3 Platforms That Allow Users to Stake Their Bitcoin

Thanks to the launch of Babylon’s mainnet and Bitcoin DeFi innovations, users now have a way to stake their native BTC and earn yield without having to rely on Bitcoin wrappers.  

Bitcoin staking was once impossible, but thanks to certain innovations that have figured out how to make Bitcoin productive without compromising its security, over $5.8B+ in native BTC is currently being staked and earning yield.

This transformation comes at a time where institutions are increasingly looking to put their Bitcoin to work, and Bitcoin's block rewards and miner fees are becoming less attractive - raising questions as to where much-needed incentives are going to come from to generate more fees for Bitcoin’s security budget.  

A vibrant ecosystem of Bitcoin staking providers and infrastructure has now emerged, made up of an array of different protocols and platforms which are breaking down technical barriers, deepening liquidity, and simplifying access to unlock the majority of idle BTC.

How Bitcoin Staking Works

Bitcoin uses Proof of Work, not Proof of Stake, which means Ethereum-style staking is not possible. What is possible, courtesy of Babylon, is enabling native BTC to secure other chains through time-lock scripts and cryptographic signatures. The result is staked Bitcoin never leaves its network, and users never give up custody.

The process is straightforward - BTC gets locked on Bitcoin's base layer with slashing conditions that penalize bad behavior, creating real economic security for Proof of Stake chains. In return, these ‘Bitcoin Secured Networks’ share their transaction fees with BTC stakers.

Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs) like uniBTC, LBTC, and xSolvBTC build on this by issuing tradeable tokens representing staked BTC. This solves the liquidity problem, as users earn base staking rewards while using their Bitcoin LST as collateral for DeFi lending/liquidity provision or restaking, enhancing yield opportunities. 

To group this all together, various Bitcoin L2s and Sidechains now offer user-friendly interfaces and complimentary technology that handle all the complexity, making Bitcoin staking and DeFi as simple as using a CEX - but with Bitcoin’s full economic weight ensuring security.

3 Bitcoin Staking Platforms Leading the Charge

1. BOB - The 1-Click Gateway to Bitcoin Staking

BOB has established itself as the most accessible entry point for Bitcoin staking by integrating all the major innovations into one seamless platform that can be enjoyed via BOB Earn.

As the Gateway to Bitcoin DeFi, BOB's hybrid chain combines Ethereum's EVM capabilities with Bitcoin finality via Babylon, meaning all staking transactions are secured by billions of dollars in staked BTC.

Key Features:

• 1-click Bitcoin staking via BOB Earn - Single interface for staking native BTC into major Bitcoin LSTs or vault strategies to earn Babylon yield + partner points with just one click. This is powered by the first-ever Bitcoin intents that handle all complexity automatically

• Real Bitcoin staking through Babylon integration - BOB’s network hosts major Bitcoin LST protocols that stake BTC via Babylon's protocol, and because BOB will soon become a Bitcoin Secured Network, all transactions will be backed by billions in staked BTC

• Native BTC staking coming via BitVM - BOB is currently testing trust-minimized bridging on testnet with institutional partners which will enable users to stake actual native BTC without wrappers or custodians - eliminating the custody risk that holds many Bitcoin holders back from staking

• Complete DeFi composability - Stake Bitcoin on BOB, receive LSTs, and have the option to immediately deploy in lending, DEXs, or restaking to make additional yield on top of LST points and Babylon yield

• Multichain BTC access via Gateway - BOB Gateway enables 1-click native BTC deposits and withdrawals across 11+ major chains, bringing Bitcoin liquidity to BOB where users can then stake through BOB Earn

• Institutional-grade security - Partnerships with Anchorage Digital, Fireblocks and Cobo ensure Bitcoin staking meets the security expectations of institutions.

• Hybrid nodes coming soon - BOB users will soon be able to stake and delegate $BOB tokens to Hybrid Nodes that operate important BOB infrastructure to earn additional rewards for securing the network

Best for: Users wanting the simplest path to stake native BTC across multiple protocols and chains with institutional-grade security

2. Solv Protocol - Institutional-Grade Liquid Staking

Solv Protocol provides one of the most comprehensive Bitcoin staking solutions, managing over 24,226 BTC in reserves across 20+ chains. As a major liquidity layer on top of Babylon's staking protocol, Solv simplifies native BTC staking by handling all technical complexity while issuing liquid staking tokens that maintain full DeFi composability.

Key Features:

• Native BTC to liquid staking - Send native BTC to Solv's unique Bitcoin address, which automatically stakes through Babylon and mints SolvBTC

• BTC+ enhanced staking vault - Flagship product targeting 5-6% APY by combining Babylon staking yields with additional CeFi + DeFi products, redeemable in the form of Solv points

• Largest on-chain Bitcoin reserves - With 24,226 BTC actively managed and $1.05B+ TVL, Solv operates at a scale that positions it as the largest on-chain Bitcoin reserve, demonstrating significant user trust and protocol maturity for Bitcoin staking

• Seamless integration with Bitcoin DeFi L2s - Direct minting of SolvBTC/xSolvBTC on Bitcoin DeFi gateways like BOB, where users can stake through BOB Earn or deploy in leading lending protocols, and create multiple yield layers from a single BTC deposit

Best for: Users seeking professional Bitcoin staking with massive reserves, automated yield optimization and maximum DeFi flexibility.

3. Babylon - The Protocol That Makes BTC Staking Possible 

Babylon is the foundational protocol that made Bitcoin staking possible, pioneering the ability to stake native BTC trustlessly to secure Proof of Stake chains. With over $5.8 billion in staked Bitcoin, Babylon has become the backbone of the entire Bitcoin staking ecosystem, powering Bitcoin Secured Networks without requiring any wrapping or bridging.

Key Features:

• True native BTC staking - Bitcoin remains in self-custodial time-locked scripts on Bitcoin's network using EOTS (Extractable One-Time Signatures), with users maintaining complete control of private keys throughout

• Foundation for Bitcoin LSTs - Babylon's protocol enables major liquid staking providers like Lombard, Solv and Bedrock  to offer liquid tokens representing staked BTC, creating the entire LST ecosystem

• Bitcoin Secured Networks (BSNs) - Powers an ecosystem where PoS chains like BOB, Sui Network, and Manta Network leverage billions in Babylon-staked BTC for economic security, paying rewards in their native tokens to BTC stakers

• Babylon Genesis Chain - Cosmos SDK-based Layer 1 serving as the control plane, coordinating the marketplace between Bitcoin stakers (supply) and BSNs (demand), while handling signature verification and slashing enforcement

• Institutional finality providers - Galaxy, Figment, Kiln, and P2P operate as finality providers with professional-grade infrastructure, taking on slashing risk so stakers' principal BTC remains protected

• Co-Staking - The more $BABY (Babylon’s native token) users stake alongside their BTC, the more rewards they will earn

• Default withdrawal protection - After the timelock expires, stakers can reclaim BTC using only their own private key, or unbond early with a 7-day waiting period

Best for: Users wanting to stake BTC directly without having to interact with intermediaries, liquid staking tokens and DeFi protocols, and L2s/rollups who want Bitcoin staking functionality and security on their own platforms.

Choosing Your Bitcoin Staking Platform

It is important to note that selecting a Bitcoin staking platform isn't about finding the "best" option - it's about matching the needs of users with the right approach. Each platform serves different user profiles and risk tolerances.

For simplicity seekers, BOB Earn offers the most straightforward path with its 1-click staking interface, aggregated strategies and multichain access. Those prioritizing professional management might prefer Solv's institutional-grade vaults, while those who want to stake without any Bitcoin DeFi use can do so through Babylon.

Lastly, users should be aware that rather than competing against one another, these platforms are increasingly working together to further Bitcoin staking. BOB hosts Solv's products, while all rely on Babylon's underlying protocol. This interconnected ecosystem means users can often combine platforms, starting simple and adding complexity as they gain experience.

Further developments that will further enhance BTC staking are expected to go live in 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or an endorsement. Always conduct your own research before making any investment decisions.