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Avalon integrated with Bybit to offer Bitcoin yield

Web3 & Enterprise·April 15, 2025, 5:14 AM

Dubai-headquartered global crypto exchange Bybit has integrated the Avalon Finance protocol within its platform to offer users greater opportunities to earn yield on Bitcoin.

 

Avalon Finance is a decentralized lending protocol that offers a range of financial services on the Merlin Chain, a Bitcoin layer-2 network. It facilitates users to borrow stablecoins using their Bitcoin as collateral, while also providing opportunities to earn yield by contributing to digital asset liquidity pools.

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CeFi to DeFi bridge

Avalon Labs, the driving force behind the Avalon Finance protocol, took to X on April 14 to outline that the protocol had gone live on Bybit. It stated:

”By integrating with Bybit Earn, Avalon unlocks new yield opportunities for Bitcoin holders by arbitraging our fixed-rate institutional borrowing layer — delivering predictable, enhanced returns through a seamless CeFi-to-DeFi bridge.”

 

Avalon claims to offer a mechanism which brings Bitcoin into DeFi. It accepts FBTC, an omnichain digital asset with $1.25 billion in total value locked (TVL), pegged 1:1 with Bitcoin, as collateral, while lending it out at fixed interest rates. USDT stablecoin borrowed on the strength of that Bitcoin can then be deployed by platform users to execute high-yielding DeFi strategies via the Ethena Labs synthetic dollar protocol, implicating the use of Ethena USD (USDe) and Ethena Staked USD (sUSDE).

 

In this way, the Avalon Finance protocol is providing a conduit between centralized finance and decentralized finance. Avalon Labs claims that the offering turns Bitcoin into a productive asset. It stated:

 

“Returns are stable, secure, and passed back to Bybit Earn users—making Bitcoin a productive asset while maintaining simplicity and risk control.”

 

More exchange collaborations planned

It’s understood that Avalon plans to collaborate similarly with other crypto exchanges in the future. Towards the end of 2024, the firm raised $10 million in Series A funding, with the funding round having been led by Framework Ventures, with participation from UXTO Management, Presto Labs and Kenetic Capital.

 

At the time, Avalon Labs asserted that the funding would be used to expand its Bitcoin-centric ecosystem. 

 

BTC-backed public debt fund

Taking to X in February, the project outlined that after years of research, it was working towards the launch of a Bitcoin-backed public debt fund that would fall within the parameters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) regulatory framework. The firm stated:

”By exploring regulated investment structures, we aim to bridge the gap between traditional finance and crypto, opening new opportunities for Bitcoin-backed financial products.”

 

Regulation A is an exemption offered by the SEC enabling a company to sell securities to the investing public without full registration. Should it eventually take this path forward, the project would pioneer this approach to launching a public debt fund as little progress has been made by others in taking such a Bitcoin-related product forward to date.

 

Towards the end of last month, Avalon Labs announced that it has added support for BlackRock’s “BUIDL” fund, a tokenized fund created by the world’s largest asset manager, which invests in short-term U.S. Treasury bills.

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Policy & Regulation·

Apr 10, 2023

Four Pillars for Success in Korean Security Token Market

Four Pillars for Success in Korean Security Token MarketOn Wednesday, blockchain experts in various fields gathered at the 2023 Blockchain Meetup Conference held in Seoul to discuss issues with security tokens and their outlook.©Pexels/Alesia KozikWhat attracted security token businesses’ attention at the meeting was a presentation by Jung Eui-heon from Lambda256, a subsidiary of Korean crypto exchange Upbit’s operator Dunamu. He shared four pillars for success in the Korean security token market.Security tokens gaining traction in KoreaSecurity tokens have been a trending topic in the Korean blockchain industry since the Korean Financial Services Commission (FSC) allowed the issuance and trading of security tokens last February. Furthermore, a 2022 report jointly published by Boston Consulting Group and Singaporean investment platform ADDX predicted that the total size of illiquid tokenized assets worldwide would reach $16 trillion by 2030.Against this backdrop, here are the four keys to successful security token projects that Jung outlined.Technology adaptationFirst, he emphasized the importance of adopting rapidly changing technology. To tackle the issue, he suggested teaming up with advanced tech companies for long-term collaboration. When choosing tech partners, companies should ensure they are sustainable, possess technological prowess, hold credibility on high volume transactions, and maintain the security level of financial institutions, Jung advised.Forging partnershipsThe second point he mentioned was the need to forge partnerships. The FSC’s February guideline requires the issuance and distribution of security tokens to be managed separately. This means that security token projects require collaboration between issuers, distributors, account managers, asset holders, and tech companies.New securities productsJung also noted that discovering new securities products is crucial. Partnering with existing fractional investing companies may help accelerate the security token project initially, but in the long run, enterprises will eventually have to create products in various fields such as gaming, movies, and entertainment.Token liquidityLastly, Jung underlined the token liquidity, which plays a crucial role in determining its prices. Issuers will need to find various distributors and vice versa. Securing liquidity requires the establishment of a technical standard that improves interoperability and compatibility, he highlighted.

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Web3 & Enterprise·

May 18, 2023

Axie Infinity Moves Further Mainstream with App Store Release

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Web3 & Enterprise·

Aug 22, 2023

Blockchain Experts from Ethereum, Solana, and More to Visit Seoul for Upbit D Conference

Blockchain Experts from Ethereum, Solana, and More to Visit Seoul for Upbit D ConferenceDunamu, the fintech company operating South Korea’s leading crypto exchange Upbit, has unveiled the lineup of international speakers for the upcoming sixth annual Upbit D Conference (UDC). Scheduled to take place on November 13, the conference will bring together global blockchain specialists from notable projects like Ethereum and Solana to explore the latest trends and insights in the industry as well as future prospects.Photo by Terren Hurst on UnsplashThe roster of speakers includes renowned figures such as Tom Teman, Product Manager at Ethereum Foundation; Roger Ver, Founder of Bitcoin.com; and Wally Yu, Solutions Architect at Chainlink Labs. Korean speakers, such as Sehyeon Oh, Executive Vice President of telecommunications giant SK Telecom, are also set to attend.Empowering Korea’s blockchain landscapeSince its inception in 2018, UDC has grown to become Korea’s central blockchain conference. Conceived as a means to contribute to the domestic blockchain ecosystem without focusing on generating profit, the conference has consistently garnered praise for its in-depth presentations from global experts and a wide variety of sessions.Under the theme coined “All That Blockchain,” this year’s conference is open to anyone interested in blockchain, Dunamu said. The “D” in UDC stands for various keywords related to blockchain, including digital assets, decentralization, and developers. However, the focus of the conference has evolved beyond just technology, now encompassing areas such as policy, finance, technology, culture, and societal trends.Event detailsThe conference will be conducted in a hybrid — both online and offline — format, allowing a higher level of participation without the constraints of time and place. Though it will be hosted at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul hotel, anyone anywhere can tune in live through the official UDC YouTube channel. Simultaneous interpretation will also be provided in Korean and English.Dunamu will kick off registrations for both online and offline attendance starting from 10:00 AM KST on September 11. Due to the limited venue capacity, offline tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis.

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