?>

Beyond HODLing: How to Earn Passive Income with Bitcoin in DeFi

142 views

Earning a passive yield through DeFi lending and borrowing protocols such as Compound, MakerDAO, and Sumer.money is one of the efficient ways investors can fully optimize their idle crypto portfolios. 

However, while the DeFi market has opened up passive income opportunities, most of them are only compatible with Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchain networks. This explains why Ethereum currently accounts for more than half of the total value locked (TVL) across DeFi protocols: $52 billion, while the total across all blockchains stands at $90 billion. 

What about the investors who prefer to hold the digital gold, BTC? 

For context, Bitcoin’s price recently set a new all-time high of $73,000 following the excitement around spot ETF approvals by the U.S. SEC. And while the much-awaited halving did not have a significant boost on the price, longer term projections by experts and established banks show that BTC’s price could still surpass the $100,000 mark this year. 

That being the case, any investor who intends to hold BTC for a longer time frame ought to ask themselves this fundamental question; are there any opportunities to put the idle BTC to work through DeFi yield? 

BTC DeFi Yield Optimization 

In the earlier years of Bitcoin, the native token BTC operated solely on the Bitcoin blockchain, limiting investors to speculative gains that are purely dependent on price action. 

Luckily, siloed environments are no longer the norm for native crypto tokens; recent advancements in DeFi have made it possible to integrate one’s BTC with smart contract blockchain ecosystems, including Ethereum and Avalanche. 

Wrapped BTC 

Launched in 2019, Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) is an ERC-20 token that allows BTC users to leverage the Ethereum ecosystem. Technically, every WBTC is backed by an equivalent amount of BTC held by a central custodian (1:1). 

The process is quite simple. Let’s assume a user who owns 2 BTC wants to use their assets to tap into the yields available on Ethereum. This would mean sending the 2 BTC to a central entity or exchange such as BitGo, which will lock the BTC and, in turn, mint 2 WBTC that can be used on Ethereum’s DeFi ecosystem in various ways. This includes lending out the WBTC to earn interest and yield farming, among other DeFi operations. 

While a novel way to expose BTC to potential gains in the Ethereum network, the main shortcoming of this approach is that it involves centralized custodians. If history is a good teacher, even those that were the best at some point, including the infamous FTX exchange have reinforced the philosophy of ‘not your keys, not your crypto’. 

Currently, the total value locked (TVL) of WBTC is at $9.6 billion while the circulating supply stands at 155,304 BTC, according to Coingecko

Omni-Chain Synthetic Assets 

Multi-chain synthetic assets are another revolutionary way BTC holders can earn a passive income from DeFi protocols. The beauty about this approach is that one is not limited to a single DeFi ecosystem as is the case with WBTC. 

A good example in this case is the Sumer.money synthetic asset and money market protocol. Instead of locking up one’s BTC with a custodian, this omni-chain protocol is designed to facilitate seamless smart contract cross-chain communication. The protocol allows BTC users who want to explore the DeFi ecosystem to deposit their BTC on the native blockchain, after which it mints an equivalent amount of synthetic BTC (SuBTC). 

What particularly stands out is that, unlike most cross-chain solutions where an entirely new non-composable token is minted, Sumer.money SuBTC is fungible, meaning it can operate across all supported blockchain networks without losing any of its security characteristics or any significant price deviation. The concept is pretty similar to that of a credit card; it doesn’t matter which country one travels to, the funds in the credit card are liquid and spendable. 

Likewise, with synthetic BTC (SuBTC), it is possible to lend, trade, farm, or spend one’s Bitcoin across multiple DeFi chains in order to generate a passive income. 

BTC Bridging on Avalanche 

Bridging Bitcoin to the Avalanche blockchain is also an option for those looking to optimize the DeFi yields in this ecosystem. According to the latest data on Dune Analytics, the total supply of BTC.b as of writing is at around 3,310, which translates to a market capitalization of $209 million as per the prevailing BTC market prices. 

So, how does Avalanches BTC bridge work? Simply put, this smart contract network relies on a bridge address which handles the conversion process. A transaction is initiated on the Bitcoin Core, after which it is indexed by the bridge nodes. Once confirmed and verified, an application dubbed ‘SGX’ mints an equivalent amount of BTC.b. This token is what the user leverages to interact with Avalanche’s DeFi opportunities. 

Notably, BTC.b, unlike WBTC, uses a decentralized and non-custodial approach. However, it is also worth mentioning that bridged BTC.b is limited composability, which means tapping into DeFi opportunities outside the Avalanche ecosystem will require some more technical nuances. 

Conclusion  

Bitcoin is here to stay; with the big players in tradfi now onboard, it is only a question of when and not if more institutions will seek BTC exposure. For those who already own some BTC, the best way to optimize one’s portfolio is by putting it to work. 

Bitcoin coin symbol
Btc
Bitcoin
$62.547
price
red chart
decrease symbol0.84959%
price change
TRADE NOW

What better way to do so than DeFi yields? Of course, the process might be a little technical, but the most important thing is to get a hang of it early in the game. This way, one doesn’t have to worry about their digital assets sitting as idle capital. 

Previous

What’s Behind Ripple’s 50 Million XRP Transfer?

Next

Worldcoin at $4.7: Rising Daily Addresses Suggest May Bull Run Potential

Written by

Crypto News

@cryptonews

15945 posts

Read the latest Crypto news on Bitcoin, Altcoins, Blockchain, Web3 and Market updates. Stay informed with Crypto Adventure our daily news.

VIEW AUTHOR

More author posts

Bitcoin Price Holds Above $63,000 — Here’s The Next Critical Resistance Level

The Bitcoin price has been relatively quiet in October, but things seem to be looking up after the premier cryptocurrency broke the $63,000 mark on Saturday, October 12. However, the crypto has to scale a major resistance level if the current bull run is to get back on track. $64,000 The Resistance Level To Watch: Analyst In a Quicktake post on CryptoQuant, an analyst with the pseudonym ShayanBTC has put forward an interesting prognosis for the Bitcoin price in the…

Analyst Forecasts XRP Bullish Breakout – A 1,000% Opportunity?

XRP is currently testing a crucial resistance level that will shape its price action in the coming weeks. After the euphoria surrounding the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts in late September, the market is experiencing uncertainty and anxiety. While some investors remain optimistic, the recent price movements of XRP have led to a sense of caution.  Top crypto analyst Amonyx has shared insights into the potential for an unexpected XRP rally. In his analysis, he suggests that the altcoin might…

Analyst Sets $2.50 Target For SUI Following 30% Weekly Gain – Details

Sui (SUI) has been one of the most popular crypto assets of 2024, with notably high market gains and drastic price losses over the year. The altcoin is currently moving sideways following a recent price rally in the last week. As usual, these consolidative movements draw much speculation on the token’s next price action. SUI To Record ATH At $2.50, Analyst Says In an X post on Saturday, market analyst Michaël van de Poppe dropped a new price target for…

Active Dogecoin Addresses Reach Highest Level In 8 Months – Is DOGE About To Rally?

Dogecoin is currently in a consolidation phase following days of sharp volatility and wild price swings. Since the start of October, the meme coin has been trading within a tight sideways range, leaving some investors concerned about whether the anticipated rally for DOGE will ever materialize. The uncertainty in the market has heightened fears that Dogecoin’s price might stagnate further, as bullish momentum seems to have cooled off. However, new data from Santiment offers a glimmer of hope for DOGE…

Forget Dogecoin (DOGE), This New Crypto Will Make DOGE’s 2021 Rally Look Like a Joke

Trends are cyclical and while a few digital coins appeal to the general populace a little more than others, others fade away. Keeping in mind the latest trends, cryptocurrencies such as Dogecoin (DOGE) gained much popularity due to the social media ‘hype’ among clients and endorsements from celebrities, and in the year 2021, it reached its actual deep growth and surprising shots. Nevertheless, with the advancements in the crypto space, there is a new challenger ready and that can do…

This New Cheap Token Under $0.10 Is Set to Make Early Investors Rich, Just Like NEIRO Did Last Month

The field of cryptocurrency is one of the best business opportunities which are expanding rapidly today. So, one of the keys to earning good returns is the ability to concentrate on the area that is about to offer some very attractive investment prospects. All those investors who came to NEIRO last month got the benefit of this increase, changing their reasonable investments to good profits. Now, there is another crypto that is ready to serve similar purposes: Rexas Finance (RXS).…

Publish your own article

Guest post article. Guaranteed publishing with just a few clicks

START PUBLISHING ADVERTISE WITH US

Browse categories

Explore trending topics in the crypto community right now.

Bitcoin

SEC Greenlights Multiple Bitcoin ETFs, Signaling Major Leap for Cryptocurrency Markets

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has made a landmark decision by approving 11 spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This move represents a significant moment in the cryptocurrency industry, marking a shift towards greater institutional adoption and accessibility for investors. The approved ETFs include products from major firms such as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF, Bitwise Bitcoin ETP Trust, WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund, Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust, VanEck Bitcoin Trust, Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin…

Bitcoin Should be Banned in the United States: Charlie Munger

Berkshire Hathaway’s vice chairman, Charlie Munger, called for a ban on cryptocurrency in the United States on Monday, similar to the one in China.  In an op-ed published with the Wall Street Journal, Munger argued that Bitcoin isn’t a currency, commodity, or security, but simply a form of gambling “ with a nearly 100% edge for the house. As such, the enactment of a federal law should ban such things from happening. Munger cited the Chinese communist party’s ban on…

Tesla’s BTC Positions Remained Unchanged in Q4 of 2022

According to a new earning report from automotive manufacturer Tesla, the company did not sell any of its BTC holdings in the fourth quarter of 2022. Amid speculations that the company had traded BTC during the testing bears, CEO Elon Musk revealed it was yet holding on to its BTC stash. Tesla Maintains Holdings After Initial Sell-Off In Q2 of 2022, Tesla opted to sell 75% of all its BTC. The car manufacturer received close to $950M in exchange. Notably,…

Here’s When Grayscale Debates the SEC in Court on its Bitcoin Spot ETF

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has marked a date for when Grayscale and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may present oral arguments regarding the approval of a Bitcoin spot ETF.  Each side will present its case at 9:30 am ET on March 7, with the SEC arguing against the product, and Grayscale arguing in favor.  Grayscale VS SEC The court date – revealed in a court order filed on Monday according to CNBC – is much earlier…

MORE ARTICLES

Ethereum

Ethereum’s Zhejiang Staking Withdrawal Testnet for Shanghai is Live

At 15:00 UTC on Wednesday, the much-anticipated Zhejiang testnet for staking withdrawal went live on Ethereum’s Beacon chain. Zhejiang will enable the testing of the Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 4895 which allows for staking withdrawals. This is in preparation for the network’s next major update, the Shanghai hard fork slated to launch sometime in March. Users Can Make Simulated Withdrawals with Zhejiang In a tweet yesterday, DevOps engineer at Ethereum foundation Barnabas Busa gave details about the Zhejiang testnet slated…

Ethereum Devs Disagree Over Technical Tweak as Shanghai Upgrade Nears

Post-merge Ethereum users have been eagerly awaiting the commencement of the network’s next major upgrade, Shanghai. However, after over 3 months of prep time, it appears the Shanghai rollout isn’t going as smoothly as expected. What Exactly is the Shanghai Upgrade? In September last year, the much-publicized Ethereum Merge also known as the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade went live. Ethereum underwent some significant changes as its consensus mechanism transitioned from proof-of-work to a cost-efficient proof-of-stake system.  However, since the Beacon launch…

FTX Hacker Converts 50k Stolen ETH to BTC

Per a report from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis, the attacker behind the Nov 11 FTX exploit, is converting the stolen ETH to Bitcoin. There were muted fears the seemingly inexperienced perpetrator could dump all its ETH holdings. On Sunday, the attacker dumped 50k ETH on-chain, with ETH's price dipping by almost 7%.  https://twitter.com/chainalysis/status/1594349583416840199?s=20&t=pgvQHeVytI20eKQ1ls9bxw Hacker Moves 50,000 ETH to New Address Over the past week, the perpetrator had been steadily swapping the cryptocurrencies they had carted off for Ether tokens. This…

Censorship Concerns: 51% of Ethereum Blocks Now OFAC Compliant

According to new data, over half of the blocks on the Ethereum network now reportedly comply with the US Treasury OFAC’s standards. This comes roughly a month after the platform’s monumental merge update. Phasing Out Tornado Cash The Office of Foreign Assets Control is the intelligence and enforcement agency of the US  Treasury Department. Indeed, the OFAC administers and enforces US  financial sanctions. A prime example of this is the recent, highly-publicized ban on crypto mixer Tornado Cash.  According to…

MORE ARTICLES

Trading

How to Leverage Arbitrage Opportunities in Crypto Markets

Cryptocurrency arbitrage has become an increasingly popular investment strategy as the crypto market grows and evolves. Arbitrage involves taking advantage of pricing discrepancies between markets or exchanges to profit.  Investors can leverage profit opportunities by understanding cryptocurrency arbitrage while managing associated risks. In this guide, we'll explore cryptocurrency arbitrage and how it works. A Bitcoin-related example will help us illustrate the concepts of this strategy. What is Arbitrage and How Does it Work in Crypto Markets Crypto arbitrage trading is…

The Different Types of Copy Trading in Crypto

Are you interested in trading cryptocurrencies but feel intimidated by the complexity of the process? Copy trading is a great way to get into crypto without needing to be an experienced trader. With copy trading, investors can benefit from the experience and knowledge of more experienced traders, allowing even beginners to succeed. How does copy trading work, and which tips do you need to know to succeed? In this article, we'll explore all aspects of copy trading in crypto. What…

How to Spot an Unsafe Crypto Exchange

Cryptocurrency exchanges have become increasingly popular as they provide a platform for people to buy and sell digital assets. Unfortunately, not all crypto exchanges are safe or reliable.  With the rise of cybercrime and fraud, you must learn to spot an unsafe crypto exchange before investing your money. This guide will help beginners identify and avoid potential risks when selecting a cryptocurrency exchange.  The Role of Crypto Exchanges on the Digital Assets Market Cryptocurrency exchanges play a crucial role in…

What Is Grid Trading in Crypto?

Crypto grid trading has become a popular strategy because of its ability to help traders capitalize on market volatility. Grid trading means you can produce consistent profits by taking advantage of price differences in different markets or time frames. By establishing buy and sell orders at predetermined intervals, you can take advantage of these fluctuations in an automated way. This guide will explore the different aspects of grid trading and provide an overview of its benefits, challenges, and more. Through…

MORE ARTICLES

Tech

Introducing una Messenger: A Paradigm Shift in Blockchain Connectivity

The digital landscape is set for an unprecedented transformation with the introduction of una Messenger, the latest innovation from web3 development powerhouse Wemade. This platform represents an evolution of the "PAPYRUS Messenger," serving as the cornerstone of the ambitious "unagi" initiative, aimed at catalyzing the mass adoption of blockchain technology. The "Unbound Networking & Accelerating Growth Initiative" seeks to bridge the divides between diverse blockchain services and networks, heralding a new era of interconnectedness. A New Frontier in Blockchain Communication…

Bit2Me Champions WEMIX Token in Pioneering European Listing

Bit2Me, Spain's premier virtual asset exchange, has recently broadened the horizons for cryptocurrency enthusiasts by listing WEMIX, the cornerstone token of the WEMIX3.0 blockchain ecosystem. This marks a notable achievement as WEMIX's inaugural venture into the European market, emphasizing the token's role in facilitating a range of blockchain-based activities, from gaming transactions to decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Launched with the intention to democratize access to WEMIX for the 450 million Spanish speakers around the globe, this strategic move aligns with…

CryptoVirally Expands with Fresh Crypto Marketing Offers and Cointelegraph Upgrades

In an exciting update for the cryptocurrency marketing landscape, CryptoVirally has announced a series of new entries and enhancements to its already comprehensive range of services. These updates, aimed at providing tailored marketing solutions for crypto projects, include new limited-time offers and expanded options for Cointelegraph publications. Limited Offers: A Game-Changer in Crypto Marketing  CryptoVirally's limited offers section presents an enticing opportunity for crypto projects to leverage high-impact marketing services at discounted rates. These offers, available for a limited period,…

Breaking Boundaries in Blockchain: WEMIX’s ‘una Wallet’ Sets New Standard for Multi-Chain Asset Management

The WEMIX Foundation has unveiled 'una Wallet,' a revolutionary digital wallet designed to offer unparalleled convenience and security in managing digital assets across various blockchain networks. The announcement, made on January 17, 2024, signifies a new era in the seamless integration of multiple blockchain protocols, including Arbitrum, Avalanche, BNB Smart Chain, Ethereum, Kroma, Optimism, Polygon, and WEMIX3.0. 'una Wallet' is more than just a digital wallet; it represents the culmination of WEMIX's innovative efforts in the blockchain space. It serves…

MORE ARTICLES