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Charles Hoskinson plans to integrate Bitcoin into Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem.
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A new programming language, Aiken, will allow cross-chain smart contract development between Bitcoin and Cardano.
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The plan aims to make Bitcoin a functional asset in DeFi while preserving its core principles.
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has revealed a strategy with the aim to bring Bitcoin into the decentralized finance sector through technical integration with the Cardano blockchain.
In a recent interview, Hoskinson outlined the plan that centers on connecting Bitcoin to Cardano using a trustless, recursive bridge built on Cardano’s layer 2 protocol, Hydra, and Bitcoin’s Lightning Network.
The proposal would allow Bitcoin users to interact with DeFi platforms without leaving the Bitcoin ecosystem. “Bitcoin now has Taproot, it has Lightning, and with a decent bridge, you can actually do DeFi on Bitcoin,” said Hoskinson.
The approach will allow users to maintain their exposure to BTC while partaking in lending, borrowing, and trading across DeFi platforms powered by Cardano.
The move is positioned as a way to give Bitcoin a greater role in the growing DeFi landscape, which has been largely dominated by Ethereum and newer networks like Solana.
By combining the two networks’ strengths—Bitcoin’s liquidity and Cardano’s scalability—the integration could offer a low-cost, high-throughput alternative for BTC-based DeFi activity.
Aiken: Cross-Chain Development Language
Supporting this plan is Aiken, a programming language developed by Cardano specifically to support multi-chain smart contract development. The language is designed to generate scripts that can run on both the Cardano and Bitcoin blockchains, removing much of the complexity developers face when trying to create interoperable applications.
Hoskinson noted that interoperability between the two largest UTXO-based chains—Cardano and Bitcoin—could offer developers increased flexibility without requiring trade-offs in security or decentralization. Aiken’s design is intended to reduce technical complexity and lower the barrier to entry for developers building cross-chain decentralized applications.
Positioning Cardano in the Global DeFi Landscape
Hoskinson referred to the integration as part of a bigger strategy to expand Cardano’s footprint in the DeFi space. He said the goal is to position Cardano as a competitive platform that is capable of matching—and potentially surpassing—the DeFi ecosystems of Ethereum and Solana by offering scalability, low transaction costs, and now, wider asset compatibility.
“Cardano’s infrastructure has the potential, uniquely, to introduce Bitcoin to DeFi without diluting its principles,” he commented.
The plan supports the growing trend in the blockchain space to improve cooperation between networks, allowing users to access DeFi services across multiple chains with fewer challenges. If approved, the integration could allow Bitcoin to serve not just as a store of value but as a more active participant in the new on-chain decentralized finance economy.