Yala Launches Mainnet to Unlock Bitcoin Liquidity Across DeFi and Real-World Assets

Yala, a Bitcoin-native liquidity protocol, announced today the launch of its mainnet on Ethereum and Solana, enabling Bitcoin holders to access yield opportunities across decentralized finance and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) without relinquishing custody of their BTC.

Bringing BTC to Yield Markets

Yala introduces YU, a BTC-backed liquidity asset that allows users to unlock capital through self-custodial, liquidation-free borrowing. Users mint YU by depositing Bitcoin and, in turn, gain access to capital-efficient liquidity that can be deployed across DeFi and RWA protocols. All yield is distributed through a novel mechanism: a stability fee paid directly by borrowers to depositors.

At the heart of the protocol is Yala SmartVault, a system risk and yield distribution module designed to ensure capital efficiency while maintaining robust security and composability.

The launch comes at a time when demand for real Bitcoin utility is accelerating. As DeFi becomes increasingly multi-chain and yield-bearing products mature, Yala provides a native bridge between Bitcoin’s $1.3 trillion store of value and the expanding world of on-chain finance.

Institutional Backing and Strategic Deployment

Yala recently closed an $8 million seed round co-led by Polychain Capital and Ethereal Ventures, with participation from strategic angels and infrastructure partners.

As of today, Yala is live on Ethereum and Solana, with integrations spanning DeFi protocols such as Kamino, Pendle, and Raydium, as well as RWA platforms offering exposure to private credit and U.S. Treasury bills. The multi-chain architecture of Yala ensures users can access high-quality yield sources while preserving the fundamental ethos of Bitcoin: trustless ownership and security.

“Bitcoin has long been the most powerful store of value in crypto but has historically been isolated from broader capital markets,” said Kaitai Chang, co-founder and COO of Yala. “With Yala, we're unlocking that dormant liquidity in a self-custodial, capital-efficient way, bringing BTC into DeFi, RWAs, and beyond without compromising on user sovereignty.”

A New Financial Primitive for BTC

The core of Yala’s design is to transform passive Bitcoin into an active, yield-generating asset. By minting $YU, users gain access to liquidity that remains composable across ecosystems, mirroring the role of stablecoins in Ethereum-based DeFi, but secured by the world’s most decentralized monetary asset.

The launch follows a successful testnet program with 1.55 million testnet BTC deposited across 3.3 million unique wallets, reflecting strong user appetite for BTC-native financial tools that are both capital-efficient and accessible.

Yala plans to expand its partner integrations and community activations in the coming months, with upcoming campaigns focused on institutional onboarding, ecosystem incentives, and DAO governance.

Interested users and partners can learn more at yala.org or follow updates on @yalaorg .