Circle unveiled 'cirBTC', a token backed 1:1 with the world's largest cryptocurrency to allow users to utilise their bitcoin wealth in DeFi protocols.
Circle unveiled cirBTC, a token backed 1:1 by the world's largest cryptocurrency, to allow traders to use their bitcoin wealth in DeFi protocols. Circle's wrapped version of bitcoin is live on Ethereum as the stablecoin company takes on Coinbase for dominance of the synthetic BTC market.
Circle is pitching cirBTC to institutions that focus their crypto allocation on bitcoin and may be familiar with Circle and trust its infrastructure because of its position in the stablecoin market. Total synthetic bitcoin market cap hovers between $12.5 billion and $13.5 billion, demonstrating it is still a niche area.as the company best known for its dollar-pegged stablecoin takes on Coinbase for dominance of the synthetic BTC market.
The New York-based firm said it developed cirBTC, a token backed 1:1 by the world's largest cryptocurrency, to allow traders to access their bitcoin wealth in decentralized finance protocols, including lending, decentralized exchange , tokenized assets and stablecoins. Synthetic, or wrapped, bitcoin tokens exist to address the historical lack of provision for DeFi activities on the Bitcoin network.
Many cryptocurrency users prefer to hold only bitcoin because it is, was introduced in 2019 and remains the largest, with a market cap of around $7.3 billion. Coinbase's cbBTC, which appeared in 2024, sits at just under $5.4 billion. Circle is pitching cirBTC to institutions that may focus their crypto allocation on BTC and are familiar with the company and trust its infrastructure due to its visibility in the stablecoin market.
Circle's USDC is theThe introduction of cirBTC could see Circle going head to head with Coinbase and wBTC's primary custodian, BitGo Holdings , for dominance of the institutional synthetic BTC market. The market cap of all synthetic bitcoin tokens combined hovers between $12.5 billion and $13.5 billion, representing about 1% of bitcoin's total value of around $1.25 trillion.
Cardless and Coinbase are introducing a payment card that lets stablecoin holders use their crypto as collateral when they cannot qualify for a traditional unsecured credit card. Applicants set aside a portion of their USDC holdings on Coinbase as collateral, continue to earn yield on those sequestered assets and pay...
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ethereum (ETH) News: Foundation cuts and departures aren't a crisis, Joe Lubin saysThe Consensys CEO told CoinDesk that the Ethereum Foundation's role should be narrower and more focused on stewarding the network's core technology and values.
Read more »
Sean Ono Lennon On ‘ThreeASFOUR: Full Circle’ As His Directorial Debut Set For Tribeca PremiereSean Ono Lennon's directorial debut 'ThreeASFOUR: Full Circle‘ on the avant-garde New York fashion collective debuts at Tribeca Festival Sunday.
Read more »
Ethereum news: Tom Lee's Bitmine (BMNR) bought the dip, acquiring 126,971 ETH as prices tankedThe company bought 126,971 ETH last week, worth roughly $214 million at current prices, despite chairman Tom Lee's earlier calls to slow purchases.
Read more »
Coinbase (COIN) and Cardless unveil credit card backed by stablecoinsThe stablecoin-secured card is for situations where a credit card cannot be approved on an unsecured basis.
Read more »




