Bitcoin’s ownership is shifting. More BTC sits with long-term holders, funds, and larger allocators, yet most of it remains idle, with limited ways to deploy it productively onchain without taking on additional trust trade-offs. Alea Research has published Threshold 2025 Benchmark Report that takes a data-driven look at how tBTC is performing across supply, DeFi utilization, liquidity depth, and fee dynamics.
This Benchmark is built to help our community interpret the right signals. Builders, LPs, lenders, token holders, and ecosystem partners can use it to understand where adoption is strengthening, where revenue is coming from, and which metrics will define the next phase of growth.
Threshold Signatures in Practice | Threshold Network
The Q4 data present a nuanced but constructive picture. Supply cooled after the Q3 peak, declining 7% quarter over quarter, but it remains up 27% year over year at roughly 5.9k tBTC. Even more important, DeFi TVL increased to 4.9k BTC, up 27% QoQ and 65% YoY. This indicates that a higher share of outstanding tBTC is being deployed in DeFi venues rather than sitting idle.
Liquidity depth across venues remains strong. Approximately $427M of tBTC was deployed across DeFi protocols at quarter end, nearly flat QoQ and up 55% YoY.
Annualized fees and protocol revenue reached a $1.4M run rate, up 30% QoQ.
Because fees are currently driven by the 0.2 percent redemption fee, revenue reflects flow activity and redemption volume, not just raw supply growth. Understanding that distinction is critical for anyone evaluating long-term sustainability.
For those new to the ecosystem, Threshold issues tBTC, a 1:1 BTC-backed asset secured by threshold ECDSA across a rotating set of signers with additional safeguards. Minting locks BTC and issues tBTC, while redemption burns tBTC and releases BTC. Mint fees are currently waived to prioritize adoption, while redemption fees fund protocol revenue, buybacks, and the treasury at the DAO’s discretion.
tBTC: Adoption, deployment, and liquidity concentration
The Benchmark Report zooms in on whether tBTC is becoming more usable and more integrated in the venues that matter most.
tBTC Minting Process | Threshold Network
tBTC ended Q4 at approximately 5.9k supply, demonstrating resilience despite BTC price volatility. The strategy remains clear: deepen liquidity and collateral utility on Ethereum mainnet first, then expand across additional chains in a measured way.
The updated app experience, including direct minting to supported chains, direct redemption back to the Bitcoin mainnet, and gasless minting on supported networks, is designed to reduce onboarding friction and increase conversion of BTC holders into active tBTC users.
tBTC Low Fees | Threshold Network
Today, supply remains highly concentrated on Ethereum, with meaningful allocations in major venues such as Aave and Curve. This concentration provides deep liquidity and strong collateral positioning, while cross-chain expansion continues to grow flow and distribution over time.
For anyone tracking Bitcoin’s onchain evolution, this Benchmark offers a clear snapshot of where liquidity stands, how product-market fit is developing, and which metrics will define the next leg of growth.
Dive deeper into the data and explore the full Benchmark Report:
Threshold Validators Integrated Into Endur’s Liquid Staking Infrastructure
Threshold Network is pleased to announce the integration of Threshold validators into Endur’s institutional-grade staking infrastructure, supporting the routing of tBTC liquid staking flows across Starknet. This collaboration marks another step forward in expanding secure, decentralized infrastructure for Bitcoin within programmable environments.
Strengthening Liquid Bitcoin Infrastructure
Through this integration, Threshold validators will participate directly in securing Endur’s BTCFi stack by receiving delegated tBTC stake routed via the protocol. This expands Threshold’s validator footprint within Starknet while contributing to the robustness and decentralization of Endur’s staking layer.
Endur’s staking architecture is built on a curated validator model, delegating capital exclusively to high-performing operators with proven uptime, reliability, and disciplined operational standards. The integration of Threshold validators strengthens this framework, reinforcing a shared commitment to resilient validator distribution and institutional-grade performance across Starknet.
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The ndurfi tBTC Staking Vault is now live on the Threshold app.
At the core of this collaboration is tBTC, a decentralized Bitcoin wrapper powered by threshold cryptography, which enables BTC to move into programmable ecosystems without reliance on centralized custody. This foundation aligns directly with Endur’s BTCFi vision: transforming Bitcoin into liquid, composable, and yield-generating collateral across Starknet’s DeFi landscape.
By incorporating Threshold validators into its delegation set, Endur enhances validator diversity, strengthens infrastructure resilience, and further advances the institutionalization of its liquid staking model.
Endur on Threshold App What This Means for Users
For users, this integration delivers three key benefits:
1. Institutional-Grade Validator Standards
Capital within the Endur Staking Vault is delegated to a curated set of professional validators, including Threshold operators, prioritizing uptime, operational rigor, and risk-managed distribution.
2. Enhanced Network Resilience
Expanding validator participation strengthens decentralization across Starknet while reducing concentration risk within staking flows.
3. Secure Access to BTCFi Opportunities
Users gain exposure to liquid Bitcoin strategies powered by tBTC, enabling BTC to function as productive collateral within Starknet’s DeFi ecosystem without reliance on centralized custodians.
The result is a more secure, diversified, and institutionally aligned liquid staking experience.
Access the Endur Staking Vault
Users can now participate in Endur’s BTCFi infrastructure through Threshold’s interface, with additional updates to follow as we continue expanding the validator and staking framework powering liquid Bitcoin.
The Endur Staking Vault is now accessible directly via the Threshold app
Visit the Endur Staking Vault
Disclaimer: Participation in the Endur Staking Vault involves risk, including smart contract risk, validator performance risk, slashing, market volatility, liquidity constraints, and potential loss of principal. Nothing herein constitutes investment advice, and users should conduct their own due diligence and ensure compliance with applicable laws before participating.