Overview
- Circle, which announced the token Thursday, says each cirBTC unit will be backed 1:1 by native Bitcoin with reserves viewable onchain in real time.
- Launch is planned first on Ethereum and on Circle’s Arc blockchain with integrations into USDC and Circle Mint, and the product page lists it as coming soon with a waitlist.
- Circle targets OTC desks, market makers, and lending protocols, offering a way to use Bitcoin for trading, collateral, and settlement on smart-contract networks where native BTC cannot run code.
- The company says it will avoid third‑party attestations and opaque custodians, though it has not disclosed specific custody providers or the exact proof‑of‑reserve mechanics.
- cirBTC enters a crowded field led by BitGo’s WBTC at about $8 billion in market value and Coinbase’s cbBTC near $6 billion, raising adoption questions for a new entrant even with Circle’s U.S. and Bermuda licenses.