BTC.b Transitions to Lombard's Architecture, Boosting Multi-Chain Expansion

BTC.b, a prominent Bitcoin asset on the Avalanche network, is set to undergo a significant transition to Lombard’s architecture. This move, according to Avax.network, aims to enhance security and facilitate broader integration across multiple blockchain networks and decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols.

Overview of the Transition

Since its inception in 2022, BTC.b has been a vital component of Avalanche’s DeFi ecosystem, with approximately $550 million in circulation. Lombard has acquired BTC.b’s infrastructure, assuming responsibility for its bridge operations and security architecture. This transition promises to maintain full continuity for existing users and integrations.

The transition involves adopting the same trusted architecture as LBTC, before Lombard coordinates its distribution and integration across various chains and leading DeFi protocols. Operating exclusively on Lombard’s transparent, verifiable protocol architecture, BTC.b aims to offer a next-generation Bitcoin asset built for the decentralized economy—permissionless, non-custodial, and secure.

Key Objectives and Benefits

The transition to Lombard’s architecture aims to achieve three primary goals:

1. Augmented Security: A multi-layered architecture with decentralized validation by a consortium of leading institutions ensures enhanced security.
2. Multi-Chain Expansion: Initial native deployment on Ethereum, Katana, MegaETH, and Solana is planned.
3. Improved Access: Permissionless minting directly from native BTC through the Lombard App.

For users, BTC.b remains the same token, with unchanged balances, addresses, and integrations. The significant change lies in BTC.b’s growth opportunities, including new chains, deeper liquidity, expanded DeFi integrations, and a cleaner path for developers to integrate native BTC into apps through Lombard’s SDK.

Technical Architecture: Enhancements and Innovations

The transition introduces a new security architecture that replaces the current Avalanche bridge. The new model features multiple independent security layers with decentralized validation, designed to scale BTC.b across multiple chains while preserving verifiability and operational discipline.

The new architecture includes:

• Hardware Security Module (HSM) backed key management
• 15-member Security Consortium with BFT consensus
• Dual-layer verification through Cubist Bascule and Lombard Consortium
• Byzantine fault-tolerant Lombard Ledger for traceability and transparency

This enhanced security model eliminates single points of failure and provides defense in depth through four independent security layers.

Timeline and Future Prospects

The migration process is currently underway, with testing and security audits in progress. The expected launch is set for Q4 2025, with a seamless transition planned to ensure minimal disruption to users and protocols. BTC.b will continue to serve as Avalanche’s primary Bitcoin bridge while evolving into a multi-chain Bitcoin asset with institutional-grade security and permissionless access.

For more information, visit the Avax.network.

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