more intimate dialogue and networking across the Bitcoin ecosystem: June 25 2:00pm: Fireside: lstBTC & Institutional Bitcoin Adoption 3:00pm: Fireside: Why the Next Capital Supercycle Starts with Bitcoin? June 26 2:00pm: Panel: Activating Retail Through BTCfi Ecosystem 3:00pm: Fireside: The Rise of BTCfi as a Bitcoin Everything Chain. Each day's sessions are preceded by dedicated mingle hours to foster informal conversation and ecosystem connections. Permissionless is the right forum to highlight how builders and institutions are activating Bitcoin in new ways, from dual staking to Bitcoin yield strategies. With discussions touching on Bitcoin's evolving role, the 2025 edition of Permissionless underscores a renewed industry focus on Bitcoin-native innovation, and Core's central role in that discussion. About Core Core is the leading Bitcoin scaling solution, transforming idle Bitcoin into a productive, yield-generating asset that powers Bitcoin DeFi at scale. Core's Self-Custodial Bitcoin Staking allows holders to timelock Bitcoin directly on the Bitcoin blockchain to earn rewards, without taking on new risk. This trustless yield mechanism helps to secure the high-performance, EVM-compatible Core blockchain, where users can access an expanding universe of Bitcoin-focused decentralized applications. Core powers first-of-their-kind products like Valour's yield-bearing Bitcoin ETP and lstBTC, the first liquid, yield-generating Bitcoin asset. The network supports over $500M in DeFi TVL, backed by 7,000+ timelocked Bitcoin and ~75% of Bitcoin mining hash power. Permissionless
Business Mayor
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
What to expect from the BTCfi & L2s companies at the Bitcoin Conference in Vegas
The annual Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas is a pivotal event for the Bitcoin ecosystem, where companies unveil breakthroughs, announce partnerships, and deliver speeches that shape the narrative of digital assets. For many, the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming. Having attended several conferences and being familiar with the attending companies through my work at UTXO, I've highlighted key panels and expected developments for 2025, focusing on Bitcoin's Layer 2 (L2) and BTCfi ecosystems. The full agenda is available using this link: Here's a breakdown of anticipated announcements and panels, categorized by key themes: Since BitVM's introduction in 2023, top Bitcoin development teams have been working tirelessly to transform centralized sidechain designs into true Bitcoin rollups and permissionless L2s. At the 2025 conference, expect these teams to unveil the first versions of BitVM2 bridges, providing critical details on their mechanics. Once live, BitVM2 bridges could unlock a wide range of decentralized BTC use cases, accessible to all Bitcoin holders. May 2025 might mark a turning point, potentially signaling the decline of centralized 'crypto' and DeFi projects in favor of a Bitcoin-native economy. As the saying goes, on a long enough timeline, everything comes back to Bitcoin. Bitcoin L2s face a steep challenge: competing with established crypto players while earning the trust of Bitcoiners. The conference is likely to feature major partnership announcements, particularly at the infrastructure level, addressing long-standing barriers to BTCfi adoption. These collaborations could bolster the credibility and functionality of L2 solutions, paving the way for broader acceptance. The recent announcement that Tether (USDT) will return to Bitcoin by issuing its stablecoin on Lightning rails via Taproot Assets has sparked significant excitement. Expect major updates from companies in this space, particularly regarding Taproot Assets and stablecoin integration. The Lightning Network is poised for dominance, and 2025 could be the year it breaks into the mainstream. With growing support for covenant activation on Bitcoin and recent debates over mempool policy on social media, governance discussions will be a focal point. These panels promise to be intellectually stimulating, offering deep insights into Bitcoin's core mechanics and potential fireworks for those following the debates. Attending these sessions will likely be the most rewarding experience of the week for anyone seeking to understand Bitcoin's future. Below is a curated list of panels aligned with the above categories, along with my expectations for each. (Note: These predictions reflect my personal perspective and are not definitive. This list is not exhaustive but highlights high-signal sessions for attendees with limited time.) Panels and Keynote with the highest probability of a major announcement related to Bitcoin L2s and BTCfi products: in other words, this is where major alpha will be dropped
