BitGo, a leading digital asset custody provider, has integrated sBTC, Stacks’ 1:1 fully programmable Bitcoin-backed asset, opening new opportunities for institutional participation in decentralized finance (DeFi). This integration is significant because it expands the utility of Bitcoin beyond just a store of value. BitGo clients can now leverage sBTC to unlock Bitcoin’s functionality without compromising its security. The sBTC withdrawal feature launches at the end of April and allows institutions to seamlessly convert between BTC and sBTC across both Bitcoin’s layer 1 and layer 2 networks, opening doors for new DeFi products. This comes as Bitcoin’s total value locked (TVL) in DeFi applications has grown more than 20 times year over year to reach $6.5 billion by the end of 2024 and is projected to surpass $10–20 billion in 2025 as institutional adoption accelerates. BitGo’s support for sBTC, which also includes integration with SIP-010, the fungible token standard for Stacks, will increase the ecosystem’s interoperability. The move reflects a growing demand from institutions like Jump Crypto, UTXO Management, SNZ and Asymmetric Research for sBTC. As a pioneer in Bitcoin custody and infrastructure, BitGo is uniquely positioned to guide these institutions as they tap into this new era of Bitcoin utility.