When Bitcoin first appeared, its mission was simple: create a decentralized alternative to traditional finance. Over time, it became the world’s most trusted store of value, but not without limits. While DeFi exploded on other blockchains, Bitcoin largely remained on the sidelines. During the Korea Blockchain Week 2025, Bit Layer stood out as one of the projects that wanted to change that.
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In this interview, we spoke with Charlie Hu, a key figure in the Bitcoin ecosystem and one of the driving forces behind Bit Layer, a project that is redefining how Bitcoin connects to the rest of the blockchain world.
Introduction to bit layer
As Bitcoin continues to dominate the conversation about valuable assets, a new wave of builders is emerging to unlock the future. Bit Layer is at the forefront of this movement, reimagining how Bitcoin can interact with the broader DeFi landscape. By introducing a framework that allows Bitcoin liquidity to flow seamlessly across ecosystems, the project aims to empower users to do more than just hold.
Charlie Hu is one of the key founders of the BV alliance and has been building BVM innovations since 2023. With major ecosystem partners like Ethereum and Solana, Charlie bridges the gap between Bitcoin maximums and return opportunities.
“We have tried to activate many Bitcoiners to explore on-chain return opportunities with DeFi.”
Charlie Hu, founding member of the BV Alliance
How Bit Layer Delivers Sustainable Returns on Bitcoin
When chasing returns in crypto, the first question any serious investor should ask is simple. Where does the revenue actually come from? For years, unsustainable models and bloated reward systems have plagued the industry, often relying on token emissions or short-term hype rather than real economic activity. Bit Layer takes a fundamentally different approach.
To achieve this, Bit Layer strategically partners with some of the most trusted and efficient DeFi protocols in ecosystems. This approach allows them to find a sweet spot, where Bitcoiners are truly incentivized to bet, but without the unrealistic, sky-high APYs that often raise red flags. Instead of chasing high returns, users can earn stable, transparent rewards powered by real usage and productive liquidity.
“We have built two products, the YBDC as Bitcoin yield-bearing assets, and we are looking for lots of blue chip DeFi yields from the best lending and the best AMM DEXs.”
Charlie Hu, founding member of the BV Alliance
At the heart of any cross-chain ecosystem lies one of the most critical and often misunderstood components in crypto: the bridge. A bridge allows digital assets to be moved from one blockchain to another, unlocking access to new protocols, liquidity pools and return opportunities. But that flexibility comes with risks. Poorly designed bridges have historically been some of the biggest attack vectors in crypto, leading to billions in lost funds across the industry.
Bit Layer approaches bridging with security as the first principle. Rather than rushing to enable every possible connection, the team focused on building a robust framework that protects users’ Bitcoin at every stage of the process. By integrating with proven DeFi infrastructures and enforcing strict validation mechanisms, Bit Layer ensures that every cross-chain transaction is both verifiable and tamper-proof.
Exciting developments are coming for Bit Layer
As the conversation began to wrap up, Charlie was excited to announce some upcoming developments for Bit Layer. To start, he said that they are working with one of the largest Bitcoin treasury companies in the United States. This partnership validates their return-bearing approach and more major companies are expected to follow soon. It is a small pilot project, but certainly a step forward in the right direction.
“We are officially partnering with one of the largest Bitcoin treasury companies in the United States.”
Charlie Hu, founding member of the BV Alliance
As Bit Layer continues to scale its infrastructure and expand cross-chain integrations, Charlie shares that the team is preparing for a new round of investors to help accelerate development. The goal is not just capital. It is strategic alignment. Bit Layer wants to bring in partners who understand the long game of building sustainable yield systems around Bitcoin and can contribute both technical expertise and ecosystem reach.
With this next phase of funding, the team plans to strengthen its partnerships within DeFi networks, refine the layers of security within the bridging protocol, and onboard more Bitcoin holders for productive on-chain use cases. It’s a continuation of the same vision that started it all, connecting the unparalleled trust of Bitcoin with the innovation and possibilities of decentralized finance.
It’s still early days for the Bitcoin ecosystem and Bit Layer is positioned to lead this next chapter of growth. As more builders, investors and users see the potential of unlocking Bitcoin’s liquidity through a secure, yield-driven infrastructure, Bit Layer stands ready to guide that transition. By combining deep technical innovation with a pragmatic approach to sustainability, the team is laying the foundation for Bitcoin’s evolution from a passive store of value to a truly active player within the DeFi economy.
Final thoughts
For years, Bitcoin has remained the gold standard for decentralized finance because it is secure, trusted, and immutable. However, its isolation from the rest of the blockchain world has long been a barrier to innovation. The question was never about the value of Bitcoin, but about its usefulness.
That’s where Bit Layer steps in. By unlocking access to DeFi without compromising Bitcoin’s core integrity, the team solves one of crypto’s most persistent challenges: how to run idle BTC safely and efficiently. Through a modular infrastructure and strategic partnerships with leading ecosystems, Bit Layer transforms Bitcoin from a static asset into a dynamic participant in decentralized finance.
