On March 19, the OP_NET protocol will be activated on the Bitcoin network. This will enable the use of smart contracts and DeFi tools directly on the foundational layer of the first cryptocurrency.
Source: opnet.org.A key feature of OP_NET is its elimination of cross-chain bridges and wrapped tokens. Previously, Bitcoin holders had to transfer funds to networks like Ethereum or rely on centralized services to participate in DeFi, which posed risks of hacks or service outages.
Now, users simply need to connect their wallets to applications. All transactions are conducted through standard Bitcoin transactions, with fees paid exclusively in BTC. Technically, the protocol embeds smart contract code and execution parameters directly into the transactions, which are confirmed by miners.
Along with the mainnet announcement, developers introduced:
- the OP-20 token standard;
- the decentralized exchange MotoSwap for asset trading;
- tools for staking and farming.
Chad Master, co-founder of OP_NET, described this concept as SlowFi in an interview with CoinDesk. The team views Bitcoin's low block creation speed (around 10 minutes) as an advantage rather than a drawback, creating "structural friction" when capital is withdrawn.
According to the developers, this mechanism helps retain liquidity in protocols and reduces the likelihood of panic selling typical of fast blockchains.
Master compared the launch of OP_NET to the "DeFi summer of 2020" on Ethereum, but in a more secure environment. The project plans to integrate stablecoins through an expansion of the OP-20S standard in the second quarter of 2026.
As a reminder, in December 2025, the BTCFi project team Babylon announced lending against collateral in the first cryptocurrency on Aave V4.
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