"Bitcoin Staking Breakthrough: Institutions Earn Yield Without Moving Assets"

Core Foundation and Maple Finance have joined forces to launch an institutional Bitcoin staking token, lstBTC, which enables institutional investors to earn yield on their Bitcoin holdings while maintaining existing custody arrangements. The partnership, announced on February 17, 2025, also includes major custody providers BitGo, Copper, and Hex Trust.

The new product, lstBTC, transforms Bitcoin into a yield-generating asset without requiring institutions to move their holdings from existing custody arrangements. This development comes as the cryptocurrency industry searches for ways to make Bitcoin holdings more productive.

Maple Finance CEO Sid Powell explained that the current Bitcoin staking product, launched earlier this month, offers yields of more than 5% APY for 90-day lockups. The upcoming liquid staking token will provide instant redeemability but with somewhat lower returns due to the increased flexibility.

The Core blockchain currently hosts over 5,500 staked Bitcoin and 165 million CORE tokens. The platform has processed more than 350 million transactions and manages $850 million in total locked value since its mainnet launch in January 2023.

Institutional users can create lstBTC by depositing Bitcoin with participating custodians. The token maintains full liquidity, allowing holders to trade, transfer, or use it as collateral while still earning returns. When redeemed, users receive their original Bitcoin plus earned yields directly to their custodial accounts.

The system uses Core’s dual-staking mechanism, which enables Bitcoin to earn CORE rewards while maintaining network security. Maple Finance oversees the yield-generating strategies, implementing institutional-grade risk management practices.

Hong Sun, an institutional contributor to Core DAO, described the collaboration as a breakthrough for institutional Bitcoin holders. The partnership combines Core’s blockchain technology, Maple’s risk management, and the security infrastructure of established custodians.

The new token offers a solution to a common challenge for institutional investors managing Bitcoin holdings: generating returns while maintaining security and operational efficiency. The target market includes portfolio managers, ETP issuers, accredited investors, and market makers.

The Core blockchain has gained support from Bitcoin miners, with approximately 80% of Bitcoin mining power contributing to network security. This integration has helped attract over 40 million unique addresses to the platform.

Core presents itself as Bitcoin’s first Proof of Stake