In our latest Learn 101 livestream session, we gathered an esteemed panel of crypto experts to share insights on Hamster Kombat.

 uses a tap-to-earn mechanism that lets users collect crypto tokens. 

 is up to and learn about its plans for the future.

 livestreams, offering you comprehensive expertise and insights from leading figures in the crypto industry in case you missed the livestream.

Joining the livestream on Oct 8, 2024 were four distinguished guests:

Under the moderation of Sabrina Chua, Crypto Evangelist and SEO Editor at Bybit, this episode explores the success behind 

and how it affects the next wave of crypto games.

Unlocking Hamster Kombat: A New Paradigm in Gaming

The livestream panel started off by exploring just what makes 

s design fulfills a unique niche in the crypto space. It's entertaining yet easy to participate in, so everyone from casual gamers to serious investors can enjoy it. Grant also mentioned that much of 

s success is due to its partnerships. In addition to being able to use the helpful infrastructure of Telegram, the 

 team also puts a lot of effort into working with viral content creators and increasing the game’s name recognition on social media.

Michele and Idriss also chimed in to provide some perspective from the user and developer side of things. Idriss explained that there’s growing demand for earning passive income in the web3 space, which 

 is able to provide. Michele highlighted that 

s ease of use allows it to onboard new gamers in a way that many other projects have failed to do. The panel agreed that 

 has helped launch a new sector of gaming that focuses on casual, mobile phone gamers.

The livestream guests also discussed the importance of partnering with investors and major exchanges such as Bybit, explaining that these partnerships are essential because they build audience trust and provide consumers with stability. Grant added that he believes that a business needs to seek out investors at an early stage because it’s one of the best ways to grow and expand its audience.

After exploring the mechanics and design of 

 the panel moved on to taking a more in-depth look at the project's future. Sabrina encouraged the guest speakers to consider how 

can capitalize on its momentum, and the panel discussed which new trends might be incorporated into the game.

Idriss raised the concept that NFT integration and competitive gameplay would be particularly useful for building the 

community. Michele also mentioned some relevant points regarding 

 ability to function as a media company, explaining that, due to its impressive position within the industry, 

 can take on a major role in developing future crypto games.

Geezee cited WeChat gaming trends to support his theory that constant innovation and more in-depth mechanics will help 

maintain its user base's interest. This position was also supported by Grant, who added that 

 is looking to roll out some new mechanics within the next three to six months. Its team’s aim is to find more fun ways for users to play games within the 

 ecosystem without eliminating the simple, instantly understandable storytelling that has attracted so many users in the first place. 

s future also inspired the livestream panel to look at broader industry applications. As Sabrina pointed out, the popularity and accessibility of such games makes it easy to involve more people in the crypto community. 

 and other similar games could also interest more people in the Telegram app’s features. Furthermore, Grant and Idriss agreed that projects like 

 can even serve as educational tools to explain crypto’s inner workings. 

Geezee highlighted the importance of fun in gaming. He believes that the main message of 

s success is that an audience wants entertaining games, not just games in which they can earn crypto and invest in assets. 

Michele's main interest is in the development potential for the entire web3 space. Much as social media has gotten a lot of people invested in the Web 2.0 internet, Michele believes that games like 

 could open the door to other web3 services and tools. 

Ultimately, even if each member of the livestream panel focuses on a different area, they all agree that 

 has helped to launch a whole new type of innovation. Eventually, the trends that

 has promoted could lead to an explosion of new technology for both crypto projects and mobile gaming software. 

 livestream provided valuable insights into web3 trends, with the ensuing discussion showcasing the importance of fun, convenient gaming — and offering some tips on what makes a project succeed.

As part of the livestream, Bybit is holding 

 that offers you a chance to participate in our pop quiz and win a share of the 35,000 HMSTR prize pool. The event period is through Oct 15, 2024, 8AM UTC.

Stay tuned for more discussions on the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies!

Intermediate

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Learn Live ICYMI: Hamster Kombat Breakthrough

The Global AI Crypto Trading Bot Market was valued at $21.69 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach $145.27 million by 2029.

If you don’t know anything about crypto investment but want to get started, then Bybit’s trading bots might be an excellent choice. As the cryptocurrency market evolves, more investors are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and automated tools to simplify their investment strategies. This shift isn’t just a trend — it reflects a growing need for efficient, data-driven decision-making in a highly volatile market.

 was valued at $21.69 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach $145.27 million by 2029, witnessing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37.2% during the forecast period of 2023–2029.

 This rise is primarily being driven by the desire for better investment outcomes without the need for extensive trading knowledge. Automated crypto trading allows investors to leverage sophisticated algorithms to analyze market trends and execute trades at lightning speeds that would be nearly impossible for a human trader.

For beginners, these tools offer an accessible entry point into the complex world of cryptocurrency

. With Bybit, beginners and all users can engage in easy crypto investing by setting their preferences and letting the bots manage the rest. This not only saves time, but also mitigates the emotional stress often associated with trading.

AI is revolutionizing how investors approach the market. In utilizing advanced machine learning (ML) techniques, trading bots can adapt to changing market conditions and optimize trading strategies in real time

By embracing technology, even those new to cryptocurrency can participate in the market with confidence, equipped with tools that were once reserved for seasoned professionals.

In conclusion, integrating AI and automated trading tools — such as Bybit’s assortment of trading bots — represents a significant leap forward in making cryptocurrency accessible. For those looking to navigate this dynamic landscape, these technologies offer a pathway to informed and strategic investing.

Bybit has established itself as a leading platform for automated crypto trading, one that caters to both seasoned investors and newcomers. This one-stop platform offers an array of powerful trading tools designed to simplify the investment process and maximize potential returns. Whether you’re looking to enhance your trading strategy or dive into the world of crypto for the first time, Bybit’s comprehensive suite of tools has something for everyone.

Advantages of Preconfigured Code-Free Bots

One of the standout features of Bybit trading tools is their availability of preconfigured code-free bots. This means you don’t need to have a background in programming or extensive trading knowledge to benefit from automated trading. These user-friendly bots allow crypto bots for beginners to easily set up and customize their trading strategies with just a few clicks.

Moreover, using these automated tools minimizes human error and emotionally influenced trading, ensuring that your strategy is consistently executed. Investors can focus on refining their strategies and monitoring their performance without getting bogged down by the technical aspects of coding and market analysis.

In summary, Bybit’s trading tools empower users to harness the power of automated strategies, making it easier than ever to engage in crypto trading. Whether you're exploring with the Bybit bot for the first time or looking to optimize your existing strategies, Bybit provides the resources you need to succeed in the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies.

Bybit offers a variety of trading bots, each designed to cater to different investment strategies and risk appetites. Let’s take a closer look at the key bots available on the platform.

 is designed to capitalize on price volatility by placing buy and sell orders within a defined price range. This bot creates a grid of orders at set intervals, automatically executing trades when the market price fluctuates within that range. For instance, as the price of a cryptocurrency moves up or down, the Grid Bot will buy low and sell high, effectively profiting from market swings. This strategy is particularly effective in sideways markets, where price movements are frequent but not necessarily directional. By maintaining a consistent trading rhythm, the Grid Bot can help investors take advantage of opportunities without having to constantly monitor the market.

 embodies a disciplined investment approach, making it an excellent choice for those looking to steadily build their portfolios. This bot automates regular, consistent investments in a specific cryptocurrency, allowing users to avoid the stress of trying to 

. By purchasing a fixed dollar amount at set intervals — whether daily, weekly or monthly — the DCA Bot helps mitigate the risks associated with price volatility. This strategy not only smooths out the effects of market fluctuations, but also encourages a long-term investment mindset, making it a favored option for both beginners and conservative investors.

 employs a high-risk, high-reward strategy that may appeal to more aggressive traders. This bot operates on the principle of doubling down on losing trades to recover losses and potentially generate profits. When a trade results in a loss, the Martingale Bot automatically increases the investment size for the next trade. While this strategy can lead to significant gains when the market turns favorable, it also carries the risk of substantial losses during prolonged downturns. As such, it’s crucial for investors to approach this bot with caution and an understanding of their 

The Futures Combo Bot is an innovative tool designed to streamline your futures trading experience. It enables users to construct portfolios that comprise multiple futures contracts, and automatically rebalance positions to maintain preset ratios of various contracts despite market movements. Futures Combo ensures that the portfolio aligns with the user’s strategy, providing greater flexibility in executing users’ strategies in various market conditions. 

When considering which Bybit trading bot to use, it's important to compare them based on various factors, including market type, risk and liquidity.

: Typically used in the spot market, the Grid Bot thrives in environments with 

. Bybit offers both futures and spot grid bots.

: Also suitable for the spot market, this trading bot is ideal for 

long-term investments and consistent portfolio growth

: Primarily utilized in futures trading, the Martingale Bot is geared toward 

. The Martingale Bot can help you double down on your investments and quickly recoup early losses.

: Typically used in all market conditions to rebalance your portfolio. 

: Generally low-to-moderate risk, as it capitalizes on market fluctuations without taking large positions.

: Considered a safer option, as it promotes a steady investment approach and minimizes the risk of significant losses.

: Considered high-risk, due to its actively increasing investment sizes on losses, which can lead to rapid capital depletion if not managed properly.

: Depends. If you use Future Combo Bot primarily for portfolio rebalancing, it is considered lower risk. If you use Future Combo Bot with high leverage to bet on differences in token performance, the risks might increase.

: More suitable for investors seeking consistent returns, as it benefits from frequent trades within a defined range.

: Ideal for low-risk, consistent investors who prefer a hands-off approach to building their portfolios over time.

: Attracts those looking for high returns, but it requires careful monitoring and a robust 

: Depends. It fits risk-averse investors who use it for portfolio rebalancing. It also suits investors who adopt long-short strategies.

In summary, understanding the characteristics of each bot can help investors determine which Bybit bot is best for their individual trading style and risk appetite. A thorough comparison of the Bybit bots ensures that investors can effectively align their strategies with their financial goals.

How to Get Started With Bybit’s Trading Bots (Illustrated With DCA Strategy)

 in the navigation bar to enter the Bybit Trading Bot page. 

If you've previously created Bybit trading bots, you can view the 

: Create your DCA bot with the following parameters:

: Select the coin* you’re investing in.

 that once you’ve selected a coin (USDT or USDC), all transactions will be paid for in the selected coin.

: Select the coin you wish to purchase** and enter the corresponding investment amount.

** You can select up to five coins for a DCA bot by clicking on 

: Set your preferred investment frequency.

 investment amount for DCA bot (optional): Enter the maximum investment amount*** that a DCA bot can invest.

*** • Please ensure that the maximum investment amount you’ve entered is greater than the total investment amount.

 • If the total investment amount triggers the maximum investment amount, the DCA bot will automatically terminate, and all assets will be transferred to your Funding Account.

: Each fixed investment amount is subject to both the minimum and maximum order value per transaction in the Spot market. For more information, please refer to 

:You can check the available balance in your Funding Account in the 

 section. Based on the available balance in your Funding Account, the system calculates an estimated auto-purchase count. If you need to transfer funds to your Funding Account, please click on 

Step 4: Please double-check the DCA bot information you’ve created, and then click on 

Your DCA bot has successfully been created!

Please note that your first DCA investment starts when you’ve successfully created your DCA bot.

, the page will automatically redirect to 

 in the upper right corner of the DCA bot you want to view in order to explore more information, including Position Overview, Total APR, Average Buy Price, Executed Quantity and more.

Alternatively, you can view the details of your running DCA bots — such as Coin, Total Investment, Total P&L and Total APR — under 

 page, you can view the Total Equity and Unrealized P&L of your trading bots (Spot Grid Bot and/or DCA Bot).

Benefits and Risks of Using Bybit Trading Bots

 offers a range of benefits and potential risks that every investor should understand before diving into automated trading.

: One of the most significant advantages of using crypto bots is the time they save. By automating trades, these bots allow investors to engage in the market without the need for constant monitoring. This is particularly beneficial for busy individuals who want to participate in cryptocurrency trading, but lack the time to analyze charts and manually execute their trades.

: Trading decisions driven by emotions can lead to impulsive actions that negatively impact investment outcomes. Bybit trading bots operate based on predefined algorithms, eliminating the emotional component from trading. This disciplined approach ensures that strategies are executed consistently, reducing the likelihood of making decisions based on 

: Trading tools like the DCA Bot promote a systematic investment strategy by automating regular purchases. This consistency allows investors to build their portfolios over time without the stress of timing the market. Regular, automated investments can lead to a more robust long-term strategy, particularly in a volatile market.

While the advantages of using trading bots are compelling, there are also notable risks to consider, as follows.

: The high-risk nature of the Martingale Bot cannot be overstated. This bot's strategy of doubling down on losing trades can lead to substantial losses during prolonged market downturns. If the market continues to move against the investor, there’s a significant risk of capital depletion and liquidation, especially in futures trading, which involves leverage.

: Trading in futures can amplify gains, but it also increases the risk of liquidation. If your account balance falls below the required margin due to adverse market movements, positions can automatically be closed, resulting in significant losses. Therefore, understanding the mechanics of futures trading and the implications of using bots in this context are crucial for risk management.

Importance of Understanding Market Trends

In order to effectively utilize trading bots, it’s vital for investors to have a solid understanding of market trends. Automated strategies can only be as effective as the underlying assumptions they’re based on. Staying informed about market conditions, news and trends can help investors adjust their strategies and use their bots more effectively.

To mitigate the risks associated with trading bots, especially with high-risk strategies like the Martingale approach, implementing robust risk control measures is essential. This may include setting 

, diversifying investments and regularly reviewing bot performance. By proactively managing risk, investors can better position themselves to avoid substantial losses and enhance their overall trading experience.

In conclusion, while there are clear benefits from using crypto bots — such as time savings, emotionless trading and consistent investing — it's equally important to be aware of the risks involved. By understanding market dynamics and employing effective risk management strategies, investors can learn how to avoid losses with crypto bots and make the most of their automated trading experience.

Why Bybit’s Trading Bots Are Ideal for Beginners

For those new to the world of cryptocurrency, navigating the complexities of trading can be daunting. However, Bybit’s trading bots are designed to simplify the process, making them an excellent choice for beginners. Here’s a summary of the main benefits that make these bots particularly appealing.

Advanced

Copy Trading Is a Smart Choice for Beginners

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Why Trading Bots Are Perfect for Crypto Beginners

The Bybit Islamic Account enables ethical trading by eliminating interest and speculation, offering features that align with fundamental principles of Islamic finance.

The digital asset market is at a pivotal moment, facing both unprecedented opportunities and challenges. With the rise of cryptocurrencies, 

 (DeFi), investors and financial institutions are exploring new avenues for growth. However, navigating this evolving landscape requires a nuanced understanding of both conventional finance principles and the ethical frameworks of Islamic finance. This article examines how these two financial paradigms can coexist and inform investment strategies within the crypto space.

Understanding Conventional Finance and Its Approach to Crypto

Conventional finance is centered on risk assessment, profit maximization and regulatory compliance, with established frameworks for asset evaluation and portfolio management. As cryptocurrencies gain traction, they are increasingly being integrated into traditional systems of finance.

Regulation is vital for the legitimization of cryptocurrencies, as global regulatory bodies create frameworks to enhance investor confidence and mitigate risks of fraud. This growing legitimacy has led traditional financial institutions to introduce crypto-related products, such as 

In the crypto market, conventional investment strategies — such as asset allocation, diversification and risk management — are commonly applied. Investors are beginning to treat cryptocurrencies as an emerging asset class, with expanding derivatives markets offering tools for hedging and speculation.

Islamic finance, governed by Shariah law, introduces a different set of principles that prioritize ethical investing and risk sharing. The core tenets include the prohibition of riba (usury), gharar (excessive uncertainty) and haram (prohibited activities). As the digital asset market expands, understanding the way that crypto fits into Islamic finance is essential for Muslim investors.

Islamic banking emphasizes justice, equity and social welfare through these key principles:

As the financial landscape evolves, there's a growing need for Islamic banking to adopt modern technologies while staying true to its core values. 

The Intersection of Conventional and Islamic Finance

As both of these financial paradigms navigate the digital asset landscape, there are opportunities for collaboration and integration. Conventional financial institutions can benefit from Islamic finance principles, particularly in areas such as risk sharing and ethical investing. Conversely, Islamic finance can gain from the technological innovations and efficiency offered by cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.

One of the key areas where conventional and Islamic finance can converge is that of 

. Islamic finance emphasizes risk sharing and cooperation among parties, which can inform new models for investment in the crypto space. By adopting principles of shared risk, investors can mitigate the potential downsides of volatility and enhance the long-term sustainability of their portfolios.

Both conventional and Islamic finance share a commitment to promoting financial inclusion. Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology have the potential to provide unbanked populations with access to financial services. By leveraging digital assets, financial institutions can create inclusive products that cater to diverse demographic groups, including those who adhere to Islamic principles.

As the digital asset market matures, the intersection of conventional and Islamic finance presents a unique opportunity for innovation. Financial institutions that embrace Islamic principles can create a more inclusive and ethically responsible crypto ecosystem.

Synergistic cooperation between conventional and Islamic finance can lead to the development of innovative financial products that cater to a broader audience. By leveraging the strengths of both systems, financial institutions can create offerings that address the needs of diverse investors while adhering to ethical standards.

Advancements in blockchain technology can also facilitate the integration of these diverse financial paradigms. 

, for instance, can automate compliance with Islamic finance principles, ensuring that transactions are conducted in a manner consistent with Shariah law. This could pave the way for more robust and transparent financial products.

In the future, the integration of fintech into Islamic finance could be multifaceted:

How Digital Assets Adapt — Shariah-Compliant Crypto Products — Bybit Islamic Account

The Bybit Islamic Account is designed to comply with Shariah law by eliminating interest (riba) and minimizing excessive speculation (gharar). It provides Muslim traders with an ethical way to participate in cryptocurrency markets.

The Bybit Islamic Account adheres to Islamic finance principles through the following mechanisms:

If you’re interested in exploring the Bybit Islamic account, you can learn more 

Crypto at a Crossroads: Navigating the Digital Asset Market with Conventional and Islamic Finance

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Crypto at a Crossroads: Navigating the Digital Asset Market With Conventional and Islamic Finance

The Avalanche-based battle royale shooter Off the Grid swiftly rose to become the top free title on the Epic Games Store following its early access release, outpacing popular games like Fortnite and Rocket League.

Last Friday, the S&P 500 rose 0.61%, driven by strong banking results that lifted market sentiment. JPMorgan and Wells Fargo led gains, boosting the financial sector and pushing the Dow to record highs. However, investor caution persists due to uncertainties around the Fed’s rate cuts, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Coindesk Indices, an index measuring broader cryptocurrency market performance was down by 0.45%, with Bitcoin and Ether dropping by 0.44% and 0.82%, respectively in the past 24 hours.

Today's top performer is TIA, which surged 6.5% after Kamigotchi launched the $ONYX token presale with Celestia integration and exclusive passport access for a decentralized on-chain world.

Celestia (TIA), launched in May 2017, is a modular blockchain network that functions as a data availability and consensus layer for other blockchains, allowing them to securely publish transactions and maintain efficient nodes. Kamigotchi 

 that 100% of the $ONYX token supply will be minted during its presale, with no unlocks or airdrops, and all funds will support $ONYX’s BLV. The presale is exclusive to holders of Kamigotchi Passports, which also allow for a free Kami mint on mainnet and up to 0.5 ETH worth of $ONYX purchases. Of the 2,000 passports, 200 are from Testnet 1, 800 from Testnet 2, with the remainder sold for development funding and reserved for competitions. Kamigotchi aims to create a decentralized, economically independent on-chain world, using technologies like Celestia as part of their vision.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

The Avalanche-based battle royale shooter 

 swiftly rose to become the top free title on the Epic Games Store following its early access release, outpacing popular games like Fortnite and Rocket League. Created by Gunzilla Games, the game incorporates blockchain elements such as the forthcoming GUN token and NFT in-game items. It also attracted significant attention on Twitch, with notable streamers like IlloJuan and Ninja promoting it to large audiences. While currently offering only one map and mode, Off the Grid demonstrates the potential of blockchain technology in gaming by facilitating true asset ownership and a decentralized economy. 

Between October 7–11, 2024, BTC Spot ETF flows showed mixed activity, with GBTC seeing net outflows of -31.5M USD, while non-GBTC products attracted 380M USD, resulting in a total net inflow of 348.5M USD. The largest single-day decline occurred on October 10 with -81.1M USD outflows, followed by a strong recovery on October 11, driven by 275.7M USD in non-GBTC inflows. As of now, cumulative holdings stand at -20,142M USD for GBTC, 39,021M USD for non-GBTC, totaling 18,879M USD.

The Elon Musk-themed Telegram game X Empire will launch its X token and 

 on October 24 via The Open Network (TON) after a brief delay. The game, which ended its “mining phase” on September 30, introduced a “chill phase” that resets player progress and offers an extra 5% of the token supply as rewards. In total, 75% of the 690 billion X tokens (517.5 billion) will be distributed to players, with the remainder reserved for future phases. Originally launched as “Musk Empire,” the game has rebranded and added new avatars like Pavel Durov and Vitalik Buterin, tapping into the growing crypto gaming trend on TON, which now has over 100 million unique wallets.

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Off the Grid Surges to Top Free Game on Epic Games Store After Early Access Launch

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Bitcoin

Bitcoin's DeFi ecosystem, known as BTCFi, is made up of a variety of projects such as BitVM, Bitlayer, Bitcoin Ordinals and the Runes protocol.

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For years after its introduction in 2009, the 

 (BTC) blockchain remained an environment used exclusively for asset transfers and storage. The rise of 

 (ETH) as an alternative to traditional financial systems in 2017–2018 seemed to ignore Bitcoin, the world's oldest blockchain, and its vast potential. Many at that time assumed that Bitcoin's relevance in the industry would decline, as 

 (DApps) elevated the status of Ethereum. However, it didn't take long for the Bitcoin community to come back with answers, some utilizing sidechains and other 

 solutions, and others leveraging the chain's own native mechanisms.

In the past few years, the ecosystem of apps and decentralized platforms that enable Bitcoin-focused DeFi — or BTCFi, as it's come to be known — has flourished. BTCFi is now a growing world, featuring efficient payment solutions, smart contract sidechains, fungible token protocols and even a technology for issuing Bitcoin-based NFTs. 

The exciting world of BTCFi still lacks the sophistication and programmability muscle of Ethereum's DeFi sector, but it's catching up fast. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at some of the critical apps and platforms that power BTCFi, a sector that leverages the potential of the world's largest crypto asset, the BTC coin. We’ll also discuss the key differences between the emerging BTCFi ecosystem and the established Ethereum DeFi universe.

Understanding Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

The launch of Ethereum in 2015 is often considered the starting point for the DeFi industry. For the first time, a popular smart contract–capable blockchain arrived on the scene, opening up opportunities for DeFi solutions such as 

 (DEXs), lending and borrowing protocols, and other crypto-based finance operations. However, it wasn't until 2017–2018 that the DeFi field really took off, with the introduction of pioneering protocols like 

These DApps and their business models were made possible thanks to Ethereum's smart contract functionality, which enabled complex logic and transaction execution capabilities on the blockchain through the 

While early DeFi protocols represented a wide variety of niches, five areas quickly emerged as the most popular and dominant within the overall DeFi ecosystem:

A few years later, another major category — 

 solutions — also became a prominent niche within the DeFi industry.

Bitcoin missed the early DeFi revolution, largely due to its absence of native smart contract capabilities. However, as early as 2018 and 2019, the first solutions aimed at enabling Bitcoin-based DeFi, or BTCFi, began to emerge. Some of these projects revolved around smart contract–capable Layer 2 sidechains linked to the Bitcoin network. Others championed the idea of 

 (e.g., wrapped Bitcoin, or WBTC) that could be transferred to Ethereum and used within this chain's leading protocols, such as AAVE, Curve Finance and Compound for collateral provision, swaps and other popular DeFi transactions.

The BTCFi field received a major boost in November 2021 with the introduction of Bitcoin's 

 upgrade, which introduced the functionality of batching multiple digital signatures for processing. These signatures are used on Bitcoin to verify transactions. Taproot’s practical advantages include significantly improved transaction processing and less bloat on the network. As a result, more complex transactions could be processed in less time and with more modest block space requirements. In turn, the ability to process more transactions in a more complex way led to a flurry of BTCFi activity and the emergence of new projects on the network.

In the past couple of years, newer BTCFi projects — such as BitVM, Bitlayer, Bitcoin Ordinals and the Runes protocol — have further advanced the sector, bringing it much closer to Ethereum's still dominant DeFi capabilities.

Compared to Ethereum's giant DeFi ecosystem, BTCFi is still a small world. However, BTCFi is catching up quickly, despite its somewhat late start. Below are some of the key points that distinguish Bitcoin DeFi from Ethereum DeFi:

Launched in July 2024 by the Lighting Labs team, who also created Lightning Network (which we'll cover shortly), 

 is a protocol built on the Taproot upgrade that enables the issuance and transfer of a wide variety of crypto assets on the Bitcoin blockchain. These assets are stored within 

 (UTXO), and can easily be transferred as part of standard Bitcoin transactions. The protocol stores the metadata off-chain to reduce the load on the Bitcoin network.

While Taproot Assets was originally built to facilitate 

 settlement on Bitcoin, users can now use it to create all kinds of assets on Bitcoin, including both fungible tokens and 

 (NFTs). These assets can easily be transferred as part of regular Bitcoin transactions, and can also be issued and transferred within Lightning Network for low-cost, highly scalable transfers, thereby running little risk of congesting the Bitcoin network.

 is used not only for Taproot Assets transfers, but also for a wide variety of Bitcoin transactions. Launched in 2018 by Lightning Labs, this Layer 2 solution lets users transact much more efficiently and cost-effectively as compared to native Bitcoin transfers. When two transacting parties use Lightning Network, the platform establishes a dedicated one-to-one channel for them for efficient communication. The parties commit to the channel by first bonding an amount of BTC on the underlying Bitcoin blockchain to open the channel. Then, the channel is opened and can be used for transacting, with all of the transactions processed 

The off-chain transaction mode allows Lightning Network to swiftly process a large amount of transfers at low cost, thus avoiding delays and high fees typically associated with the Bitcoin network. In fact, some of the most popular use cases for this solution are for micropayments and high-volume transfers.

Ethereum's DApp functionality has been supported by the blockchain's processing engine — EVM. For years, Bitcoin lacked a processing engine that would support programming logic and smart contracts. This all changed with the introduction of 

What Is Bitcoin DeFi: The Rise of BTCFi

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