Aptos Foundation, dedicated to supporting the development and ecosystem of the Aptos protocol, today announced OKX will launch xBTC on the Aptos network. xBTC is a wrapped version of Bitcoin that is fully backed 1:1 by BTC held in custody by OKX and available to use on Aptos starting May 22.
Aptos users will be able to mint xBTC on OKX and seamlessly deposit or withdraw it on the Aptos network for use across a wide range of Aptos-native DeFi applications, including trading, lending, and other Web3 strategies. A special campaign will be launched on OKX in partnership with Hyperion, Echo Protocol and Aries Markets on May 23 at 3pm (UTC +8). Deeper integrations across the ecosystem are expected to follow in the coming weeks.
“Delivering seamless usability and access to onchain use cases is core to what we’ve been building at OKX,” said Jason Lau, Chief Innovation Officer at OKX. “By bringing xBTC to Aptos, we are keen to see Bitcoin holders put their BTC to work in fast, low-cost DeFi applications while enjoying the security and transparency they’ve come to expect from us.”
“Aptos was built for real-world open finance applications, and Bitcoin is the linchpin between traditional and decentralized finance markets,” said Ash Pampati, Head of Ecosystem at Aptos Foundation. “Being one of the first blockchains to support xBTC is a testament to the network’s high performance, security, and scalability. This opens up new avenues for liquidity and ecosystem growth, while giving developers the confidence and tools to seize them.”
Unlocking New Utility for Bitcoin and Aptos DeFi
Bitcoin remains the most trusted and dominant crypto asset, but it has been largely excluded from smart contract ecosystems. xBTC changes that by allowing BTC holders to interact with DeFi on Aptos: a low-latency, scalable Layer 1 built for billions of users. With 1:1 collateralization and verifiable custody through OKX’s public proof-of-reserves platform, xBTC enhances Bitcoin’s utility while maintaining transparency and user trust.
Aptos boasts a vibrant and thriving DeFi ecosystem with over $1 billion in total value locked (TVL). It is home to other BTC initiatives like aBTC (via Echo Protocol), which has nearly $270 million in TVL[1], reflecting strong momentum behind wrapped BTC assets. Building on this foundation, xBTC is poised to unlock even greater liquidity, cross-chain interoperability, and seamless access to DeFi protocols across the Aptos ecosystem.
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