The Canton Network (Canton) today announced that iBTC, a pioneering, bridgeless wrapped Bitcoin solution designed to revolutionize decentralized finance (DeFi) with institutional-grade security and liquidity, will deploy on the Canton Network. This collaboration brings Bitcoin-based assets on-chain, allowing institutional counterparties to use them for initial margin (IM) and variation margin (VM) solutions. It unlocks new opportunities and simplifies the integration of Bitcoin into over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives trading.

Once integrated, market makers will be able to deposit BTC into Canton by wrapping it into iBTC. Counterparties can then engage in margin workflows, utilizing iBTC for IM/VM in trading options and structured products. The unique configurable privacy features in Canton's public network ensure that BTC flows are visible only to the desired market makers, enhancing confidentiality and security. Most significantly, beyond staking yield, iBTC participants can generate yield opportunities through application rewards within the Canton ecosystem.

"At iBTC, we're proud to offer institutions a secure way to tap Bitcoin as collateral, and joining the Canton Network is expanding our ability to do so. With top-tier privacy, liquidity from partners like DRW, and optimized workflows, we're excited to meet the growing demand for streamlined margin needs," said Aki Balogh, CEO and Co-Founder, of iBTC.

"The iBTC-Canton integration represents a significant advancement in institutional Bitcoin adoption in the financial markets. By delivering a scalable solution for Bitcoin-based margin flows with configurable privacy on the Canton Network, institutional counterparties can efficiently deploy BTC in structured products and derivatives trading," said Eric Saraniecki, Head of Network Strategy.

Key highlights of the integration include:

• Bitcoin as Collateral: iBTC enables institutions to utilize BTC for IM/VM in a secure and compliant manner
• Institutional-Grade Privacy: Each market maker serves as their own iBTC bridge, ensuring secure and confidential Bitcoin transactions
• Optimized Workflow: IM/VM cycles occur every 2-4 hours, allowing for seamless Bitcoin movements to meet margin requirements

The rollout of iBTC on Canton will initially involve a select group of institutional counterparties, with plans to scale participation to 10-20 firms processing $20-$50 million in daily trading volume.

As part of the integration, iBTC will operate a Canton Network Validator, which offers additional incentives and mining rewards. This initiative aligns iBTC with the network's infrastructure and enhances transaction finality for institutional traders.