Figment, Ledger, Lombard Partner to Enable Earning Opportunities for Bitcoin Holders

Figment, Ledger, and Lombard have announced a new partnership aimed at providing Bitcoin holders with earning opportunities through staking and yield-generating protocols. The collaboration aligns with the growing interest in decentralized finance (DeFi) and institutional-grade crypto solutions. By leveraging their combined infrastructure, the three firms aim to streamline access to earning tools for both retail and institutional investors.

The partnership comes as major players in the DeFi and staking sectors continue to expand their offerings. Robinhood, for example, has positioned staking as a core component of its 2026 strategy, emphasizing its importance in user engagement and passive income generation. Meanwhile, Bitmine has significantly increased its Ethereum staking footprint, now controlling nearly 4% of the staked ETH network.

The initiative will focus on simplifying yield opportunities for Bitcoin and other digital assets, reducing the technical barriers to entry. This aligns with BenPay's recent launch of DeFi Earn, which offers transparent and simplified on-chain yield solutions to a broader audience.

Why Did This Happen?

The increasing adoption of staking and DeFi is driven by both institutional demand and regulatory clarity. With the anticipated passage of the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act, the U.S. is moving toward a more defined legal framework for staking and digital assets. This legislative shift has prompted corporate treasuries and institutional investors to explore staking as a core component of their financial strategies.

MicroStrategy, for example, has continued to aggressively acquire Bitcoin, recently purchasing 13,627 BTC for $1.25 billion, increasing its total holdings to 687,410 BTC. Such moves underscore the transition of digital assets from speculative investments to strategic corporate assets.

How Did Markets Respond?

Bitcoin's price has risen above $97,000 in recent days, with institutional buying activity contributing to the rally. The price increase has triggered significant short liquidations, with nearly $360 million in liquidations recorded within a 24-hour period. This upward movement is also supported by robust inflows into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, with over $750 million in net inflows recorded recently.

The staking landscape is also evolving. Bitmine's aggressive staking strategy has created a liquidity squeeze in the Ethereum network, with staked ETH reaching 36 million, or nearly 30% of the total supply. This has created a 40-day delay in validator activation, raising concerns about liquidity and price volatility.

What Are Analysts Watching Next?

Analysts are closely monitoring the impact of large staking players like Bitmine on market liquidity and yield dynamics. As more capital is directed into staking, the yield per unit of Ethereum is expected to compress, potentially affecting broader market sentiment.

TD Cowen has revised its price target for Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), cutting it to $440 from $500 due to a weaker Bitcoin yield outlook. The analysts expect Bitcoin to reach $177,000 by December 2026 and $226,000 by 2027, assuming favorable macroeconomic and regulatory conditions.

The partnership between Figment, Ledger, and Lombard is expected to contribute to the broader trend of democratizing access to yield generation. This aligns with GeeFi's recent wallet upgrade, which is driving increased token purchases and enhancing staking functionality.

Implications for Institutional and Retail Investors

The new earning opportunities may appeal to both retail and institutional investors. For institutions, staking provides a way to generate yield on idle balances while maintaining regulatory compliance. For retail users, streamlined access to yield generation tools can help reduce the operational complexity that often discourages participation.

Lemon's recent launch of a Bitcoin-backed credit card in Argentina also highlights the expanding use cases for digital assets, particularly in regions with high inflation and weak fiat currencies. The product is designed to meet the growing demand for crypto-based financial tools.

Looking Ahead

The partnership represents a step toward broader institutional adoption of crypto yield strategies. As more firms integrate staking and DeFi into their financial operations, the market is likely to see further innovation and increased liquidity. However, analysts caution that yield compression and liquidity constraints remain key risks, particularly as more capital is funneled into staking contracts.

The regulatory environment will also play a critical role. If the CLARITY Act passes as expected, it could provide much-needed clarity and stability for the staking and DeFi sectors, encouraging further investment and adoption.

In summary, the collaboration between Figment, Ledger, and Lombard is part of a broader trend toward institutional-grade staking and yield generation. As the market continues to evolve, the balance between innovation, liquidity, and regulatory clarity will be key to sustained growth.