Cardano’s Bold Step: Bitcoin-DeFi Bridge Is Here!
The upcoming Cardano-Bitcoin bridge, powered by the Grail protocol, could revolutionise DeFi by integrating Bitcoin security with Cardano’s innovation. This bridge allows users to withdraw Bitcoin even if $ADA nodes turn malicious, addressing long-standing criticisms of Bitcoin Layer-2 networks. Grail was inspired by “BitVM,” an idea described by developer Robin Linus in a 2023 white paper, which proposed running complex systems like optimistic rollups on Bitcoin. By using zero-knowledge proofs, Grail simplifies the concept, making the bridge practical and efficient. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson hinted at hybrid Cardano/Bitcoin apps with babel fees, enabling developers to pay in BTC. While some Bitcoin purists remain sceptical, the documentation clearly outlines the bridge's ability to maintain decentralisation. If successful, this could redefine how Bitcoin interacts with decentralised ecosystems, paving the way for a broader DeFi narrative secured by Bitcoin. Is Cardano finally bringing Bitcoin into DeFi? The industry is watching closely.