A collection of highlights from the month in Bitlayer

The crypto market faced significant headwinds this past month, yet at Bitlayer, our focus still remained on expanding utility and infrastructure for Bitcoin.

A key milestone was the extension of the YBTC ecosystem to Mandala Chain, a platform dedicated to building digital nations and intelligent economies. In parallel, the YBTC.B Vault went live on Volo, empowering users to put their Bitcoin to work and earn yield seamlessly.

We were also pleased to see the release of the second Reflexivity Research report on Bitlayer. This comprehensive analysis delves into our flagship YBTC Family—defining its components, mapping its current landscape, and analyzing its yield sources, incentives, and associated risks.

The report provides a clear comparison with legacy wrapped BTC trust models and outlines a strategic go-to-market plan aligned with Bitlayer’s ongoing integrations and public roadmap.

Looking ahead, Bitlayer will continue its active role as a core builder in the Bitcoin space, with participation confirmed for the major BitcoinMena conference in December. Let’s dig in.

📊 Network Metrics Snapshot

• Bitlayer YBTC Family Data: $131.23M (Source: DeFiLlama - Anchor BTC Protocol)
• Transaction Volume: 92.56M (+3.21% MoM)
• Cumulative Addresses: 772,285

📈 Deep Dive: YBTC Family & Roadmap

The latest Reflexivity Research report outlines how Bitlayer unlocks native, on-chain yield for Bitcoin through the YBTC Family:

• YBTC: A trust-minimized BTC minted 1:1 via the BitVM Bridge
• YBTC.B: A wrapped form of Bitlayer Native BTC for cross-chain liquidity

This report covers YBTC family’s yield sources, incentives, and risks; compare trust models with legacy wrapped BTC; and outline a go-to-market plan and roadmap aligned with Bitlayer’s current integrations and public updates.

“Bitlayer transforms Bitcoin from a passive store of value into productive, composable collateral. Within the YBTC Family, YBTC.B channels native BTC into lending markets, AMMs, and vaults, while YBTC, minted trust-minimally through the BitVM Bridge, extends this liquidity across chains. Security relies on fraud proofs under a one-honest-actor assumption, with brokers providing instant exits and settlement finalized directly on Bitcoin.

Together, these mechanics create a compounding flywheel: BTC enters as collateral, is wrapped or minted into YBTC Family assets, circulates through DeFi venues, generates yield, deepens liquidity, and attracts institutional adoption. Portability across EVM and non-EVM networks ensures execution flows to the most efficient venues, without ever reverting to a custodial trust model.

The result is a BTC-denominated base layer for yield: transparent, verifiable, and secured by Bitcoin itself.”

📥 Download Reports: Part 2 | Part 1

🤝 Ecosystem Integration & YBTC.B Expansion

• Mandala Chain X Bitlayer partnership announcement released: opening the door for Bitcoin to flow seamlessly into the Mandala Chain ecosystem, empowering decentralized identity, real-world assets, and sovereign blockchain applications with the world’s most secure collateral.

The collaboration roadmap includes:

1. Testnet Integration: Live testing of lock-and-mint BTC transfers into Mandala.

2. YBTC Enablement: Deploying yield-bearing BTC functionality across Mandala applications and Polkadot-connected parachains.

3. Mainnet Launch: Bringing BTC liquidity to sovereign chains, dApps, and RWA markets at scale.

• YBTC Vault Live on Volo: Bitcoin holders can now maximize yield in Sui’s ecosystem through Volo’s vault.

• Partner Update: The FOLKS eligibility checker of Folks Finance is live.
• SafePal X1 Giveaway: Bitlayer & SafePal are distributing 1,200 hardware wallets to Lucky Helmet holders and builders.

More details: https://x.com/BitlayerLabs/status/1989154788593005006

🎬 Market Conversation

• Exclusive Interview: co-founder Charlie Hu sat down with Khairullin Ruslan to share his opinion on the development of Bitlayer in the past two years, and the market outlook of the crypto industry in Invest Zone.

A key goal is to attract not only existing DeFi users but also traditional finance users through partnerships (e.g., with Franklin Templeton), offering a seamless experience that doesn’t require deep Web3 technical knowledge.

Founder’s Market Outlook: The founder believes this market cycle is different due to institutional involvement (ETFs) and sees a significant opportunity for Bitcoin DeFi to grow by bridging the gap between crypto-native users and traditional finance.

• Full Interview Detail: https://youtu.be/SG3ZLrVGTEw?si=i-uc4JgJwG0Qd–p

• Upcoming Events: Bitlayer will join BitcoinMena (December 8–9, Abu Dhabi), one of the world’s largest Bitcoin conferences.

Thanks for your passion! Follow us on X (Twitter) for real-time updates.

A collection of highlights from the month in Bitlayer

Welcome to Bitlayer!

October marked a period of accelerated growth for Bitlayer, highlighted by significant ecosystem expansion and institutional adoption.

A key development was the entry of YBTC family assets into the Solana ecosystem, coupled with the launch of innovative YBTC.B Vault products like the YBTC.B-wBTC pool. These offerings have successfully attracted users across multiple chains including Avalanche and Sui, signaling growing cross-chain demand. This momentum clearly indicates the continued evolution of a robust Bitcoin capital market built around YBTC.

On the institutional front, BTR’s integration with Coinbase Prime represents a major milestone in Bitlayer’s path toward institutional adoption, opening doors for future participation from traditional financial entities.

Our global presence was further strengthened through extensive engagement at Korea Blockchain Week, where both co-founders delivered insightful presentations on critical industry topics including:

• The future of Bitcoin with OP_CAT
• Scaling DeFi through innovation
• Bitcoin as the ultimate asset and Solana as infrastructure

These developments collectively demonstrate Bitlayer’s growing influence in shaping the future of Bitcoin-native finance. Let’s dive into this month’s developments!

📊Network Metrics Snapshot

• Bitlayer YBTC Family Data: $214.78M (Source: DeFiLlama — Anchor BTC Protocol)
• Transaction Volume: 89.47M (+7.95% MoM)
• Cumulative Addresses: 773,552

🤝Chains Integration

Bitlayer is now bringing Bitcoin liquidity to the Solana ecosystem through the fully verified Bitlayer–Solana bridge, unlocking new yield and DeFi opportunities across chains.

📝Official YBTC.B Contract on Solana: 3VcKofugG1SPJmjuiEZCJL5mk1JkyqGZ19ByeMWXVWfK

🏎YBTC.B Expansion

YBTC.B serves as a universal cross-chain liquidity standard for Bitcoin, bridging EVM and non-EVM ecosystems and enabling seamless deployment of native BTC across multiple DeFi networks.

Recent Integrations:

• Now live on Folks Finance with a new YBTC.B vault offering rewards up to 6.7% APY.

• YBTC.B — wBTC pool live on Turbos Finance, empowering BTC-backed DeFi on Sui.

• YBTC.B–sat.YBTC.B pool is now live on Momentum, empowering smarter Bitcoin yields.

To date, YBTC.B is now actively supported across Sui, Solana, Ethereum, BSC, Avalanche, Plume Network and Starknet. Now you can explore YBTC.B products on leading protocols including: Folks Finance, Momentum, Cetus Protocol, Turbos Finance, LFJ, SatLayer, and Navi.

🧇BTR Support on Coinbase Prime

BTR functions as Bitlayer’s core governance token and is progressively evolving into a broader utility asset as the ecosystem decentralizes.

We’re pleased to share that BTR is now supported on Coinbase Prime, enabling institutional investors, including hedge funds, asset managers, and corporations, to secure custody and transfer BTR within a trusted regulatory framework.

🔗 Official Announcement

🎬Exclusive Interview

At Korea Blockchain Week 2025, co-founder Charlie Hu spoke with Blockster’s Eric Spivak on how the Bitlayer is bridging Bitcoin and DeFi, transforming BTC from a passive store of value into an active, yield-generating asset.

Key Insights:

• “Bitlayer strategically partners with some of the most trusted and efficient DeFi protocols across ecosystems. This approach allows them to find a sweet spot, where Bitcoiners are genuinely incentivized to stake, but without the unrealistic, sky-high APYs that often raise red flags.”
• “As Bitlayer continues to scale its infrastructure and expand cross-chain integrations, Charlie shares that the team is preparing for another round of investors to help accelerate development. The goal isn’t just capital. It’s strategic alignment.”
• “It’s still early days for the Bitcoin ecosystem, and Bitlayer is positioned to lead this next chapter of growth. As more builders, investors, and users recognize the potential of unlocking Bitcoin’s liquidity through secure, yield-driven infrastructure, Bit Layer stands ready to guide that transition. By combining deep technical innovation with a pragmatic approach to sustainability, the team is laying the groundwork for Bitcoin’s evolution from a passive store of value into a truly active player within the DeFi economy.”

📖Read full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JSZ1ct520Q&t=1s

🌍Events & Keynotes

• “Future of Bitcoin with OP_CAT”

Co-founder Kevin He joined the panel “Current Bitcoin Tech Landscape”, outlining Bitlayer’s vision for Bitcoin’s future and how we’re shaping the next chapter of Bitcoin DeFi.

• Hack Seasons Conference Singapore

Charlie Hu explored “Can DeFi Scale Without Reinventing Itself?”, tracing the path from 2021 to the present and highlighting Bitcoin-native DeFi as the next driver of mass adoption.

• Solana Apex Singapore

Charlie Hu joined the “Bitcoin is the Asset; Solana is the Infrastructure” panel to share insights on the rise of BTC liquidity in Solana and Bitlayer’s unique approach to building in this space. The momentum is real and the opportunities in BTCFi are just getting started.

• The Future of Money, Governance & the Law

Charlie Hu participated in the “Bridging TradFi and DeFi: Innovation, Regulation & the Road Ahead” panel in Washington D.C., contributing as a key voice on innovation and regulation.

This month’s progress builds a strong foundation for Bitcoin’s DeFi future. We’re excited to continue expanding the YBTC ecosystem and sharing new developments in the coming months. Thank you for being part of our journey!

A collection of highlights from the month in Bitlayer

September marked a period of consistent product development and expanding global reach for Bitlayer.

A standout achievement this month was the expansion of YBTC.B into the Sui ecosystem, making the asset accessible across Ethereum, BSC, Avalanche, and Plume Network. YBTC.B has been integrated into leading DeFi protocols, including Cetus Protocol, Folks Finance, Navi Protocol, LFJ, and Momentum Finance, collectively supporting a TVL of approximately $300 million. This momentum sets the stage for even broader adoption of the YBTC family assets in the coming months.

The month also saw strong participation at Korea Blockchain Week, where Bitlayer engaged deeply with the global blockchain community. The team delivered a main stage presentation, while co-founder Charlie Hu joined a CoinDesk live stream directly from the event. Bitlayer’s booth attracted vibrant engagement with creative merchandise and giveaways, and the team participated in multiple side events, sharing recent milestones and future roadmap directly with the community.

Beyond these highlights, we achieved several key developments:

• BTR listed on major Korean exchange Bithumb
• Canonical cross-chain integration with Chainlink CCIP completed
• Media coverage in top-tier outlets including CoinDesk, Blockworks, Blockmedia, Blockbeats, and more
• 5+ community and industry dialogues led by our co-founders

Let’s dive into this month’s developments!

🔥This Month’s Top Stories

YBTC.B Goes Live on Sui

Bitlayer continues to expand the new representative BTC liquidity — YBTC.B is now live on Sui Network. The asset is already available for trading and liquidity provision on Cetus Protocol, Navi Protocol, and Momentum Finance.

Bitlayer Integrates Chainlink CCIP as Canonical Cross-Chain Infrastructure

Bitlayer has successfully migrated to Chainlink CCIP as its canonical cross-chain infrastructure. The Chainlink interoperability standard now powers secure transfers between Bitlayer and Ethereum for Bitlayer’s native token BTR, USDC, USDT, ETH, and wstETH. Next up: enabling cross-chain functionality for YBTC via CCIP.

Bitlayer Shines at Korea Blockchain Week 2025

Co-founders Kevin He and Charlie Hu attended Korea Blockchain Week (September 21–26), showcasing Bitlayer’s latest technical advancements — including the groundbreaking BitVM Bridge — to a global audience. Huge thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate with us during — your energy made #KBW2025 unforgettable.

CoinDesk Live at KBW: The Future of Bitcoin Infrastructure

Charlie Hu joined CoinDesk’s live stream during Korea Blockchain Week to discuss the next era of Bicoin infrastructure.

🚀More Updates and Events

1. System & Node Upgrades

Bitlayer has successfully completed a scheduled system and bootnodes upgrade.

2. YBTC 101: A Deep Dive

Our latest series breaks down what YBTC is, what sets it apart from other Bitcoin-pegged assets, and its role within the Bitlayer ecosystem.

“Most bridges use a “lock-and-mint” model. You lock your real BTC in a vault on the Bitcoin network and, by providing proof of this deposit, you mint an equivalent representative token (let’s call it XBTC) on another chain like Ethereum. To get your BTC back, you do the reverse: burn XBTC and present proof to unlock your BTC from the vault.

The security of this entire process hinges on the answers to three critical questions:

1. Who controls the locked Bitcoin in the vault?
2. Who verifies your deposit to approve the minting of new tokens?
3. Who verifies that you’ve burned tokens to approve the release of Bitcoin?

The answers reveal exactly where you’re placing your trust.”

Take a look to learn more:

• What is YBTC
• What Makes YBTC Standout?

3. Nansen Released Bitlayer H1 2025 Report

The first half of 2025 was a period of foundational growth for Bitlayer, as the network evolved into a high-performance Bitcoin infrastructure project with key infrastructure releases including the BitVM Bridge Mainnet.

“Bitlayer made substantial strides in H1 2025, emerging as a leading force in Bitcoin Layer 2 innovation by deploying the first working implementation of BitVM and rapidly expanding its BTCFi ecosystem. Designed as a Bitcoin-equivalent Layer 2 with full EVM compatibility, Bitlayer enables advanced smart contract capabilities while preserving Bitcoin’s consensus and decentralization. The launch of the BitVM Bridge, a trust-minimized and non-custodial bridge, marked a foundational milestone, allowing native BTC to flow seamlessly into a programmable Bitcoin-aligned execution environment. This architecture unlocks Turing-complete application logic secured by Bitcoin itself, establishing a secure and scalable base layer for complex DeFi, structured products, and multichain applications.”

Notable metrics include:

• Over 220K daily transactions in April
• 60K+ active wallets in January
• Sustained activity: 160K+ daily transactions maintained throughout Q2

4. Blockworks Feature: BitVM Enters Implementation Phase

BitVM has enters the ‘implementation’ stage as Bitlayer’s BitVM Bridge and YBTC go live. Bitlayer is unlocking BTC liquidity with the BitVM Bridge and YBTC, building a new era of BTCFi.

5. BTR Listed on Bithumb

BTR is now officially listed on major Korean exchange Bithumb, expanding access to one of Asia’s most vibrant crypto trading markets.

Reminder: The Bitlayer Phase 1 BTR airdrop claims ended on September 30. Unclaimed airdrops after the deadline cannot be recovered. Please ensure timely action.

6. BTR Featured in Coinone Trading Campaign

From September 22 to September 26, users could trade BTR on Coinone to earn rewards as part of the promotional campaign.

7. AMA Recap: DEXTools & Binance Square

• Charlie Hu detailed Bitlayer’s recent achievements and strategic direction moving forward in a DEXTools AMA.
• Charlie Hu joined Binance Square for a live AMA, sharing the latest project developments, market insights, and future plans to live with the community.

8. Asian Boss Exclusive Interview

Charlie Hu sat down with Stephan Park of Asian Boss to discuss Bitlayer’s role in shaping the next wave of Bitcoin-powered innovation and the future of decentralized ecosystems.

9. Bitlayer Joins Bitget’s 7th Anniversary Celebration

Bitlayer participated in Bitget’s milestone 7th-anniversary event, offering community members a chance to earn BTR token rewards.

10. Event Recaps: Taipei & Istanbul

• Taipei Blockchain Week: Bitlayer brought its signature orange vibe to the event, fostering connections, exchanging ideas, and celebrating Bitcoin culture with the community.

• BitVM Alliance Meetup in Istanbul: As an active member of the BitVM Alliance, Co-Founder Kevin He joined leading BTC voices to explore how BitVM is moving from vision to real-world implementation. Builders and enthusiasts shared ideas and sparked debates actively.

TIP: The BitVM Alliance was founded by Robin Linus and Lukas George to accelerate the development and implementation of BitVM project. By combining expertise and resources, the alliance aims to expedite the delivery of the first BitVM bridges while ensuring robust security and innovative solutions. The collaborative nature of the alliance enables rapid knowledge sharing, coordinated development efforts, and comprehensive peer review of critical components.

📊Network Metrics Snapshot

• TVL: $211.75M (Source: DeFiLlama）
• Cumulative Addresses: 776,405
• Transaction Volume: 82.88M (+7.37% MoM)

🔜What’s Next?

Our path ahead is clear: Bitlayer will continue to drive the expansion of the YBTC family assets.

The fundamental goal is to bridge Bitcoin’s native value with advanced DeFi, offering both institutional and retail holders sophisticated yet accessible avenues for generating real yield.

A wave of new integrations and ecosystem partnerships is imminent. Follow our official channels to stay updated with the latest developments.

Dear Bitlayer Users,

We would like to remind you that the claim deadline for the Bitlayer Phase 1 BTR airdrop is approaching. Details are as follows:

Claim Deadline:

• September 30, 2025, 18:00 (UTC+8)

Important Notice:

• We urge all eligible users to complete the Phase 1 airdrop claims before the aforementioned deadline.
• Unclaimed airdrops after the deadline cannot be recovered. Please ensure timely action.

Claim Process:

1. Visit the official Bitlayer airdrop claim page: https://www.bitlayer.org/airdrop/btr
2. Connect your eligible wallet address.
3. Confirm and complete your BTR claim.

Notes:

• Please ensure you visit the official designated link to avoid fraudulent websites.
• Please use wallet addresses that meet the airdrop eligibility criteria.
• If you encounter technical issues, please contact official customer support promptly.

Thank you for your support and trust in Bitlayer.

Bitlayer Team

September 29, 2025

Dear Bitlayer Users,

To further enhance network stability and performance, the bootnodes of the Bitlayer Testnet and Mainnet have been upgraded. The new bootnodes are now available, and the old bootnodes will be decommissioned on September 30, 2025 (UTC).

Users running Bitlayer Mainnet or Testnet nodes are required to upgrade their nodes to version v1.1.10 before the deadline. Otherwise, block synchronization may be affected.

👉 Download link: Release v1.1.10 · bitlayer-org/bitlayer-l2

Thank you for your support and understanding!

Bitlayer Team

September 23, 2025

Dear Users,

In order to further optimize service performance, Bitlayer will conduct a scheduled system upgrade and maintenance on September 18, 2025, from 07:00 to 11:00 (UTC+0).

During the maintenance window, the following services will be temporarily unavailable:

• Official Bridge (BTC Bridge)
• Flash Bridge-In
• BitVM Bridge

Estimated Downtime: 4 hours

We kindly remind you to make any necessary arrangements in advance. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and sincerely appreciate your understanding. Should you have any questions or require assistance during the upgrade, please contact the official Bitlayer community. Our team will be ready to support you.

Thank you for your continued trust and support.

Sincerely,

The Bitlayer Team

September 17, 2025

We’re excited to announce that Bitlayer — the Bitcoin infrastructure project powering BTC DeFi — has successfully migrated to Chainlink CCIP and is adopting CCIP as its canonical cross-chain infrastructure.

CCIP now powers secure transfers between Bitlayer and Ethereum for Bitlayer’s native token BTR, along with USDC, USDT, ETH, and wstETH. The next milestone will be making YBTC cross-chain native via CCIP, which will make YBTC a trust-minimized, multichain, yield bearing wrapped BTC token.

BitVM represents a transformative step in expanding Bitcoin’s capabilities beyond its primary use as a digital currency. Based on the revolutionary BitVM paradigm, which expresses Turing-complete Bitcoin contracts through an optimistic validation scheme, YBTC enables Bitcoin holders to mint a native representation of BTC in a trust-minimized way and Chainlink CCIP will serve as a critical component for YBTC’s multichain deployment.

Currently, YBTC.B — powered by Bitlayer — is live on multiple EVM-compatible blockchain networks including Ethereum, BSC, Avalanche, and Plume Network via CCIP, enabling users to access YBTC.B-based products and tap into novel Bitcoin-based yield opportunities across the multi-chain ecosystem. In line with the continuous growth of Bitlayer’s ecosystem, Bitlayer plans to adopt CCIP for YBTC.B on additional chains in the near future. Moreover, YBTC minted through Bitlayer’s trust-minimized BitVM Bridge is also slated for prioritized cross-chain expansion to other blockchain networks using CCIP.

By adopting the Chainlink standard for cross-chain interoperability, liquidity on Bitlayer is significantly increased, which empowers developers to build highly secure and scalable cross-chain BTCFi applications that unlock the full potential of DeFi on Bitcoin. Users can securely bridge assets to Bitlayer using the CCIP-powered applications Transporter, XSwap, and Interport.

CCIP is built with defense-in-depth security and is powered by Chainlink oracle networks, a proven standard with a track record of securing tens of billions of dollars and enabling over $25 trillion in onchain transaction value.

Key benefits unlocked by adopting CCIP include:

• Access to a rapidly growing and future-proof network: CCIP has accelerating network effects each week as new integrations are added. This is enabled by CCIP’s architecture, which is designed to be future-proof for developers, where future improvements can continue to be made, including the integration of new blockchain networks, the permissionless onboarding of additional tokens by developers while retaining full ownership of their token contracts, and the incorporation of new defense-in-depth approaches to security.
• Always-on infrastructure: CCIP is built with the same time-tested infrastructure as other services that underpin prominent protocols across DeFi with zero downtime, ensuring reliability in every cross-chain transaction.
• Battle-tested security: CCIP’s consensus layer is powered by Chainlink Decentralized Oracle Networks (DONs), infrastructure that has secured over $90 billion in DeFi TVL at its peak and enabled over $25 trillion in onchain transaction value since the start of 2022.

“We’re excited to see Bitlayer successfully migrate to Chainlink CCIP as their canonical cross-chain infrastructure. By harnessing CCIP’s native support for secure cross-chain asset transfers and messages, Bitlayer developers can now unlock a new wave of BTCFi innovation. This milestone brings us closer to realizing a more interconnected BTC DeFi ecosystem that has the potential to transform global finance.” — Johann Eid, Chief Business Officer at Chainlink Labs

“We’re thrilled to adopt the Chainlink standard for cross-chain interoperability as our canonical cross-chain infrastructure, which will help bring liquidity to Bitlayer and empower builders to scale BTCFi. With the successful migration of key assets to CCIP as our canonical cross-chain infrastructure, developers can build novel BTCFi apps on Bitlayer and drive ecosystem growth.” — Kevin He, Co-founder at Bitlayer

About Bitlayer

Bitlayer is pioneering the first BitVM implementation. By merging unparalleled security with a lightning-fast smart contract engine, Bitlayer unlocks the full potential of Bitcoin DeFi.

Built on Bitcoin’s native security architecture, Bitlayer is constructing a trust-minimized BitVM Bridge, a yield-bearing asset YBTC and a high-throughput Bitcoin Rollup — bringing true utility, speed, and composability to Bitcoin, and establishing a complete DeFi infrastructure for the Bitcoin ecosystem.

A collection of highlights from the month in Bitlayer

This month, Bitlayer reached one of the most significant milestones on its decentralization roadmap: TGE. While this marks the beginning of a new chapter, bringing both fresh opportunities and considerable challenges, our team continues to build relentlessly, with clear priorities and strategic plans already in motion.

Beyond the release of our governance token $BTR, we achieved several other key accomplishments this month:

• A strategic collaboration with Solana
• Successful completion of our Launchpads token sale
• Multiple integrations of YBTC.B going live
• Secured extensive media coverage with over six exclusive founder interviews in leading crypto outlets

Worth highlighting is the publication of the Reflexivity Research report on Bitlayer, which offers a comprehensive analysis of Bitlayer’s business strategy, ecosystem growth, and technical architecture. Tailored for both institutional and retail participants interested in Bitcoin DeFi and infrastructure innovation, the report provides valuable insights into Bitlayer’s technology, vision, and roadmap, highly recommended for a detailed read.

Let’s dive into this month’s developments!

🔥This Month’s Top Stories

Bitlayer Released $BTR Tokenomics and TGE

The $BTR is the governance token of the Bitlayer ecosystem, playing a critical role in governance, and incentives within the ecosystem. You can check out more details about $BTR here.

You can trade $BTR on Binance Alpha, Kraken, Bitget, CoinList, Gate, Kucoin, MEXC, LBank, Bitpanda, Coinone, PancakeSwap, and Bitzap. We can expect more listing platforms.

Reflexivity Research Institutional Report

This report provides a comprehensive overview of Bitlayer’s business strategy, ecosystem growth, and technical architecture for a dual audience of institutional and retail stakeholders interested in Bitcoin-based DeFi opportunities and infrastructure evolution.

“Outlook: Bitlayer is on track to launch its Mainnet V2 (rollup architecture) in Q2 2025, marking Bitcoin’s first full-featured rollup L2 and a major milestone in Bitcoin’s evolution. This upgrade will solidify Bitlayer’s technical foundation (with EVM compatibility, advanced proving mechanisms, and flexible data availability options) and likely spur a new wave of Bitcoin-focused DApps and liquidity. Going forward, Bitlayer’s strategy involves continued multi-chain integration, utilizing technologies like CCIP (Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol), to connect Bitcoin with leading smart contract networks, with an initial focus on a trust-minimized bridge between Bitcoin and Ethereum. The ultimate vision is a thriving Bitcoin DeFi (BTC-Fi) ecosystem where Bitcoin’s vast value can participate in lending, trading, yield farming, and more, all secured by Bitcoin’s proof-of-work integrity. If successful, Bitlayer could become a cornerstone of Bitcoin’s next chapter: a scalable financial platform that marries Bitcoin’s security and liquidity with the programmability of modern DeFi.”

Bitlayer & Solana

Bitlayer joins forces with Kamino Finance and Orca to bring YBTC to Solana, unlocking native yield, speed, and composability for Bitcoin holders.

With this new strategy extension, YBTC’s global adoption will be accelerated, and offers several features designed for ease of access and flexibility for Solana ecosystem users:

• Maximized Yields: Through Kamino’s institutional-grade earn vaults, YBTC.B users can enjoy auto-compounding and optimized BTC-denominated returns, effortlessly growing their assets, while also benefiting from better quotes on Kamino Swap compared to swapping solely on a decentralized exchange.
• Seamless Trading: Orca’s Concentrated Liquidity Market Maker (CLMM) ensures zero-slippage swaps between YBTC.B and other mainstream assets, empowering users to dive into the Solana DeFi wave.
• Asset Freedom: Redeem native BTC at any time with efficient, frictionless cross-chain operations, maintaining full asset sovereignty.

🚀More Updates and Events

• $5M Launchpad Funding Milestone: Bitlayer has successfully secured $5 million in aggregate funding through a series of oversubscribed public token rounds conducted across leading crowdfunding platforms. This consecutive capital infusion demonstrates robust market confidence in Bitlayer’s positions as the leading Bitcoin project.

• YBTC.B: YBTC.B is expanding its ecosystem map. Now you can explore YBTC.B vault and related products on Folks Finance, Momentum, Cetus Protocol, and Navi.

• Binance Booster Campaign: Phase 3 concluded on Aug 29th. We are excited to announce more campaigns in the upcoming weeks.
• Anthony Pompliano Capital Markets Dialogue: This institutional-focused discussion explored Bitlayer’s role in bridging Asian retail liquidity with Western institutional capital flows, featuring quantitative analysis of TVL as a valuation metric and the regulatory pathway for Bitcoin ETF staking mechanisms.

• Wu Blockchain Exclusive Interview: In an exclusive technical breakdown, Kevin He explained the projects’ unique fraud-proof arbitration system and hybrid security model combining Bitcoin’s checkpointing with Ethereum’s battle-tested settlement logic.
• CoinNess Interview: Charlie Hu disclosed key development milestones and strategic roadmap advancements for Bitlayer’s ecosystem evolution.
• The Boss Code Interview: Bitlayer co-founder Charlie Hu sat down with the host to explore the biggest limitations in Bitcoin that no one talks about, and what it will take to unlock the next era of Bitcoin-powered innovation.
• Conviction 2025 Conference Recap: Bitlayer co-founder Kevin He took the stage with global Bitcoin innovators to explore The Rise of the Bitcoin DeFi Ecosystem at Conviction 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City.

• Bitlayer Korea Meetup Recap: co-founders Charlie Hu and Kevin He shared the Bitlayer vision, followed by the Solana x Bitlayer bridge announcement and a lively panel with Solana ecosystem builders from Superteam KR and Orca. The evening wrapped up with builders exchanging ideas, winning rewards, and forging new connections.

🛄 Job Opening

Zero-Knowledge Engineering Recruitment

Bitlayer is actively recruiting ZK specialists to enhance its proof aggregation system and develop novel recursive STARK verifiers.

📊Network Metrics Snapshot

• TVL: $310.28M (Source: DeFiLlama）
• Cumulative Addresses: 784,379
• Transaction Volume: 77.19M (+11% MoM)

🔜What’s Next?

As you may have gathered from the updates above, Bitlayer’s focus going forward will be on expanding the YBTC family assets ecosystem and delivering more yield-bearing products and strategies for both institutional and retail BTC holders, enabling tangible, real yield opportunities. You can expect a growing number of integrations and partnerships in the coming months.

On the technology side, development continues at full speed. As the pioneer building on the BitVM paradigm, we are actively working on Bitlayer Network Mainnet V2, a high-performance Bitcoin rollup designed to meet growing user demands and deliver an exceptional on-chain experience for mass adoption.

There’s much more underway. Follow our official channels to stay updated with the latest developments.

Bitlayer is thrilled to announce the official details of BTR Airdrop, celebrating our vibrant community and rewarding early supporters. Our journey is made possible by the dedication of our contributors, partners, backers, liquidity providers, and community. We are deeply grateful for your support!

BTR Airdrop Details

Airdrop Allocation on TGE:

Ecosystem Incentive: 10% of total BTR allocation

Binance Booster & Pre-TGE: 2.66% of total BTR allocation

Claim Window:

Opens from August 27th at 10:00 UTC and will remain valid for 1 month for each unlock period

Eligible Users:

BTR Airdrop eligibility includes the following contribution categories

Holders of BTR credited at Bitlayer Racer Center

Holders of Bitlayer Gems credited at Bitlayer Racer Center

Holders of Bitlayer Points credited at Bitlayer Racer Center

Participants of Bitlayer Super Racer Draw

Participants of Bitlayer Community Events, including,

• Lucky draw winners on Bitlayer official X
• Registered Bitlayer Community Ambassadors & Partners in previous promotions
• Anti-Rug Warriors

Participants of Bitlayer x Partners/Ecosystem Campaigns, including,

• Binance Booster Campaign
• Binance Wallet Ecosystem Campaign
• OKX Cryptopedia
• OKX Wallet x RollX Giveaway
• Bybit Web3 AirdropArcade Campaign
• Bitget Wallet Tasks Campaign
• Predict & Win with imToken Campaign
• Joint Giveaway with imToken
• Holdstation Token Airdrop Campaign
• Interaction Risks Hunting with GoPlus
• Explore Bitlayer Planet with GoPlus
• Momentum Odyssey
• Plume Crossword Puzzle
• Desyn BLBTC Trading Pool with BTR as part of the earnings
• Jasper Vault Trading Frenzy with BTR as part of the rewards
• DeAgentAI Ecosystem Series Campaigns with BTR as part of the rewards
• RollX Ecosystem Series Campaigns with BTR as part of the rewards

Claim BTR Airdrop

Follow the following steps to claim your BTR Airdrop,

Step 1: Connect the wallet, and check your eligibility.

Step 2: Claim BTR. Eligible wallets on the Bitlayer chain can claim tokens during the Claim Window, with vesting schedules as follows,

• BTR rewards won from the Super Racer Draw are 100% unlocked at TGE.
• BTR rewards won from Community Events are 100% unlocked at TGE.
• The rest of the BTR credited at the Bitlayer Racer Center are 80% unlocked at TGE, 10% unlocked 6 months after TGE, and 10% unlocked 12 months after TGE.
• Bitlayer Gems credited at the Bitlayer Racer Center will be converted to BTR airdrop, with 80% unlocked at TGE, 10% unlocked 6 months after TGE, and 10% unlocked 12 months after TGE.
• Bitlayer Points credited at the Bitlayer Racer Center will be converted to BTR airdrop, with 80% unlocked at TGE, 10% unlocked 6 months after TGE, and 10% unlocked 12 months after TGE.
• BTR rewards won from Bitlayer x Partners/Ecosystem Campaigns are 80% unlocked at TGE, 10% unlocked 6 months after TGE, and 10% unlocked 12 months after TGE.

Notes:

• BTR rewards earned from the Binance Booster Campaign & Binance Wallet Ecosystem Campaigns are claimable via Binance Wallet on the BNB chain, unlocked subject to the schedules indicated on the Binance Wallet rewards claim page.
• BTR bonus for Lucky Helmet NFT consists of two rounds. The 1st round bonus was completed in January 2025, with each NFT eligible for up to 1,200 BTR, which has been credited into BTR in Bitlayer Racer Center, claimable as part of the Racer Center BTR airdrop. The 2nd round bonus has been processed with Binance Booster Campaign Phase 2, Phase 3, and the Special Phase, with each NFT eligible for up to 6,000 BTR, which is claimable via Binance Wallet on the BNB chain, unlocked subject to the schedules indicated on the Binance Wallet rewards claim page.
• BTR rewards earned from Bitlayer BTCFI Yield — Desyn BLBTC Trading Pool are claimable via both Bitlayer BTCFI Page and Desyn Website.
• BTR rewards earned from Jasper Vault Trading Frenzy are credited into BTR in Bitlayer Racer Center, claimable as part of the Racer Center BTR airdrop.
• Users who have participated in Bitcoin Layer 1 staking liquidity provision can connect their BTC addresses and claim incentives to their designated Bitlayer or BSC wallet addresses.
• To guarantee fairness in the airdrop, Bitlayer Points & Bitlayer Gems credited in Bitlayer Racer Center are subject to anti-Sybil reviews.
• BitlayerBTC is the gas token on the Bitlayer Chain. Please ensure your eligible wallet holds gas when claiming BTR.

This round of BTR Airdrop is just the beginning! Thank you for being an integral part of the Bitlayer journey. We encourage all community members to stay updated through our official channels for the latest announcements and guides. Beware of scams and always verify information from official sources.

About Bitlayer

Bitlayer is pioneering the first BitVM implementation. By merging unparalleled security with a lightning-fast smart contract engine, Bitlayer unlocks the full potential of Bitcoin DeFi.

Built on Bitcoin’s native security architecture, Bitlayer is constructing a trust-minimized BitVM Bridge, a yield-bearing asset YBTC, and a high-throughput Bitcoin Rollup — bringing true utility, speed, and composability to Bitcoin, and establishing a complete DeFi infrastructure for the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Disclaimer

This material is provided solely for general informational purposes and does not constitute or form part of any offer, invitation, or solicitation to purchase or sell any securities, financial instruments, digital assets, or any other investment products, nor shall it be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice. You should not rely on any information presented as a substitute for your own independent judgment or the advice of professional advisors.

Participation in any digital asset-related activity involves significant risks, including but not limited to market volatility, loss of principal, technology failure, counterparty default, regulatory changes, and liquidity constraints. You may lose all or part of your digital assets, and past performance is not indicative of future results.

Bitlayer and its affiliates does not guarantee any returns or yield, and makes no warranties or representations, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. All product features, metrics, and forecasts are illustrative only and subject to change without notice. Users are solely responsible for ensuring that any use of or access to Bitlayer’s offerings is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations in their jurisdiction. Bitlayer and its affiliates expressly disclaim all liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from the use of or reliance on this material.

You should consult your own legal, tax, financial, or other professional advisors before engaging in any digital asset-related activities.

Bitlayer is embarking on its first step toward decentralization.

We are excited to announce the launch of the $BTR token. Built on Bitcoin’s native security architecture, Bitlayer is constructing a trust-minimized BitVM Bridge, a yield-bearing asset YBTC and a high-throughput Bitcoin Rollup — bringing true utility, speed, and composability to Bitcoin, and establishing a complete DeFi infrastructure for the Bitcoin ecosystem.

The $BTR is the governance token of the Bitlayer ecosystem, playing a critical role in governance, and incentives within the ecosystem. This post intends to help the bitlayer community understand how the tokens have been distributed at the launch of the upcoming TGE, and may be distributed thereafter.

About the $BTR Token Launch

• Token Name: Bitlayer($BTR)
• Total Token Supply: 1,000,000,000 $BTR
• Initial Circulating Supply: 261,600,000 (26.16%)

$BTR will be minted on Bitlayer Network, and distributed through Ethereum mainnet, and BNB Smart Chain, ensuring broad accessibility and cross-chain compatibility from day one.

$BTR Token Utility and Value

$BTR will be used as a primary governance mechanism of the protocol and progress to being a protocol utility token as Bitlayer becomes more decentralized.

Here are $BTR’s three utilities and values you need to know:

• Staking and Node Voting: $BTR holders can stake their tokens to support the network’s security and participate in node voting for important decisions. This operates as a delegation mechanism, where nodes represent stakers by providing network security and validating transactions.
• Governance: $BTR holders are central to on-chain governance, allowing them to shape the future of the ecosystem. Through governance voting, $BTR holders can decide on critical parameters and make significant decisions, such as protocol upgrades, fee adjustments, and other key aspects of Bitlayer’s evolution.
• Fee Switch: The Fee Switch mechanism, which can be activated by the affirmative vote of sufficient $BTR holders, allows adjustment of how transaction fees are allocated. When the Fee Switch is activated, a portion of the protocol’s revenue will be directed towards distributing rewards to $BTR stakers or used for $BTR buybacks. This flexible mechanism ensures that the ecosystem can adapt and reward its participants while supporting the long-term sustainability and growth of the Bitlayer network.

Token Supply, Distribution and Vesting Details

We have thoughtfully designed our token distribution to maximize impact for our community and enlarge our global distribution of applications and services.

Below is a breakdown of the planned allocation of 1,000,000,000 $BTR tokens across various categories for a balanced distribution of incentives, ecosystem development, and governance. The allocation to the separate categories may be changed from time-to-time, and the names of the categories may change, provided that no additional allocation will be taken from other categories to be given to early team members, investors or advisors.

• Node Incentive: 7.75%

Node incentives are allocated 7.75% (77.5 million $BTR) to reward network operators. The unlock schedule begins with 3.875% of the total supply in the first year, followed by annual halving of the unlocked amount (e.g., ~1.9375% in year 2, ~0.96875% in year 3, and so on).

• Ecosystem Incentive — 40%

Ecosystem incentives receive 40% (400 million $BTR) to foster growth through grants, bounties, investments, marketing, and acquisitions. 25% of these tokens are unlocked at TGE, and the remaining 75% vest linearly over 48 months, reaching full unlock at month 48.

• Liquidity — 3%

Liquidity provision is supported with 3% (30 million $BTR), which is fully unlocked at TGE.

• Public Distribution — 11%

Public distribution is allocated 11% (110 million $BTR). 79% of these tokens are unlocked at TGE. The remaining 21% undergo a 1-month cliff (no tokens released during this period) followed by 18 months of linear vesting, with full unlock at month 19.

• Treasury — 6%

The treasury receives 6% (60 million $BTR). 75% of these tokens are unlocked at TGE, and the remaining 25% vest linearly over 5 months, reaching full unlock at month 5.

• Investors and Advisors — 20.25%

Investors and advisors are allocated 20.25% (202.5 million $BTR). This portion has a 6-month cliff (no token release) and then vests linearly over 24 months. Full unlock is achieved at month 30.

• Core Team — 12%

A total of 12% (120 million $BTR) is allocated to the core team and contributors. This allocation is subject to a 24-month cliff, followed by linear vesting over 48 months. Tokens are fully unlocked at month 72.

Stay Tuned for More Updates

With this post, the Bitlayer Foundation has created a transparent resource to inform the community about the distribution of $BTR tokens. Any emission of tokens in the future will serve the primary purpose of growing the value of the protocol for all stakeholders.

Keep in mind that our TGE is merely the foundation for a long-term journey ahead. We reward loyalty and commitment, and we will only get stronger with time. Please make sure your seats and table trays are in an upright position, fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the racing ride!

Stay connected with us through our official channels to receive the latest updates.

Disclaimer

This material is provided solely for general informational purposes and does not constitute or form part of any offer, invitation, or solicitation to purchase or sell any securities, financial instruments, digital assets, or any other investment products, nor shall it be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as investment, legal, tax, or financial advice. You should not rely on any information presented as a substitute for your own independent judgment or the advice of professional advisors.

Participation in any digital asset-related activity involves significant risks, including but not limited to market volatility, loss of principal, technology failure, counterparty default, regulatory changes, and liquidity constraints. You may lose all or part of your digital assets, and past performance is not indicative of future results.

Bitlayer and its affiliates does not guarantee any returns or yield, and makes no warranties or representations, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. All product features, metrics, and forecasts are illustrative only and subject to change without notice. Users are solely responsible for ensuring that any use of or access to Bitlayer’s offerings is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations in their jurisdiction. Bitlayer and its affiliates expressly disclaim all liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising from the use of or reliance on this material.

You should consult your own legal, tax, financial, or other professional advisors before engaging in any digital asset-related activities.

About Bitlayer

Bitlayer is pioneering the first BitVM implementation. By merging unparalleled security with a lightning-fast smart contract engine, Bitlayer unlocks the full potential of Bitcoin DeFi.

Built on Bitcoin’s native security architecture, Bitlayer is constructing a trust-minimized BitVM Bridge, a yield-bearing asset YBTC and a high-throughput Bitcoin Rollup — bringing true utility, speed, and composability to Bitcoin, and establishing a complete DeFi infrastructure for the Bitcoin ecosystem.