For years, Bitcoin has ruled crypto — the most secure, decentralized, and trusted network in the world. But there’s a catch: Bitcoin has always been a little… quiet. You buy it, you hold it, and you wait.
Meanwhile, Ethereum and other chains built thriving DeFi ecosystems, with lending, staking, and smart contracts — leaving Bitcoin holders on the sidelines.
Bitlayer is here to change that. It’s unlocking Bitcoin’s full potential by combining security, speed, and DeFi utility — without compromising the foundation that makes Bitcoin untouchable.
🔹 Building DeFi on Bitcoin’s Shoulders
Bitlayer isn’t trying to replace Bitcoin. Instead, it’s built on top of it, adding a scalable, EVM-compatible layer that brings DeFi right to Bitcoin holders — without sacrificing security.
At the heart of Bitlayer are three powerful components:
BitVM Bridge — A trust-minimized gateway for moving BTC into Bitlayer
YBTC — A yield-bearing Bitcoin token that lets you earn while keeping your BTC backing
Bitcoin Rollup — A fast, low-cost execution layer that runs like Ethereum but secures finality on Bitcoin
Together, these pieces transform Bitcoin from a passive store of value into an active force in DeFi.
🛡 BitVM Bridge — Bitcoin Without Middlemen
Most existing Bitcoin bridges rely on custodians — third parties that hold your BTC while giving you a wrapped token elsewhere. It works, but it introduces risk: hacks, rug pulls, and trust issues.
The BitVM Bridge solves this using cryptographic proofs and the principle of existential honesty:
Your BTC stays locked on the Bitcoin blockchain
You receive YBTC, minted 1:1 on Bitlayer
If anyone tries to cheat, watchers step in to detect and slash malicious actors
When you want your BTC back, you simply burn YBTC and instantly unlock your native Bitcoin.
No custodians. No wrapped-token dependency. Just Bitcoin — secured by Bitcoin.
💎 YBTC — Turning Your Bitcoin Into a Working Asset
With Bitlayer, your Bitcoin stops sitting idle. Once you convert BTC into YBTC, you unlock DeFi superpowers:
Earn yield by providing liquidity
Stake YBTC in secure protocols
Trade instantly across decentralized exchanges
Borrow or lend against your Bitcoin holdings
And the best part? YBTC is multi-chain. It’s already moving across ecosystems like Solana, enabling yield farming on platforms like Kamino and Orca — all while staying pegged 1:1 to real BTC.
⚡ Bitcoin Rollups — Speed Meets Security
One of Bitcoin’s biggest challenges has always been speed. Blocks are slow, fees can spike, and DeFi activity just isn’t practical.
Bitlayer solves this with its Bitcoin Rollup:
Fast, low-cost transactions
EVM compatibility — deploy Ethereum smart contracts seamlessly
Final security settlement anchored to Bitcoin
For developers, it’s a high-performance playground for building DEXs, lending platforms, and DeFi apps. For users, it’s Ethereum-level speed — with Bitcoin-level security.
🌍 The Big Picture
Here’s how Bitlayer unlocks Bitcoin’s DeFi potential:
Lock BTC on the Bitcoin blockchain
Mint YBTC on Bitlayer
Use YBTC across DeFi to earn, trade, borrow, and lend
Burn YBTC anytime and reclaim your BTC
A simple, secure loop — no unnecessary trust required.
🚀 Why It Matters
There’s over $1 trillion worth of Bitcoin out there, but most of it just sits idle. Sure, some flows into wrapped assets like WBTC, but those depend on centralized custodians — a single point of failure.
Bitlayer changes everything. It gives Bitcoin DeFi superpowers while keeping its native security. If successful, it could redefine Bitcoin’s role — from digital gold to the financial engine of Web3.
Bitcoin gave us the foundation.
Bitlayer is building the skyscraper.
