Author: NingNing

The competition between Aptos and Sui for the title of 'Move ecosystem leader' has been very fierce, with both engaging in a comprehensive battle over consensus algorithms, developer community building, business resources, and more. In choosing the direction of ecological development, the two have taken completely different paths. Sui has chosen a realistic route focusing on incubating DeFi and Meme projects, while Aptos has chosen an idealistic route to layout the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Aptos's Bitcoin ecosystem strategy currently walks on 'two legs'. One leg is cooperation with the well-established Bitcoin Layer 2 Stacks, leveraging its mature technology and user base for rapid entry; the other leg is deep cooperation with the newcomer B² Network to gain the growth dividends of a new paradigm Bitcoin L2. The main character we are focusing on today, Echo Protocol, is an important piece in Aptos > Bitcoin's grand chess game.

Echo Protocol has a deep connection with B² Network. As an important member of the B² Network ecosystem, Echo bears the responsibility of bringing BTC into the Aptos ecosystem. Interestingly, this small but beautiful project has attracted an unexpected investor - 'Little Black Brother' Arthur Hayes.

Why is Arthur Hayes so optimistic about Echo Protocol? The answer may lie in one of his bold predictions. Hayes believes that in the current market cycle, Aptos's performance may surpass Solana and is expected to become the second largest Layer 1 public chain after Ethereum within one to three years. Echo Protocol is undoubtedly the perfect link connecting the two promising tracks of Aptos and Bitcoin.

So, what are the exceptional qualities of Echo Protocol?

First of all, Echo is not just a simple BTC bridging tool, but a comprehensive protocol that integrates BTC bridging, liquid staking, restaking, and yield optimization. This 'one-stop' service model greatly reduces the operational threshold for users and improves the efficiency of fund utilization.

What is even more noteworthy is Echo's 'real return' model. Unlike the flashy 'points incentives' on the market, Echo provides users with actual annualized returns of up to 10% through deep cooperation with Aptos. These returns are distributed monthly in the form of APT tokens, calculated based on the dollar value of the user's staked BTC. This model not only creates a stable cash flow for BTC holders but also introduces a large amount of high-quality assets into the Aptos ecosystem, achieving two goals with one move.

Echo's ambitions do not stop there. The project team plans to build a multi-layered reward ecosystem by introducing Bsquared and the upcoming Babylon points. Users can choose between different token rewards based on their preferences while still enjoying the basic APT returns. This flexible reward mechanism will undoubtedly greatly stimulate user participation.

In terms of risk control, apart from the usual DeFi risks, users staking BTC on Echo face almost no other risks. This low-risk, high-return model inevitably reminds one of MakerDAO's government bond yield project. Echo is bringing institutional-level stable returns to ordinary users, which undoubtedly has enormous appeal in the current market environment.

For miners and large BTC holders, the significance of Echo is even greater. In the context of the upcoming Bitcoin halving cycle, Echo provides them with a new option to generate stable income without selling BTC. This not only complements the ecosystems of projects like BRC20 and Runes but also injects new vitality into the entire Bitcoin economy.

Echo's market performance also validates the feasibility of its model. Currently, Echo has attracted deposits of 2,000 BTC, which is undoubtedly an impressive achievement in the current market environment. These users are safely enjoying the real returns brought by their 'digital gold' through Echo.

However, Echo's ambitions are clearly not limited to this. The whitelist event that the project team is about to launch will introduce more active users into the ecosystem. Participants can enjoy yields of up to 10% and 1.5 times Echo points, and also have the chance to obtain special Discord roles. This community incentive mechanism will create a more active and loyal user base for Echo.

It is worth noting that the deposit limit for this round of activities is 500 BTC, which will open at 2:00 UTC on October 28, on a first-come, first-served basis. For users without BTC, Echo also provides a solution - they can exchange USDC, USDT, or APT for aBTC on the two DEXs, Aries and Cellana, and then participate in staking.

In this rapidly changing crypto world, Echo undoubtedly represents a bold attempt and a gamble. It not only bets on the future of Aptos but also on the position of Bitcoin in the new generation of public chain ecosystems. Let's wait and see what results Arthur Hayes's gamble will ultimately bring.