Threshold's tBTC Bridge Upgrade Unlocks $500B Bitcoin for DeFi as Saylor Denies Sell-Off Rumors

Threshold Network has rolled out a major upgrade to its tBTC bridge, aiming to unlock over $500 billion in institutional and whale-held Bitcoin for decentralized finance (DeFi). The update enables users to mint tBTC—fully backed 1:1 by Bitcoin—directly onto chains like Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, and Sui with a single transaction. This is secured through a decentralized threshold signature model requiring 51 of 100 node operators to approve transactions. Rizza Carla Ramos, Threshold's head of marketing, emphasized that this gives institutions the tools to earn yield on dormant BTC, with over $4.2 billion in volume already bridged.

Meanwhile, Michael Saylor refuted rumors that MicroStrategy was dumping Bitcoin during a recent flash crash, posting on X that there is "no truth" in claims of a 47,000 BTC reduction. He stated that MicroStrategy, which controls about 640,000 BTC, is actually buying heavily during the pullback. Bitcoin fell from above $100,000 to below $95,000 in under 24 hours, but analysts attribute this to profit-taking rather than fear, with liquidity remaining solid.

As capital rotates, altcoins like Solana (SOL) and Chainlink (LINK) are gaining attention. Solana is holding near $141, with analysts predicting a rebound to $300–$450 by 2026, supported by over 10,700 active developers. Chainlink, trading around $14, is seen as essential infrastructure, with partnerships including JPMorgan and SWIFT fueling bullish forecasts of all-time highs exceeding $100. Additionally, VeChain's Hayabusa upgrade shifts it from Proof of Authority to Delegated Proof of Stake, enabling staking and decentralization, which could push VET from $0.0156 toward $0.017 if support holds.