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  • BTC staking platform Babylon teams up with Aave for Bitcoin-backed DeFi insurance

    BTC staking platform Babylon teams up with Aave for Bitcoin-backed DeFi insurance

    Babylon teams up with Aave for Bitcoin-backed DeFi insurance

    • Babylon and Aave partner to enable native BTC as collateral for DeFi lending.
    • BTC can now back decentralised insurance pools, earning yield if unused.
    • Users retain full control of their Bitcoin while accessing DeFi liquidity.

    In a groundbreaking move for the decentralised finance (DeFi) ecosystem, Bitcoin staking platform Babylon has announced a partnership with Aave, one of the largest decentralised lending protocols.

    The collaboration aims to allow Bitcoin (BTC) holders to use their native, unwrapped BTC as collateral for lending and to participate in a pioneering DeFi insurance model.

    This will reshape how Bitcoin interacts with DeFi, unlocking liquidity while maintaining the security that Bitcoin users expect.

    Native Bitcoin collateral comes to DeFi

    Traditionally, using Bitcoin in DeFi required wrapping it into a tokenised version such as WBTC, which introduced custodial risk and extra steps. Babylon’s partnership with Aave eliminates this barrier by enabling users to deposit their native BTC directly as collateral.

    Through Babylon’s trustless Bitcoin Vaults, BTC can be locked in a time-locked contract on its own blockchain and recognised by Aave’s hub-and-spoke lending architecture.

    This allows users to borrow stablecoins or other crypto assets while keeping full control of their Bitcoin keys.

    The move is expected to significantly expand BTC liquidity in DeFi. Currently, even the largest wrapped Bitcoin initiatives account for less than 1% of Bitcoin’s total market cap.

    Babylon’s own staking product secures over 56,000 BTC, demonstrating strong demand for productive uses of Bitcoin.

    By unlocking native BTC for lending, the partnership could bring a substantial portion of the dormant Bitcoin supply into productive DeFi applications, potentially transforming lending markets.

    DeFi insurance backed by Bitcoin

    Beyond lending, Babylon is preparing to extend its vaults into the insurance sector, a development that could redefine how DeFi protocols manage risk.

    The proposed model allows BTC holders to deposit their Bitcoin into decentralised insurance pools.

    These pools would serve as coverage against protocol hacks and other failures. Depositors earn yield if no claims occur, while the pool provides liquidity for payouts in the event of a validated exploit.

    This approach turns Bitcoin into a foundational asset for DeFi risk management, offering a new avenue for yield generation while safeguarding the ecosystem.

    Babylon co-founder David Tse told CoinDesk that the insurance initiative is still in development, with an official announcement expected in January 2026.

    Testing for the integrated BTC lending and insurance products is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with a broader rollout planned around April of the same year.

    The combination of Babylon’s secure vault design and Aave’s extensive liquidity network creates a framework that prioritises both safety and usability, a balance often missing in cross-chain and custodial solutions.

    Transforming Bitcoin’s role in DeFi

    This partnership addresses longstanding challenges in Bitcoin DeFi adoption.

    By removing the need for wrapped assets and custodial intermediaries, it reduces systemic risk while enabling Bitcoin holders to put their capital to work more efficiently.

    Users can participate in lending and insurance activities without relinquishing control of their Bitcoin, aligning with the core principles of security and decentralisation that have long defined the Bitcoin network.

    Experts in the space view this collaboration as a potential catalyst for broader adoption of BTC in decentralised applications.

    Unlocking even a small fraction of Bitcoin’s supply for lending and insurance could significantly deepen liquidity and reshape market dynamics.

    For the average user, it translates into safer, more streamlined, and more productive ways to generate yield from their holdings.

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  • Nasdaq-listed video-sharing platform Rumble invests $17.1M in Bitcoin (BTC)

    Nasdaq-listed video-sharing platform Rumble invests $17.1M in Bitcoin (BTC)

    Nasdaq-listed video-sharing platform Rumble invests $17.1M in Bitcoin (BTC)

    • Rumble bought 188 Bitcoin (BTC) for $17.1M, nearing its $20M goal.
    • Rumble’s CEO sees BTC as an inflation hedge and crypto tie-in.
    • Future Rumble BTC purchases depend on market and cash flow conditions.

    Rumble, a Nasdaq-listed video-sharing platform and cloud services provider trading under the ticker RUM, has purchased $17.1 million worth of Bitcoin (BTC).

    Rumble acquired approximately 188 BTC at an average price of $91,000 per coin, aligning with its previously disclosed plan to diversify its corporate treasury.

    The purchase is part of a broader treasury strategy outlined late last year, when Rumble revealed intentions to allocate up to $20 million of its cash reserves to Bitcoin. With this transaction, the company has nearly reached that cap, spending $17.1 million to bolster its holdings.

    CEO Chris Pavlovski emphasized the strategic value of the move in a press release shared with media houses, noting that Bitcoin serves as a hedge against inflation and remains immune to the dilution that plagues many government-issued currencies.

    For a company positioning itself as a key player in both video content and cloud services, this investment underscores a deliberate push into the crypto ecosystem.

    Rumble’s forays into crypto

    Rumble’s leadership views Bitcoin not just as a financial asset but as a cornerstone of its identity within the crypto community.

    Pavlovski highlighted the company’s excitement about officially holding BTC, suggesting it strengthens Rumble’s appeal as a platform for crypto enthusiasts. This sentiment builds on a $775 Million Strategic Investment from Tether, the leading stablecoin issuer, further solidifying its ties to the cryptocurrency industry.

    The BTC purchase, therefore, is less a standalone decision and more a continuation of Rumble’s evolving relationship with digital assets.

    Rumble’s journey into Bitcoin comes with a clear acknowledgment of the risks involved, as outlined in its forward-looking statements. The company cautioned that its actual results could differ from expectations due to Bitcoin’s price swings, regulatory hurdles, and its ability to sustain growth in a crowded market.

    Additional concerns include cybersecurity threats, reliance on third-party vendors for core services, and the challenge of maintaining advertiser relationships—issues that could complicate its ambitions. Despite these uncertainties, Rumble remains committed to its vision of weaving cryptocurrency into its operational DNA.

    Founded with a mission to counter the dominance of Big Tech by offering an independent infrastructure, Rumble sees its Bitcoin (BTC) investment as a natural extension of its ethos. The company, which also launched Rumble Cloud to diversify its offerings, is betting that embracing decentralized assets like BTC will resonate with its user base and bolster its financial resilience.

    As Pavlovski put it, this is about more than just treasury management—it’s about ingraining crypto into the company’s future.

    Whether this gamble pays off will depend on both Bitcoin’s trajectory and Rumble’s ability to navigate the unpredictable waters of tech and finance.

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  • Bitcoin staking platform Solv Protocol partners with Ethereum L2 Soneium

    Bitcoin staking platform Solv Protocol partners with Ethereum L2 Soneium

    Bitcoin staking platform Solv Protocol partners with Ethereum L2 Soneium

    • Solv Protocol has partnered with Soneium for BTC staking on Ethereum L2.
    • Following the partnership, SolvBTC holders can stake, earn rewards, and use advanced yield strategies.
    • Soneium’s $45M TVL and 47M transactions boost DeFi growth with Solv.

    The world of decentralized finance continues to evolve, and a new partnership between Solv Protocol and Soneium is pushing the boundaries of what Bitcoin can achieve. Announced on March 6, 2025, this collaboration brings Bitcoin staking to Soneium, an Ethereum layer 2 blockchain supported by Japan’s Sony Group.

    By integrating these two platforms, users can now explore fresh opportunities to earn rewards and tap into cross-chain liquidity, blending Bitcoin’s stability with Ethereum’s expansive DeFi ecosystem.

    Solv Protocol, a platform dedicated to Bitcoin staking, is at the heart of this development. It allows users to deposit Bitcoin and receive SolvBTC, a token pegged 1:1 to Bitcoin’s value.

    Through this partnership, SolvBTC holders can stake their assets on Soneium, opening the door to passive income while maintaining Bitcoin’s core value proposition. This move reflects a growing trend among investors seeking ways to make their Bitcoin work harder beyond simply holding or trading it.

    Enhancing Bitcoin’s DeFi potential

    A standout feature of this collaboration is the introduction of SolvBTC Liquid Staking Tokens, or SolvBTC.LSTs. These tokens enable advanced yield strategies, giving Bitcoin users greater flexibility and scalability in their investments.

    With this setup, staking becomes more than just a way to earn rewards—it transforms into a tool for unlocking sophisticated financial opportunities across multiple blockchains. The partnership leverages Solv’s innovative Staking Abstraction Layer, a system designed to simplify the staking process across various networks.

    This abstraction layer is a game-changer for Bitcoin holders. It lowers the technical barriers that often keep users from participating in DeFi, making it easier to engage with decentralized applications.

    By bridging Bitcoin (BTC) to Soneium, Solv Protocol is effectively extending the cryptocurrency’s utility, allowing it to play a more active role in the fast-growing world of decentralized finance.

    Notably, the timing of this partnership couldn’t be better. As Bitcoin staking gains popularity, more investors are looking for ways to generate passive income from their holdings. Solv Protocol and Soneium are meeting this demand head-on, offering a solution that’s both accessible and forward-thinking.

    While specifics about future plans remain under wraps, both teams have hinted at additional innovations to come, signaling that this is just the beginning of Bitcoin’s deeper integration into DeFi.

    Soneium’s rising star in DeFi

    Soneium, launched in August 2024 by Sony Block Solutions Labs and web3 firm Startale, has quickly made a name for itself. Built as a high-performance Ethereum layer 2 solution, it’s designed to power creative and efficient decentralized applications.

    As of March 6, 2025, the network boasts a total value locked of $63.16 million across 19 dApps, according to DefiLlama data. Its rapid growth is evident in the 47 million transactions processed and the 4 million active addresses it has attracted in just a few months.

    The platform hosts some of the most dynamic DeFi projects in the space, including decentralized exchanges like Kyo Finance, Velodrome, and Sonex.

    Soneium’s infrastructure is tailored to handle the demands of modern DeFi, offering speed and scalability that complement Solv Protocol’s ambitions. Together, they’re creating an environment where Bitcoin users can seamlessly integrate with cutting-edge financial tools.

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  • Fundraising platform JustGiving accepts over 60 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum

    Fundraising platform JustGiving accepts over 60 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum

    • JustGiving now accepts over 60 cryptocurrencies for people to donate with
    • 94% of crypto users are Millennials and Generation Z
    • More than $2 billion has been donated to charitable causes over the past five years

    UK-based fundraising platform JustGiving is teaming up with The Giving Block, a digital asset company, to start accepting crypto donations.

    JustGiving now allows users to donate in more than 60 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and Doge, according to a report from UK Fundraising. The move comes as the crypto market is experiencing a surge in value, with Bitcoin recording a new all-time high of over $94,000 yesterday on CoinMarketCap.

    According to JustGiving’s website, over the past 24 years, the fundraising platform has raised $7.2 billion (£6 billion) and is trusted by thousands of charities worldwide, including the Alzheimer’s Society, the British Heart Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support, and Mind.

    Pascale Harvie, President and General Manager of JustGiving, said:

    “In recent years there has been a surge in the use of cryptocurrencies and our decision to enable cryptocurrency donations is the latest demonstration of our commitment to forward-thinking innovation.”

    Tapping into a tech-savvy demographic is also key. According to JustGiving, 94% of crypto users are Millennials and Gen Z.

    Alex Wilson, co-founder of The Giving Block, said that “charities need to tap into this new donor demographic,” adding:

    “580 million people now use cryptocurrency around the world and the market is worth nearly $3 trillion. Our goal is to make accepting cryptocurrency donations just as easy as taking any other online donations.”

    In a 2024 Annual Report from The Giving Block, it noted that more than $2 billion has been donated to charitable causes over the past five years.

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  • Stripe acquires stablecoin platform Bridge for $1.1 billion

    Stripe acquires stablecoin platform Bridge for $1.1 billion

    • Stripe has closed a $1.1 billion acquisition of stablecoin firm Bridge
    • The company re-established support for crypto payments in April, adding USDC on Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon in October 2024

    Stripe has completed the acquisition of Bridge, a stablecoin platform that helps companies and businesses accept payments in stablecoins.

    According to TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington, Stripe’s deal for Bridge is valued at $1.1 billion and is the fintech company’s largest to date. The TechCrunch founder shared the news via X.

    Stripe’s acquisition of Bridge comes after reports of talks for a deal surfaced last week. This also comes after Stripe, which has recently increased its visibility in the crypto space with recent deals such as TaxJar and Lemon Squeezy, unveiled its latest crypto-focused feature.

    The ‘Pay with Crypto’ feature, which integrates Paxos, allows companies to add stablecoins to their checkout systems. It’s a step that has also seen several other platforms partner to bring stablecoin payments to more businesses.

    Stripe had previously halted crypto payments in 2018 before making a re-entry in April 2024. Stripe also partnered with Coinbase to integrate Base, a layer-2 network, in June. In July, the fintech expanded its crypto product to the European Union.

    The most recent milestone saw Stripe re-introduce crypto payments with USDC on Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon.

    Meanwhile, entrepreneurs Sean Yu and Zach Abrams unveiled Bridge in 2022. The platform raised $58 million from venture capital investors, with $40 million secured during a Series A round at a valuation of $200 million.

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  • P2P platform LocalBitcoins is shutting down

    P2P platform LocalBitcoins is shutting down

    • LocalBitcoins to shut down peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto platform
    • Finland-based Bitcoin trading service has been in operation for over 10 years.
    • The team cites a difficult crypto winter for the reason the exchange is calling it a day.

    LocalBitcoins, a peer-to-peer (P2P) cryptocurrency exchange that counts as one of the oldest crypto platforms in the world, has announced that it is shutting down.

    LocalBitcoins shuts down following crypto winter

    A notification the Finland-based P2P platform sent to customers on Thursday says services will be discontinued beginning 9 February 2023, with customers then having up to 12 months to withdraw their funds.

    Per the LocalBitcoins team, the decision to shut down the Bitcoin trading service relates to the challenges that have befallen the crypto market amid a “very cold crypto winter.”

    “Regardless of our efforts to overcome challenges during the ongoing very cold crypto-winter, we have regretfully concluded that LocalBitcoins can no longer provide its Bitcoin trading service,” the P2P trading provider noted.

    Customers are thus being encouraged to withdraw their funds from the exchange, and although LocalBitcoins will make this process available for the next twelve months, it has advised that customers begin doing so immediately.

    The shutdown starts with a halt to new sign ups as from today, 9 February 2023, while trading will be suspended on 16 February 2023. The platform will also discontinue its wallet next week, with only withdrawals allowed.

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