The Rise of BTCFi: Analysis of the Current Status and Future Opportunities of Bitcoin Decentralized Finance

BTCFi: The Rise and Future Outlook of Bitcoin DeFi

Bitcoin is undergoing a huge transformation in the field of Decentralized Finance ( DeFi ). From the initial peer-to-peer transfers, Bitcoin is gradually becoming an important force in DeFi, starting to challenge Ethereum's dominance. By analyzing on-chain data, we find that the combination of BTCFi ( Bitcoin and DeFi ) is not only a technological shift but may also redefine the entire DeFi landscape.

The Rise of BTCFi

When Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin in 2008, the initial design goal was a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Although this architecture has revolutionary significance in the field of crypto assets, it has limitations in complex financial applications such as Decentralized Finance.

How is the progress of BTCFi that the Bitcoin community has been thinking about?

The Original Design of Bitcoin and Its Limitations in Decentralized Finance

Core design elements of Bitcoin and its limitations:

  1. UTXO model: effectively handles simple transactions, but lacks the flexibility to support complex smart contracts.

  2. Limited scripting language: The design is constrained, and the number of executable opcodes is limited, which hinders support for complex Decentralized Finance applications.

  3. Lack of Turing completeness: It is difficult to implement complex smart contracts that depend on state.

  4. Block size and transaction speed limits: result in transaction processing speeds far lower than other blockchains focused on Decentralized Finance.

These designs, while enhancing the security and decentralization of Bitcoin, also pose obstacles to directly implementing DeFi functions on it.

How is the progress of BTCFi that the Bitcoin community has been thinking about?

Early Attempts and Development of Introducing Decentralized Finance on Bitcoin

Despite facing limitations, developers are still seeking innovative solutions:

  1. Colored Coin (2012-2013): One of the early attempts that laid the foundation for developing more complex financial applications on Bitcoin.

  2. Counterparty(2014): Introduces the ability to create and trade custom assets, showcasing the potential for more complex financial instruments.

  3. Lightning Network ( Since 2015 ): Layer 2 protocol, enhances transaction scalability, opens up possibilities for complex financial interactions.

  4. Discrete Log Contracts ( DLC ) ( Since 2017 ): Allow the implementation of complex financial contracts, providing new possibilities for derivatives and other DeFi tools.

  5. Liquid Network ( From 2018 to present ): Supports the issuance of crypto assets and more complex transactions, paving the way for DeFi applications.

  6. Taproot Upgrade (2021): Enhanced Bitcoin's smart contract capabilities, laying the foundation for future Decentralized Finance development.

These early developments laid the foundation for the expansion of Bitcoin's functionality, showcasing the potential of the Bitcoin ecosystem.

How is BTCFi, which the Bitcoin community has been thinking about, progressing now?

Key Innovations: Implementing Smart Contracts on Bitcoin

In recent years, several protocols have aimed to introduce smart contracts and Decentralized Finance features to Bitcoin.

  1. Rootstock: The pioneer of Bitcoin smart contracts, the longest-running Bitcoin sidechain. Supports dual mining and is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).

  2. Core: An EVM-compatible blockchain closely integrated with Bitcoin. The innovative dual-staking model transforms Bitcoin into a yield-bearing asset.

  3. Merlin Chain: An emerging Bitcoin Layer 2 network that integrates ZK-Rollup technology, decentralized oracles, and on-chain anti-fraud modules.

  4. BEVM: The first fully decentralized and EVM-compatible Bitcoin Layer 2 network, pioneering the concept of "computing power RWA".

The key innovations of these protocols include:

  • Tokenized Bitcoin assets
  • Smart contracts and EVM compatibility
  • Yield-bearing Bitcoin
  • Scalability and privacy enhancement

As of September 8, 2024, the total locked value of Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions and sidechains ( TVL ) reached $1.07 billion, which is a 5.7-fold increase compared to the beginning of 2024 and an 18.4-fold increase compared to the beginning of 2023.

How is the progress of BTCFi that the Bitcoin community has been thinking about?

The Current Situation of Bitcoin Decentralized Finance

Some key projects have become important players:

  1. Pell Network: Cross-chain re-staking protocol that enhances the security of the Bitcoin ecosystem and optimizes yields.

  2. Avalon Finance: Multi-chain DeFi platform, providing lending and trading services.

  3. Colend Protocol: A decentralized lending platform built on the Core blockchain.

  4. MoneyOnChain: A comprehensive DeFi protocol on Rootstock that issues the stablecoin DOC.

  5. Sovryn: A feature-rich DeFi platform that spans BOB and Rootstock.

  6. Solv Protocol: A frontier in NFT financialization, creating, trading, and managing on-chain certificates.

These projects showcase the dynamic development in the Bitcoin DeFi space. Core holds a leading position in the Bitcoin DeFi sector, accounting for 25.2% of the project count.

How is the progress of BTCFi that the Bitcoin community has been thinking about?

The Bitcoin community is eagerly wondering how BTCFi is progressing now?

How is the progress of BTCFi, which the Bitcoin community has been concerned about?

How is the progress of BTCFi that the Bitcoin community has been thinking about?

How is the progress of BTCFi that the Bitcoin community has been looking forward to?

Comparative Analysis with Ethereum DeFi

The integration of Bitcoin and the Ethereum DeFi ecosystem is mainly achieved through wrapped assets such as wBTC and renBTC. As of September 8, the number of BTC locked in Ethereum DeFi protocols is 153,400, far exceeding the 8,970 in the native Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem.

How is the progress of BTCFi, which the Bitcoin community has been eagerly anticipating?

The Development of Ethereum and Its Insights for Bitcoin and Vice Versa

Bitcoin can learn from Ethereum:

  • Product Diversity
  • Developer Ecosystem Cultivation
  • Enhanced Interoperability

Ethereum can learn from Bitcoin:

  • Emphasis on security and decentralization
  • Simplicity and Robustness
  • Focus on value storage function

Challenges and Opportunities

Technical barriers:

  • Scalability
  • Interoperability

Regulatory Concerns:

  • AML and KYC compliance

Future Opportunities:

  • Layer 2 solution improvements
  • Advances in privacy protection technology
  • Development of yield-generating products, DEX, and cross-chain liquidity pools
  • DeFi products tailored for institutional needs

How is the progress of BTCFi that the Bitcoin community is eagerly anticipating?

Conclusion

The Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem is expected to continue expanding driven by technological advancements and institutional interest. The key lies in developing scalable Layer 2 solutions, enhancing interoperability, and launching more complex financial products. Although facing regulatory and technical challenges, the future of Bitcoin DeFi is promising, with the potential to have a profound impact on the entire DeFi ecosystem, making Bitcoin a core participant in DeFi.

How is the progress of BTCFi that the Bitcoin community has been thinking about?

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CrossChainBreathervip
· 07-05 19:21
Waiting for the Decentralized Finance new era
View OriginalReply0
MeaninglessGweivip
· 07-03 16:42
Smart contracts are still important
View OriginalReply0
metaverse_hermitvip
· 07-03 16:37
There is hope now, fren.
View OriginalReply0
FancyResearchLabvip
· 07-03 16:29
Strongly crush Ethereum
View OriginalReply0
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