TL;DR
Charles Hoskinson proposes an ecosystem of hybrid apps that allow Bitcoin to be used directly in DeFi applications, without the need for other tokens.
The integration between Cardano and Bitcoin would include the use of babel fees, enabling users to pay fees in BTC.
The initiative would rely on the BitcoinOS Grail bridge, although it must overcome scalability, interoperability, and regulatory challenges.
Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has shared his ambitious vision for Bitcoin’s future, announcing his goal of seeing an ecosystem of hybrid apps powered by DeFi-enabled BTC.
In his proposal, Hoskinson imagines an environment where users can interact with decentralized applications (dApps) directly using Bitcoin, without the need to rely on other tokens or cryptocurrencies. The integration between Cardano and Bitcoin would allow developers to build new applications on the BTC network, leveraging the liquidity of the world’s largest cryptocurrency, while also adding new features that BTC currently does not support.
Cardano’s Role in Bitcoin’s Evolution
The central component of this vision is the use of babel fees, a mechanism that would allow users to pay transaction fees in Bitcoin, regardless of whether the application is built on Cardano or another network. According to Hoskinson, this feature would facilitate the integration of Bitcoin into the ADA ecosystem and enable developers to create hybrid apps that combine the best of both technologies: Bitcoin’s security and stability with Cardano’s flexibility and capability.
The initiative would be supported by the BitcoinOS Grail bridge, a tool that would facilitate the connection between the two networks, allowing Cardano to tap into Bitcoin’s liquidity without losing decentralization. Hoskinson believes that this integration would be key to opening new doors in Bitcoin’s DeFi sector, something he considers essential for the cryptocurrency’s evolution.
Challenges: Bitcoin’s Current Limitations
However, the implementation of this proposal faces several challenges ahead. A recent report from Footprint Analytics highlighted that scalability and interoperability are two of the biggest obstacles to introducing DeFi on Bitcoin. Bitcoin’s network has inherent limitations in terms of transactions per second and the ability to interact with other blockchains without compromising security. Additionally, regulatory issues could become a significant obstacle.
Despite these challenges, Hoskinson remains optimistic about the future of this integration, noting that the work required to enable a DeFi ecosystem on Bitcoin would be considerable, but worthwhile given the value of the asset
