Emre Yumlu 
Bitcoin is no longer seen solely as a store of value—it is increasingly being adopted by institutional investors as a yield-generating tool. Thanks to advancements in decentralized finance (DeFi), companies are now able to access liquidity without selling their BTC holdings.
Speaking at the Token2049 event in Dubai, Solv Protocol CEO Ryan Chow emphasized the growing attention from institutions in recent years. While earning yield from Bitcoin used to be difficult, methods like staking, lending, and delta-neutral strategies have opened new doors for investors.
Technological innovations such as Layer-1 and Layer-2 solutions—notably Babylon—now allow BTC to be used in Proof-of-Stake (PoS) networks. This not only strengthens blockchain security but also provides passive income opportunities for BTC holders.
“Bitcoin has become a dominant asset class. Now it can be staked to help secure networks, which gives it real-world utility,” Chow explained.
Borrowing Against BTC Becomes Mainstream in Institutional Finance
Institutions often enter the crypto market through Bitcoin. After acquiring BTC, many prefer to use it as collateral for borrowing rather than selling it outright.
Services like Coinbase now offer loans of up to $1 million backed by Bitcoin, while DeFi platforms such as Aave and Compound provide instant borrowing features, further improving liquidity access.
Chow also acknowledged the role of publicly traded companies in accelerating Bitcoin adoption. Firms like Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) have showcased how BTC can be integrated into corporate finance strategies.
Recent data backs this up. In Q1 2025, the total BTC held by public companies surged by 16.1%, reaching 688,000 BTC—equivalent to $56.7 billion in value at the time.
New Frontier: Sharia-Compliant Bitcoin Yield Solutions
Solv Protocol has launched SolvBTC.core, a yield product developed in line with Islamic finance principles. This solution secures the Core blockchain while generating returns through on-chain DeFi activities.
“We spent a long time preparing for Sharia compliance. Without that, it’s impossible to truly serve this audience,” Chow noted, highlighting the importance of aligning with regulatory and cultural standards.
With more than 25,000 BTC already locked in Solv’s protocol—over $2 billion in value—the firm is now focusing on expanding infrastructure that meets institutional demands.
Looking ahead, Chow anticipates that over 100,000 BTC could enter ecosystems like Solana, bringing with them new financial applications and broader utility across the decentralized landscape.
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