Wrapped BTC (Avalanche)

WBTC.e

WBTC.e on Avalanche is backed 1:1 by WBTC locked on the Ethereum chain in the Avalanche Bridge. WBTC is a DeFi-compatible version of Bitcoin that is backed 1:1 by BTC custodied by BitGo.

Risk Rating
Best
$62,605.00
-2.75%
Summary
What we like
Enables users to earn yield on their idle BTC holdings across various DeFi apps. Provides access to BTC’s deep liquidity and large volume.
What we like less
WBTC.e transferred through the Avalanche bridge requires more trust assumptions as the bridge depends on external validators. Greater centralization as BitGo custodies the deposited BTC and controls the minting and redemption of WBTC.
What it means for you
WBTC is a highly liquid instrument to gain exposure to BTC directly from other chains and also an easy way to put your BTC to work for you in DeFi.
Information
Blockchain
  • Avalanche
Key Metrics
  • Market Cap: $9.7B
  • Fully Diluted Valluation: $9.7B
  • FDV / MC: 1
  • Ranking inside Exponential (excluding stables): #6
  • Circulating Supply: 155,233
  • Total Supply: 155,233
  • Total Supply: 155,233
  • Volume (24H): $229.5M
  • ATH: $73,505.00 (03/14/2024)
  • ATL: $3,139.17 (04/02/2019)
Risk Assessment
Best
Asset Strength

WBTC.e is a mid-cap, fully collateralized asset. This asset depends on a centralized entity for custody services. This asset is exposed to the underlying risks of Avalanche bridge, a protocol rated as Watch out.

Asset Tokenomics

WBTC.e has a fixed supply. WBTC is a DeFi-compatible version of Bitcoin. It is backed 1:1 by BTC custodied by BitGo. WBTC.e on Avalanche is backed 1:1 by WBTC locked on the Ethereum chain in the Avalanche bridge protocol.

Asset Volatility

WBTC.e is highly correlated to the overall market.

Dependencies

Avalanche Bridge

Things to know about WBTC.e

Who invented WBTC?

WBTC launched on the Ethereum mainnet in January 2019 as a collaboration between major DeFi players, such as BitGo, Ren,and Kyber. The project is now controlled by a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) called the WBTC DAO.

How does WBTC work?

WBTC is maintained by a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) that consists of 16 stakeholders within DeFi. The token is minted by a centralized custodian, BitGo. This process is initiated by merchants who send the user’s BTC to BitGo in return for WBTC tokens. Customers are required to undergo KYC checks to verify their identity before wrapping their BTC. Unwrapping the WBTC back to BTC involves the same process with the merchant requesting to burn WBTC and BitGo returning the equivalent amount of BTC. The amount to be redeemed is deducted from the merchant’s WBTC balance (on-chain), thus reducing the circulating supply.

How secure is WBTC?

WBTC will never have the same level of decentralization or security as BTC since it relies on trusting people and organizations to manage the system instead of automated smart contracts. Nonetheless, WBTC regularly undergoes audits and publishes all on-chain transactions and verifications for the Bitcoin and Ethereum networks. Users can always independently verify if the amount of BTC sent to the WBTC address on the Bitcoin blockchain matches the creation of WBTC tokens on the Ethereum blockchain, and vice versa.

WBTC.e Pools
Pangolin BTC-USD Market Making
46.1%
Yield
$1M
TVL
Risk
C
Protocol
Pangolin
Chain
Avalanche