Bitcoin News Today: Portal to Bitcoin's Mainnet Launch Redefines BTC's DeFi Role

Portal to Bitcoin (PTB) is set to launch its mainnet on October 13, 2025, marking a pivotal moment for Bitcoin DeFi (BTCFi) by enabling trustless, custody-free atomic swaps between Bitcoin assets and major layer-1 and layer-2 ecosystems Portal to Bitcoin Sets Mainnet Launch for October 13 - Phemex^[5]. The protocol, developed by a U.S.-based engineering team, introduces BitScaler, a proprietary multi-party channel solution that reduces Lightning Network fees by up to 90% and minimizes on-chain footprint Portal to Bitcoin Sets Mainnet Launch for October 13 - Phemex^[5]. This innovation aims to address Bitcoin's scalability challenges while preserving security, with the mainnet transition expected to enhance cross-chain interoperability and DeFi script composability Portal to Bitcoin Sets Mainnet Launch for October 13 - Phemex^[5]. Portal to Bitcoin has raised $92 million in funding, led by Paloma Investments, as it transitions from testnet to full production Lighter to announce compensation plan for LLP holders tomorrow^[6].

Aster's Stage 2 Genesis airdrop concluded on October 5, distributing 320 million $ASTER tokens (worth ~$600 million at the time) to over 153,932 wallets, with claims opening on October 14 Aster Airdrop Stage 2 Ends, Stage 3 Dawn Start: Price Surge?^[1]. The airdrop's no-lockup policy has raised concerns about potential sell pressure, as immediate liquidity could flood the market Aster Stage 2 Genesis Airdrop: 320M Tokens and Price Impact on …^[3]. Despite a post-claim price dip to $1.10, ASTER rebounded 19% in 24 hours, reaching $1.60, driven by delayed airdrop claims and renewed trading volume ASTER Price Surges 18%, Is This the Start of a Bullish Reversal?^[2]. Analysts note that a sustained close above $1.60 could target $1.75, while a breakdown below $1.50 risks a pullback to $1.30 ASTER Price Surges 18%, Is This the Start of a Bullish Reversal?^[2]. Stage 3 "Dawn," launching after Stage 2, introduces multi-dimensional scoring for trading activity, volume, and referrals, aiming to incentivize long-term engagement over short-term farming Aster Airdrop Stage 2 Ends, Stage 3 Dawn Start: Price Surge?^[1].

Monad's airdrop claims portal is 98% complete as of October 8, with a scheduled launch on October 14 . The platform plans to distribute 100 billion native gas tokens, though delayed timelines have led to uncertainty, with Polymarket users betting on November or later distributions . Community sentiment remains cautious, as Monad's co-founder has yet to confirm a firm date.

Lighter, a decentralized futures exchange, announced a compensation plan for LLP holders following a 24-hour period in which the product returned -5.35%, its third-worst performance historically . The platform will release a detailed analysis and compensation strategy on October 13, addressing impacted users while maintaining its projected annualized return of 48.4% . This follows a recent outage linked to high transaction throughput, though user funds remained secure .

The week's developments highlight growing momentum in crypto's cross-chain infrastructure and airdrop-driven user acquisition. Portal to Bitcoin's mainnet launch could redefine Bitcoin's role in DeFi, while Aster and Monad's airdrop mechanics test market resilience to liquidity shocks. Lighter's compensation plan underscores the sector's emphasis on transparency amid operational challenges.