Cardinal Protocol introduces a groundbreaking Bitcoin decentralized finance (DeFi) platform to the Cardano blockchain. Utilizing wrapped UTXOs and MuSig2, it empowers users to generate trustless yields and leverage Ordinals as collateral. This launch marks Cardano’s first foray into cross-chain DeFi, enabling native interaction with Bitcoin within its ecosystem without reliance on centralized bridges. Cardinal stands out through its focus on decentralization and interoperability. By wrapping Bitcoin UTXOs, users can seamlessly burn them to unlock native BTC or even Ordinals, granting complete asset control while ensuring transparency and security. The protocol’s fully non-custodial design eliminates the need for centralized control, safeguarding assets and fostering a secure and transparent experience. Cardinal’s integration with BitVMX allows it to connect with other major chains like Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche, creating smooth interoperability across multiple ecosystems. This opens doors for Bitcoin users to access Cardano-native platforms like MinswapDEX, SundaeSwap, and Fluid Tokens, without friction. Cardinal also introduces Ordinals as collateral, allowing lending, trading, or auctioning opportunities across various supported chains. This adds real functionality to Ordinals and moves them beyond speculative assets. Key future upgrades planned include zero-knowledge proofs for increased privacy, enhanced wallet integration, and deeper liquidity pools to facilitate broader adoption. Cardinal represents a significant step forward for both the Bitcoin and Cardano ecosystems. It offers Bitcoin holders a way to earn yield without relinquishing control, while showcasing Cardano’s robust proof-of-stake framework designed for real-world cross-chain functionality. Cardinal’s innovative approach has the potential to reshape DeFi as we know it, bringing Bitcoin’s liquidity to Cardano’s smart contract layer and paving the way for a new era of blockchain development.