Overview
- Circle, which announced the institutional cirBTC token Thursday, said each unit is backed one to one by native bitcoin with reserves that users can verify onchain.
- The company plans an initial release on Ethereum and its Arc chain with integrations to USDC and Circle Mint.
- Circle pitched cirBTC as a neutral option for OTC desks, market makers, lending platforms, and other firms that need tokenized BTC for trading, collateral, and settlement.
- The product is listed as coming soon with a waitlist, and Circle has not disclosed custody arrangements, full proof‑of‑reserve mechanics, required approvals, or a launch date.
- The wrapped‑BTC market already has large incumbents, with BitGo’s WBTC near $8 billion and Coinbase’s cbBTC around $6 billion in value, setting a high bar for Circle’s entry.