Expanding Bitcoin's Role in Decentralized Finance

BTCFi is an emerging sector that transforms Bitcoin (BTC) from a passive store of value into an actively utilized asset in DeFi.

The decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape is continuing to evolve, with Bitcoin-centric solutions gaining momentum. BTCFi, or Bitcoin DeFi, is an emerging sector that aims to transform Bitcoin (BTC) from a passive store of value into an actively utilized asset in DeFi protocols.

A new report by Cointelegraph Research and Elastos explores how Bitcoin’s inherent security is being leveraged to create trustless, scalable financial ecosystems.

Bitcoin’s expanding role in DeFi

DeFi has traditionally been dominated by Ethereum, which accounts for over 50% of the sector’s total $175 billion total value locked (TVL). However, Bitcoin’s strengths in terms of security and liquidity make it an attractive foundation for DeFi innovation.

Despite its strengths, Bitcoin’s lack of native smart contract functionality has historically limited its role in decentralized finance. The emergence of Bitcoin-centric DeFi solutions aims to bridge this gap and enable Bitcoin holders to participate in lending, stablecoin issuance and crosschain interoperability without custodial risks.

Elastos: Merging Bitcoin's security with DeFi applications

Elastos stands out as one of the leading players in this evolution by incorporating merged mining, a method that allows secondary blockchains to inherit the security of Bitcoin's network.

Because approximately 50% of Bitcoin's total 800 EH/s hashrate secures Elastos, the platform is positioned as one of the most computationally robust Bitcoin-linked networks. This ensures that financial applications built on Elastos maintain a level of security comparable to that of Bitcoin itself.

At the core of Elastos's infrastructure is its Elastic Consensus model, a hybrid mechanism that combines auxiliary proof-of-work, bonded proof-of-stake, and proof-of-integrity.

This multi-layered approach enables Elastos to provide both secure and scalable financial services, further boosting its appeal for DeFi applications. The Elastos Smart Chain, an Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible sidechain, facilitates the development of decentralized applications (DApps) to ensure seamless integration with the broader DeFi ecosystem.

BeL2: A breakthrough for BTCFi

A major highlight of the report is the BeL2 Arbiter Network, designed to bring trustless Bitcoin transactions into DeFi. BeL2 leverages zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) to efficiently verify Bitcoin transactions on the Elastos and Ethereum networks without relying on centralized custodians.

This mechanism allows Bitcoin to be used in DeFi protocols without needing to create synthetic assets or engage intermediaries, overcoming a long-standing challenge in BTCFi.

This model has already attracted interest from institutional players. An initiative spearheaded by students and alumni of Harvard University is currently developing a BTC-backed stablecoin utilizing the BeL2 Network. Additionally, the platform supports decentralized lending scenarios that enable Bitcoin holders to collateralize loans in stablecoins while retaining exposure to BTC's price appreciation.

Elastos's market position and future potential

Elastos's BTCFi approach competes with existing solutions such as Stacks and Rootstock, each offering unique strengths. Stacks primarily benefits from inheriting Bitcoin finality, while Rootstock provides EVM compatibility. Elastos, on the other hand, combines high security (via merged mining) with crosschain interoperability, setting it apart in the BTCFi landscape.

However, the report also identifies some challenges that need to be addressed, including regulatory uncertainties, fostering greater ecosystem awareness and overcoming technical complexities. Despite these hurdles, Elastos's combination of Bitcoin security, trustless smart contract execution and institutional backing positions it for potential growth as the BTCFi sector continues to evolve.

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