About tBTC v2
tBTC is a decentralized token that enables users to access the value of their Bitcoin for various financial activities such as borrowing, lending, minting stablecoins, and providing liquidity. It is designed to be a wrapped version of Bitcoin that is fully backed 1:1 by Bitcoin on the main network, ensuring that users can utilize their assets without relying on centralized intermediaries.
Unlike other solutions that require users to trust third parties to convert Bitcoin into tokens on platforms like Ethereum, tBTC eliminates this need. It employs a decentralized model where a randomly selected group of operators runs nodes on the Threshold Network. This innovative approach utilizes threshold cryptography to secure deposited Bitcoin, requiring a majority consensus among operators before any action can be taken with users' assets.
To enhance security, tBTC rotates the selection of these operators on a weekly basis. This strategy mitigates the risk of collusion among operators, as it reduces the chances that any individual or group can fraudulently access the underlying Bitcoin deposits. Additionally, an insurance backstop, known as coverage pools, provides an emergency solution if a wallet is compromised.
tBTC operates within the Threshold Network, which was formed from the merger of the NuCypher and Keep networks. This network provides a range of threshold cryptography services tailored for web3 applications, governed by a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). Some notable offerings of the Threshold Network include secure data sharing through Threshold Access Control and an overcollateralized stablecoin.
As a key player in the decentralized finance ecosystem, tBTC empowers users to leverage their Bitcoin in a secure, permissionless manner, aligning with the core principles of decentralization and financial autonomy.