Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) is an Ethereum token that is intended to represent Bitcoin (BTC) on the Ethereum blockchain. It is not Bitcoin, but rather a separate ERC-20 token that’s designed to track Bitcoin’s value. WBTC was created to allow Bitcoin holders to participate in decentralized finance (“DeFi”) apps that are popular on Ethereum. Through a WBTC partner, 1 Bitcoin can be exchanged for 1 Wrapped Bitcoin, and vice-versa. The BTC that backs WBTC is verifiable through a “proof of reserve” system that verifies the 1:1 backing between minted WBTC tokens and Bitcoin stored by custodians. WBTC is maintained by a group called the WBTC DAO that consists of over 30 members. It was originally started by BitGo, Ren, and Kyber.
What is Wrapped Bitcoin?
Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) is a tokenized version of Bitcoin (BTC) that operates on the Ethereum (ETH) blockchain. It adheres to the ERC-20 standard, which is the basic compatibility standard of the Ethereum blockchain. This compatibility allows WBTC to be fully integrated into Ethereum's ecosystem, including decentralized exchanges, crypto lending services, prediction markets, and other ERC-20-enabled decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. WBTC is backed by Bitcoin at a 1:1 ratio through a network of automatically monitored merchants and custodians. This aims to ensure that its price is pegged to Bitcoin and allows users to transfer liquidity between the BTC and ETH networks in a decentralized and autonomous manner.
How does Wrapped Bitcoin work?
The creation of Wrapped Bitcoin brings Bitcoin into the world of Ethereum's DeFi ecosystem. When users want to convert BTC into WBTC, the to-be-converted BTC is held by a custodian, who participates in the actual minting and burning of Ethereum-based tokens. When WBTCs are burned, the user can reclaim their BTC balance from the custodian. During minting, users send BTC to the custodian for storage and receive an equivalent in WBTC tokens. The user who wants to swap between WBTC and BTC performs a trade to move funds to the merchant. Once finalized, the user can use their BTC/WBTC as they see fit. If WBTC is converted to BTC, the associated Wrapped Bitcoin balance will be destroyed through a burn transaction.
What are the potential use cases for Wrapped Bitcoin?
As Wrapped Bitcoin tokens adhere to the ERC-20 token standard, they can be used across the broader Ethereum ecosystem. This includes trading them on decentralized exchanges and exploring decentralized finance opportunities through protocols and platforms supporting WBTC. DeFi opportunities for WBTC range from lending and borrowing to yield farming, token swapping, and liquidity pools. Various protocols and platforms support Wrapped Bitcoin. Using WBTC as collateral for a crypto-backed loan can be an option for businesses. Additionally, WBTC holders may receive compensation from supplying liquidity. Another potential use case for WBTC is in margin trading, where Wrapped Bitcoin may be used to trade Ethereum, stablecoins, and other ERC-20 tokens.
What is the history of Wrapped Bitcoin?
Wrapped Bitcoin was first announced on October 26, 2018, and officially launched on January 31, 2019. The Wrapped Tokens project, of which WBTC is a part, is a joint project of three organizations: BitGo, Kyber Network, and Ren. BitGo, co-founded in 2013 by American computer scientist and entrepreneur Mike Belshe, is an institutional digital asset custody, trading, and financial services firm. Kyber Network is an on-blockchain liquidity protocol that enables the integration of different cryptocurrency tokens and DeFi applications. It was founded in 2017 by Loi Luu, Victor Tran, and Yaron Velner. Ren is a company focused on cross-blockchain integration of cryptocurrency assets and DeFi applications via solutions such as RenBridge, RenVM, and others. It was founded in 2017 by Taiyang Zhang and Loong Wang.
