๐บ๐ธ๐จ BREAKING: The US Federal Reserve has announced no change to its key interest rates following the July 2026 FOMC meeting, maintaining the federal funds rate target range at 3.5% to 3.75%.
Bitcoin is the largest crypto asset, but many DeFi solutions still require users to wrap their BTC or trust a third party.
@BabylonLabs_io is exploring a different path with Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (TBV), allowing native Bitcoin to be used as collateral without wrapping, bridging, or giving up custody.
I'm curious what the community values most when using Bitcoin in DeFi.
Vote below and feel free to explain your choice in the comments. I'm interested to see what people prioritise the most.
One thing I like about @BabylonLabs_io is that it focuses on improving Bitcoin's utility without changing what makes Bitcoin valuable.
With Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (TBV), native BTC can be used as collateral without wrapping, bridging, or handing your coins to a custodian.
That means:
โข Your Bitcoin stays native. โข You remain in control of your private keys. โข You can access borrowing through Aave v4 on the TBV public testnet. โข The process is designed to be trustless from the ground up.
Instead of forcing Bitcoin into another form, Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (TBV) are built around using Bitcoin as it is.
Why Trustless Bitcoin Collateral Could Be One of the Next Major Steps for DeFi
Bitcoin is the largest and most secure cryptocurrency, yet it has remained surprisingly underutilised in decentralised finance. For years, anyone wanting to access DeFi with Bitcoin typically had to convert it into a wrapped asset or rely on a trusted custodian. While these solutions have expanded Bitcoin's utility, they also introduce additional risks and dependencies. This is where @BabylonLabs_io is taking a different approach with Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (TBV). What are Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (TBV)? Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (TBV) are designed to let users utilise native Bitcoin as collateral without wrapping it, bridging it to another network, or trusting an intermediary to hold their assets. The goal is simple. Keep Bitcoin native while making it useful across different blockchain applications. This approach allows Bitcoin to remain true to its original security model while unlocking new opportunities in decentralised finance. The First Real Use Case One of the first applications powered by Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (TBV) is native Bitcoin-backed borrowing with Aave v4, currently available on the public testnet. Instead of selling Bitcoin when liquidity is needed, users can use their native BTC as collateral and borrow supported assets such as USDC or USDT. This gives Bitcoin holders another option while maintaining exposure to their $BTC . Why This Matters Several features make this approach interesting: - Native Bitcoin is used as collateral instead of wrapped BTC. - Users remain self-custodial and keep control of their private keys. - No centralised intermediary is required. - Bitcoin can participate in DeFi while preserving its core security properties. If this model proves successful, it could help bring significantly more Bitcoin liquidity into decentralised applications without asking users to compromise on ownership or security. The Role of $BABY The Babylon network is powered by $BABY , its native token. Within the network, $BABY is used for governance, transaction fees, staking incentives, and supporting the operation of Finality Providers that help secure the protocol. Try the Public Testnet One of the best ways to understand new infrastructure is by using it yourself. The Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (TBV) public testnet allows anyone to experience native Bitcoin-backed borrowing before the technology reaches production. Testing new protocols and providing feedback helps improve both usability and security before wider adoption. As Bitcoin continues to evolve beyond being simply a store of value, infrastructure like Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (TBV) could play an important role in expanding what native BTC can do while preserving the principles that made Bitcoin successful in the first place. #baby $BABY
๐จ๐ BREAKING: Michael Burry of โThe Big Shortโ fame has updated his positions.Heโs added to shorts in Micron $MUB at $933.86, Nvidia $NVDAB at $210.28, Semiconductor ETF $SOXX at $535.83, and Caterpillar $CAT at $893.49.
Longs increased in Flutter $FLUT at $100.72, DraftKings $DKNG at $23.07, and Molina $MOH at $197.02. Tesla $TSLAB , Palantir $PLTR and $QQQ shorts left unchanged as Tesla drops ~24% since late June.
Most Bitcoin holders have faced the same choice. Hold your BTC or wrap it if you want to use DeFi.
@BabylonLabs_io is trying to change that with Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (TBV).
Instead of moving to a wrapped version of Bitcoin, Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (TBV) let you use native BTC as collateral while remaining self-custodial. That means you keep control of your keys and avoid relying on centralized intermediaries.
A feature that caught my attention is the public testnet for native Bitcoin-backed borrowing with Aave v4. It gives users a chance to experience how native BTC can unlock liquidity without leaving the Bitcoin standard behind.
If this model succeeds, it could help bring more Bitcoin liquidity into DeFi while preserving the qualities that made Bitcoin valuable in the first place.
Have you tried the TBV public testnet yet? I'd be interested to hear what you think after testing it.
Geopolitical Tailwinds and Energy Inflation ๐ข๐
Commodity and forex markets continue to adjust to geopolitical stress points. Brent crude futures surged above $90 a barrel following maritime friction in the Red Sea and shifts in U.S.-Iran diplomatic mediation. ๐บ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ท
While the broader equity market has temporarily shrugged off these headwinds to focus on earnings, the persistent climb in oil prices is feeding into macro anxieties regarding sticky inflation and corporate margins-notably causing regional downward pressure on import-heavy markets like India. ๐ฎ๐ณ
16 Wall Street analysts piling on to $SPCXB , and the vibe is overwhelmingly bullish. ๐
$SPCX has slid below its IPO price after an early post-IPO pop, but the median target sits at $213.50. Thatโs roughly +77% upside from where itโs trading now around $120-125. ๐
Starlink scaling, Starship commercialisation, and that big AI computing play have analysts excited long-term. Wild ride ahead! ๐
Wells Fargo just raised their price target for $GOOGLB to $438 from $416 and kept the Outperform rating.
AI demand is driving capex for chips and data centers way higher, with the big players' 2027 spending now seen at $1.1 trillion, up 23%. Google and peers are passing costs to customers while keeping strong returns.
Wells Fargo just raised their price target for $GOOGLB to $438 from $416 and kept the Outperform rating.
AI demand is driving capex for chips and data centers way higher, with the big players' 2027 spending now seen at $1.1 trillion, up 23%. Google and peers are passing costs to customers while keeping strong returns.
16 Wall Street analysts piling on to $SPCXB , and the vibe is overwhelmingly bullish. ๐
$SPCX has slid below its IPO price after an early post-IPO pop, but the median target sits at $213.50. Thatโs roughly +77% upside from where itโs trading now around $120-125. ๐
Starlink scaling, Starship commercialisation, and that big AI computing play have analysts excited long-term. Wild ride ahead! ๐
๐บ๐ธ BREAKING NEWS: The Trump administration is set to roll out fresh tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on around 60 countries as early as this week.
This move looks likely to replace the temporary 10% global tariff that's due to expire this Friday (according to the FT).
That stop-gap was brought in after the Supreme Court struck down Trump's earlier tariffs as illegal, a ruling that's already cost the US Treasury a whopping $81 billion in refunds.
Markets are on edge, with potential ripple effects on everything from consumer prices to global supply chains. We'll be watching this one closely. ๐