Portal
by Tides Network
Bitcoin
Quick Fact
Portal has raised $42.5 million in seed funding—backed by Coinbase Ventures, OKX Ventures, Gate.io, and Arrington Capital—to build the first fully non-custodial Bitcoin interoperability solution. Their "LiteNodes" testnet rewards early participants with perpetual on-chain incentives, marking a significant milestone in Bitcoin DeFi.
Portal to Bitcoin is a trust-minimized, non-custodial interoperability protocol that enables native Bitcoin assets—including BTC, Ordinals, and Runes—to be traded across multiple blockchains without wrapping or centralized bridges. Built by Tides Network, Portal is reshaping how Bitcoin interacts with the broader crypto ecosystem by introducing fast, secure, and fully permissionless cross-chain functionality.
Purpose and Architecture
At its core, Portal is designed to maintain the integrity of Bitcoin’s self-custody ethos while unlocking utility in modern DeFi environments. It uses a custom interoperability layer called BitScaler, which facilitates atomic swaps and multi-party payment channels—eliminating the need for wrapped tokens or risky custodial bridges.Portal also supports integrations through its LiteNodes infrastructure, which allows users to connect and operate across chains without needing to run full nodes or surrender control of their assets.
Core Features
Native Bitcoin Interoperability: Users can transact BTC and other Bitcoin-native assets (like Ordinals and Runes) directly on supported L1 and L2 networks.
Bridgeless Architecture: Portal avoids wrapped assets by enabling direct swaps via smart contracts and cryptographic verification.
Multi-Chain Access: Interacts seamlessly with major chains such as Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Avalanche, BNB Chain, and more.
Self-Custodial Design: All interactions are non-custodial, preserving user sovereignty and aligning with Bitcoin’s core principles.
Cross-Chain Liquidity Access: Tap into DeFi protocols on other networks using BTC as collateral or trading base—without ever leaving your own wallet.
Funding and Development
In 2024, Portal raised over $42.5 million in early-stage investment from leading backers including Coinbase Ventures, OKX Ventures, Arrington Capital, and Gate.io Ventures. The funds are driving development of its mainnet and LiteNode rollout, which is expected to provide long-term incentives for early participants and node operators.
Why Portal to Bitcoin Matters
Bitcoin has long lacked meaningful DeFi integration due to custodial risks, lack of programmability, and interoperability limitations. Portal offers a solution that honors Bitcoin’s foundational values while extending its utility across chains—without compromise.It’s not just about bridging BTC; it’s about empowering it.