Babylon Labs has introduced a governance proposal that would allow Bitcoin holders to borrow stablecoins through Aave without moving their BTC off the Bitcoin blockchain. If advanced, this initiative could expand Aave, a leading decentralized finance (DeFi) lending platform, by offering direct Bitcoin-backed lending without the need for wrapped tokens.
Taproot Vaults to Enable Native Bitcoin Collateral
The proposal, published on October 14, details an integration using Babylon’s Trustless Bitcoin Vaults (TBVs) to link native Bitcoin with Aave V4’s Ethereum-based system. Instead of relying on wrapped Bitcoin, users would lock their BTC in Taproot-enabled outputs directly on the Bitcoin network.
Once locked, a corresponding record would be reflected within Aave V4, permitting users to access stablecoin liquidity without bridging assets to Ethereum. The system employs two core elements: the Babylon Spoke, which manages borrowing against BTC, and the BTC Vault Swap Spoke, responsible for liquidations and settlements.
Because Aave’s lending pools require ERC-20 tokens as collateral, the integration generates a restricted accounting token to represent users’ Bitcoin vaults in Aave. However, this token cannot be traded or freely transferred like standard wrapped BTC assets.
Mini dictionary: Babylon Labs is a blockchain research and development company focused on expanding the utility of Bitcoin through innovations such as trustless staking vaults and decentralized finance integrations.
Babylon has promoted on-chain BTC utility before, notably with its staking infrastructure—since August 2024, it reports over 100,000 Bitcoin cumulatively staked in its vaults, signaling demand for advanced Bitcoin-based financial products.
Babylon Foundation, in its governance documents, indicated that its TBV system allows users to gain liquidity from Aave without forfeiting custody or relying on wrapped assets, offering a way to participate in DeFi while retaining native BTC ownership.
Governance and Security Mechanisms
As the proposal moves past an initial community review, governance concerns have emerged over how emergency mechanisms will affect user access. On October 16, an Aave governance member questioned whether Babylon’s emergency settings could delay or prevent collateral withdrawals, despite the Bitcoin itself remaining secure in its Taproot vault.
Babylon engineer Aleksa Opacic clarified that these emergency stops would not move or release any BTC from vaults, but could temporarily suspend withdrawals, repayments, and liquidations to maintain platform stability during critical situations.
The system would rely on a four-of-seven multisignature governance group plus a separate three-of-five emergency guardian team. Contract upgrades would be subject to a five-day grace period, while emergency pauses could take effect immediately.
A Babylon engineer emphasized that while the native BTC collateral remains secure, emergency protocols might temporarily restrict access to borrowers during periods of volatility or risk assessment.
Security measures of this kind have drawn scrutiny within the DeFi space, as real-world incidents involving liquidations and collateral control underscore the importance of robust on-chain governance and transparency.
Revenue Sharing and Competitive Landscape
The proposal also lays out a revenue-sharing model between Aave DAO and the Babylon Foundation. Under the plan, Aave would receive the first $500,000 in qualifying annual revenue from the Bitcoin-backed lending feature. Earnings above that threshold would be divided among Aave, Babylon, and token-purchase pools based on a sliding scale.
| Annual Revenue | Aave Share | Babylon Share | Token Purchase Allocation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to $500,000 | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| $500,000–$1,000,000 | 60% | 30% | 10% |
| Above $1,000,000 | 50% | 25% | 25% |
As revenue grows, portions of these funds would be used to purchase AAVE and BABY tokens from the market. Still, the framework does not guarantee minimum demand for the product or required token acquisitions.
This development aligns with Aave’s ongoing expansion of version 4 of its lending protocol, as well as increased institutional and platform interest in direct Bitcoin-backed lending.
Competitor platforms like Strike also offer Bitcoin-secured loans, highlighting how different providers are balancing the need for liquidity with the risks tied to collateral liquidation. The outcome of Aave’s governance process will determine whether this integration proceeds to implementation.
