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Portal to Bitcoin (PTB): Cross-Chain Infrastructure for Bitcoin DeFi

Portal to Bitcoin makes it easy to use Bitcoin across different blockchains without risky bridges or giving up control of your funds. Founded by Dr. Chandra Duggirala and backed by Coinbase Ventures, Arrington Capital, and OKX Ventures with $42.5 million in funding, Portal to Bitcoin (PTB) will soon be available on Bitget! What is Portal to Bitcoin (PTB)? Portal to Bitcoin is a cross-chain infrastructure project designed to make accessing and using Bitcoin effortless, safe, and non-custodial from other blockchains and Layer 2 solutions. Unlike traditional solutions that use risky bridges or wrapped coins, Portal to Bitcoin enables direct peer-to-peer transactions where users always keep control of their Bitcoin while trading across different networks. The platform solves major problems with current cross-chain solutions: most bridges can be hacked, wrapped coins require trusting third parties, and users often lose control of their funds during trades. Portal to Bitcoin eliminates these risks by enabling atomic swaps - trades that happen instantly and simultaneously, so no one can cheat or steal your coins. Core Innovation: Portal to Bitcoin's BitScaler technology enables secure, custody-less cross-chain transactions where users maintain complete control of their Bitcoin while accessing DeFi, trading, and other blockchain applications across multiple networks. Who Created Portal to Bitcoin (PTB)? Portal to Bitcoin was founded in 2018 by a team headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with extensive experience in blockchain, healthcare, and technology. Dr. Chandra Duggirala (Co-founder, CEO & Chairman): ● Medical Background: MBBS from Rangaraya Medical College, internal medicine residency at Drexel University College of Medicine ● Academic Credentials: PhD in Biology and Biophysics at Northern Illinois University ● Entrepreneurial Experience: Founded Novobionics (medical devices) and tryFuel.com (personalized nutrition) ● Blockchain Expertise: Contributed to open-source blockchain projects and leads Portal to Bitcoin's vision for decentralized, custody-less cross-chain transactions Manoj Duggirala (Co-founder, CTO): ● Technical Leadership: Responsible for Portal to Bitcoin's development and architecture ● Development Role: Core developer on Portal to Bitcoin's Bitcoin DEX infrastructure and reference wallet ● Background: Extensive experience in crypto engineering and protocol design George Burke (Co-founder, Business Development): ● Industry Experience: Long track record in the crypto space, active since early Bitcoin days ● Business Leadership: Oversees partnerships, integrations, and business expansion ● Expertise: Product development and strategic relationships within the crypto ecosystem Key Team Members: ● Ian Byrne - Chief Marketing Officer driving growth strategies and community engagement ● Robin Frey - Head of Business Development managing partnerships and market expansion ● John Shipman - Executive Leadership with previous CEO experience at Xai Games ● Anand Suresh - Engineering specialist in backend and protocol engineering for cross-chain swaps The team combines medical training, technical expertise, and startup experience to drive Portal to Bitcoin's vision for secure, custody-free cross-chain Bitcoin DeFi infrastructure. What VCs Back Portal to Bitcoin (PTB)? Portal to Bitcoin has raised a total of $42.5 million across two funding rounds from leading crypto investors and exchanges. Funding Rounds: ● Pre-seed (2021): $8.5 million ● Seed (2024): $34 million (second-largest Web3 seed round that year) Major Venture Capital Backers: ● Coinbase Ventures - Leading crypto exchange investment arm ● Arrington Capital - Prominent crypto venture fund ● OKX Ventures - Major exchange venture division ● Gate.io - Strategic exchange partner and investor ● Shima Capital - Crypto-focused investment firm Strategic Partnerships: ● Bitfinity Network - EVM-compatible network integration for smart contract solutions ● Ordibank - Bitcoin Layer 1 asset lending and borrowing platform integration ● Polygon - Strategic partnership for Bitcoin DeFi advancement ● Mintlayer - Collaboration for secure atomic swaps and Layer-2 DEX functionality ● Aark Digital - Cross-chain liquidity and non-custodial trading partnership Funding Highlights: Portal to Bitcoin's focus on eliminating bridge risks while enabling true Bitcoin DeFi has consistently attracted strategic investors and major exchanges, demonstrating strong confidence in their bridgeless, custody-less approach to cross-chain infrastructure. How Portal to Bitcoin (PTB) Works Portal to Bitcoin operates through several key technologies that make cross-chain Bitcoin transactions safe and user-friendly: BitScaler Protocol - The Core Engine BitScaler is Portal to Bitcoin's trustless technology that allows users to trade Bitcoin directly with other cryptocurrencies across different blockchains. Think of it like a digital escrow system - both parties lock their coins simultaneously, and the trade only completes when both sides are satisfied, ensuring no one can cheat. Portal OS and Validator Network Portal OS runs a network of validators who help coordinate trades but never touch or control user funds. These validators are like traffic controllers - they help direct transactions safely but never hold your Bitcoin. This eliminates the risk of custodial hacks that plague traditional bridges. Multi-Chain Support and Easy Trading Portal to Bitcoin works with Bitcoin, Lightning Network, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Stacks, and other major networks. Users can trade between any of these without needing wrapped coins or risky bridges. For example, you can swap Bitcoin for Ethereum tokens directly, peer-to-peer, in one simple transaction. Portal Wallet and AI Features The Portal Wallet is a user-friendly interface that manages your assets across all supported blockchains. RAFA AI agents provide intelligent suggestions for trades, portfolio management, and market opportunities, making complex DeFi strategies accessible to everyone. Portal to Bitcoin has demonstrated its technology through successful partnerships with major DeFi platforms and exchanges, proving real-world utility and adoption. You can access the platform at portaltobitcoin.com. Portal to Bitcoin Token (PTB) and Economics The PTB token serves as the native utility and governance token powering the Portal to Bitcoin ecosystem. Token Details ● Token Name: Portal to Bitcoin ● Token Symbol: PTB ● Total Supply: 8,400,000,000 tokens (8.4 billion) Token Distribution ● Shareholders: 29.8% ● LP Rewards: 24.3% ● Foundation: 11.4% ● Validator Rewards: 11.2% ● Ecosystem Development: 10.2% ● Liquidity: 8.1% ● Airdrop: 2.6% ● LiteNodes Rewards: 1.9% ● KOL + Advisors: 0.5% Vesting Structure: Team, advisor, and investor allocations are subject to multi-year vesting schedules with cliff periods. Emissions and community rewards are released per epoch, promoting ongoing network participation. Burn Mechanism: Half of all swap fees earned in other currencies are used to buy back and burn PTB tokens, permanently removing them from circulation and supporting deflationary tokenomics. Token Utilities ● Transaction Fees: Pay fees for cross-chain swaps, DEX trading, and platform operations ● Validator Staking: Stake tokens to run validators or Litenodes securing the Portal to Bitcoin network ● Liquidity Provision: Provide liquidity to cross-chain DEX and earn trading fee rewards ● Governance: Vote on protocol upgrades, fee parameters, and network decisions ● Premium Features: Access advanced AI agents, enhanced trading tools, and priority support Why Portal to Bitcoin? Traditional cross-chain solutions face critical security vulnerabilities and force users to trust third parties. Portal to Bitcoin solves these fundamental problems with proven technology: Experienced Leadership with Medical and Technical Background: Founded by Dr. Chandra Duggirala, combining medical training, academic research, and entrepreneurial experience, supported by proven crypto engineering team from major tech companies. Strong Crypto Industry Validation: $42.5 million raised from leading investors including Coinbase Ventures, Arrington Capital, OKX Ventures, and Gate.io, with the 2024 seed round being the second-largest in Web3 that year. True Custody-Less Technology: BitScaler protocol enables trustless atomic swaps without new Bitcoin opcodes, eliminating bridge risks that have caused billions in losses across the crypto industry. Comprehensive Partnership Network: Strategic integrations with Bitfinity Network for EVM compatibility, Ordibank for Bitcoin lending, Polygon for scalability, Mintlayer for Layer-2 functionality, and Aark Digital for enhanced liquidity. Multi-Chain Infrastructure: Native support for Bitcoin, Lightning Network, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Stacks (sBTC), Ordinals & BRC20, and Aeternity enables comprehensive cross-chain coverage without compromising security. AI-Enhanced User Experience: RAFA AI agents provide intelligent portfolio management, trading recommendations, and automated DeFi strategies, making complex cross-chain operations accessible to all users. Proven Market Traction: Successfully deployed technology with working partnerships, active validator network, and growing user base demonstrating real-world utility and adoption. Developer-Friendly Ecosystem: Comprehensive SDK, API tools, Chrome extension wallet, and marketplace solutions enable easy integration for developers building cross-chain applications. Deflationary Token Economics: Burn mechanism using trading fees creates sustainable tokenomics while validator rewards and community incentives drive network growth and decentralization. Portal to Bitcoin successfully combines proven Bitcoin-native technology with user-friendly interfaces, positioning it as the leading solution for secure, bridgeless cross-chain DeFi infrastructure. Portal to Bitcoin (PTB) Goes Live on Bitget We are thrilled to announce that Portal To Bitcoin (PTB) is coming to Bitget Launchpool and will be listed in the Innovation Zone. Check out the details below: Trading Available: 3 September 2025, 12:00 (UTC) Withdrawal Available: 4 September 2025, 13:00 (UTC) Trade PTB/USDT on Bitget! Activity 1: Launchpool — Lock BGB & PTB to share 22,400,000 PTB Locking period: 3 September 2025, 12:00 – 6 September 2025, 12:00 (UTC) Lock Now Activity 2: PoolX — Lock BTC and ETH to share 2,800,000 PTB Locking period: 3 September 2025, 12:00 – 8 September 2025, 12:00 (UTC) Lock Now Community Links: Website | Twitter | Discord | Telegram Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are for informational purposes only. This article does not constitute an endorsement of any of the products and services discussed or investment, financial, or trading advice. Qualified professionals should be consulted prior to making financial decisions. 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Bitget Hot Takes (October 09 - October 15)

Bitget Hot Takes is the exclusive weekly newsletter series by Bitget Academy, the 360-degree onboarding guide for all crypto enthusiasts. The latest Bitget Hot Takes can be found here. Central Themes • BGB hit a local low, volume unaffected. • MetaMask briefly removed from Apple AppStore on Saturday. • U.S.’s headline CPI higher than expected at 0.4% MoM and 3.7% YoY. • Paola Ardoino now Tether’s CEO. BGB Hit A Local Low As mentioned last week, BGB was about to reach a local low, and it did at US$0.424916 on Sunday, October 15. We’re already seeing the bounceback and supporting indicators thenceforth; it’s safe to assume that the correction is over. This short-lived decline in BGB prices did raise the corresponding volatility, but it’s still pretty modest compared to that of major coins: the only one with decreasing volatility over the last few days is Bitcoin, whose figure remained above BGB’s until the very last day of the week. With XRP losing its appeal from Judge Torres’ decision in July, its volume is also affected in a negative way, which of course excludes periods of sell-offs. BGB’s volume to market cap ratio is sticking to the 0.03 mark, and 7D volume was almost unchanged (+1.9%) despite lower price levels. That is, holders have seen the token’s long-term potential and temporary losses are nothing compared to the expected return it can bring them, thus the diamond hands. If you are a sceptic, then maybe learn about the perks that come with the wonderful token named BGB first? After all, BGB has always proved itself to be a good investment. You can check out our BGB Sail Series to see how impressive BGB monthly performance is: BGB Sail: September Edition BGB Sail: August Edition BGB Sail: July Edition BGB Sail: June Edition BGB Sail: May Edition BGB Sail: April Edition BGB Sail: March Edition BGB Sail: February Edition Lurking Concern Of Another Rate Hike The U.S. CPI data for September was released on October 12 at 3.7% YoY, 0.4% MoM for the headline CPI and 4.1% YoY, 0.3% MoM for the core CPI. The headline CPI, which includes the volatile energy and food prices, is a bit higher than the expected 3.6% YoY and 0.3% MoM, therefore stock markets had no choice but to end their four-day winning streak. As for crypto stocks, the only to record a positive week is understandably ProShares’ Bitcoin short strategy ETF (BITI), though the overall trend is some idleness in this sector. The biggest crypto stocks (BITO, COIN, MSTR) saw the biggest drops in volume, ranging from 21% to 33%. On FedWatch Tool, the odds of FED’s raising interest rates in their next meeting has increased to 6.5%, intensifying the competition for capital even between risky assets. The global market cap on October 15’s midnight (UTC) is recorded at US$1,089,550,687,783, accompanied by a lower fear greed index of 47/100. Even the opening price of Bitcoin today is 2.7% lower than last Monday (October 09), which was already inching lower from October 02’s US$27,976.8. However, there are many reasons for bulls to be optimistic: • The deadline for the SEC to appeal the court’s decision on Grayscale Bitcoin ETF has expired, meaning the agency can’t reject Grayscale’s application to convert their trust into an ETF anymore. Yet the agency, notoriously known for its deadline extension for crypto ETFs, still has the final say on when and if the current applications are fault-free. • A proposal by ZeroSync’s core contributor Robin Linus sparks the hope that smart contracts will soon come to the Bitcoin blockchain, i.e. dApps are coming to Bitcoin. • Paul Tudor publicly voiced his support for Bitcoin, citing “I can’t love stocks, but I love Bitcoin and gold”. And take this light-heartedly: Jim Cramer said “Mr. Bitcoin is about to do down big”, so we can’t not bet on the opposite, right? The Latest Bitget News Notable daily gainers include BIGTIME/USDT (+1,756.7%), CBK/USDT (+130%), ORBS/USDT (+124.9%) and STRAX/USDT (+107.8%), with BIGTIME already added to Bitget Futures and Bitget Spot Margin and CBK added to Bitget Fixed Savings with a 80% APR! Bitget Spot Trading’s volume was up by 5.3%, Bitget Futures Markets’s average crypto OI by 9.8%, average Bitcoin OI by 9.3% in the last 7 days, meaning Bitcoin dominance on the futures market slightly went down by 0.4% to land at 54.8%. Don’t forget that we are calling for project recommendations - submit info about your favourite project and earn 100 USDT once it’s listed on Bitget! Our flagship Bitget Copy Trade has just introduced a new feature: Elite Trader Badges! Elite traders now can collect, wear and share badges to showcase their skills as well as earn rewards! Learn more about Elite Trader Badges here. Bitget Rewards Center has been upgraded! New users can now get up to 5,027 USDT for free and earn an additional bonus when you log in to your account daily. Sign up immediately to get the most out of our promotion campaign! Looking at new rounds of Bitget Earn? Subscribe to be the first one hearing from us! New Events Big Time (BIGTIME) will be listed on Bitget. Come and grab a share of US$10,000 worth of BIGTIME! Cobak Token(CBK) will be listed on Bitget. Come and grab a share of 37,000 CBK! Newcomers, Win Big with Your First Deposit and Trade! Orbs (ORBS) will be listed on Bitget. Come and grab a share of $15,000 ORBS! New users only: Join the CandyBomb promotion — trade and make net deposits to earn XOR Start margin trading to share 80,000 USDT! New users can get exclusive rewards! Join the Bitget Builders team — share a US$20,000 offline event budget and win "Apple Family" products Join the bot trading competition and grab a share of 50,000 USDT! Choose bots wisely and join copy trading to win triple rewards of up to 70,000 USDT! Good Reads New to bots? — Start here BGB Sail: September Edition On-chain Games: A New Frontier Mastering Cryptocurrency Trading: A Comprehensive Guide Unlocking Real-World Assets on the Blockchain: A New Frontier in Finance Simply create an account, and start exploring the incredible Bitget-Verse today!