But here’s the good news: with b14g, you’re not stuck fighting over a limited pie—you can earn more.

Introducing the b14g Point Program

We’re excited to announce that b14g Point Program is now live, offering BTC depositors an easy way to build up rewards over time. You earn b14g Points for completing tasks, which can later be converted into $B14G token.

A standout feature of the b14g Point Program is its transparency. From day one, you’ll have a clear view of how many points you’ve earned, where you stand on the leaderboard and what rewards are available. No surprises, just clear and fair reward distributions.

Why Choose b14g?

Many existing BTC restaking platforms act as middlemen, where you deposit your BTC with these platforms, and they forward it to staking infrastructures like Babylon. This setup poses two big problems:

1. Limited Rewards: With Babylon’s Cap2 maxed out, users face stiff competition for the remaining staking slots, meaning smaller rewards for everyone.

2. Security Risks: When depositing through these platforms, users’ funds depend on the platform’s security, introducing an added layer of risk.

**How does b14g solve this?**Unlike other platforms, we don’t require you to deposit your BTC with us. Instead, we accept proof of staked BTC from platforms like Babylon and CoreDAO, so your BTC stays secure where you originally staked it. This means no competition for limited staking slots. You earn more without worrying about platform caps, while still maintaining full control of your BTC.

In short, more rewards and less risk.

How to Earn b14g Points

Earning b14g Points is straightforward:

1. Restaking: The main way to earn points is through restaking. By merging your BTC locked from CoreDAO with CORE tokens and restaking them on b14g, you’ll receive points for every snapshot taken—at least once every 24 hours. And soon, you’ll also be able to restake BTC locked on Babylon, unlocking even more earning opportunities!

2. Referrals: Invite friends to join b14g and earn 10% of their restaking points—forever. A simple way to grow your points passively.

3. Social Engagement: Join the b14g community on Twitter, Telegram and Discord, and you’ll earn points. Period.

Boosts and Bonuses: Maximize Your Rewards

But the rewards don’t stop there.

With boosts and bonuses, you can supercharge your points and earn even more from the b14g Point Program.

Boosts: Be an Early Adopter for Bigger Rewards

The earlier you start restaking, the bigger your rewards. Early adopters will receive a multiplier boost on the points they earn. So, for every task you complete, your points get multiplied by your Multiplier Boost.

Here’s how it works: Points Earned = Task Points * User Multiplier Boost

This multiplier gives early supporters an advantage, allowing them to rack up more points for being part of the program from the start.

Bonuses: Higher TVL, Higher Rewards

In addition to boosts, there’s also a bonus system based on the total amount of tokens restaked in the program.

As the total value locked (TVL) increases, so do the rewards.

This ensures that your rewards aren’t diluted as the platform grows. Simply put, as the b14g community expands, you’ll earn more.

Start Earning Today

Whether you’re restaking, referring friends, or engaging with the b14g community, there are plenty of ways to build up your b14g Points and turn them into $B14G tokens. The earlier you start, the bigger your rewards!

Learn more about the program in our official documentation here.

Ready to begin? Stake and earn now at app.b14g.xyz.

https://mirror.xyz/0xb6A73AFB96b069DEfA3Fbc02980E39e5eeB8B5cC/Lb8Y7RqqsEoAWVa0vjdO3BeT3uzOdo33lwKGKJnW8Cc

That’s where b14g comes in. Our project introduces Observer Nodes and Merge Staking, two powerful mechanisms designed to strengthen Core Chain’s BTC staking model. These improvements not only ensure a more secure network but also open up new earning opportunities for BTC and CORE holders.

Identifying Improvement Areas in Core Chain

Our analysis of the Core Chain architecture uncovered a few areas that could benefit from enhancement:

1. Addressing the Relayer Attack Risk in BTC Staking

Currently, Core Chain relies on a single Relayer Node to sync data between the Bitcoin and Core networks. This centralized approach makes the Relayer a prime target for attacks, which poses a risk to the system’s overall security.

To address this, b14g introduces Observer Nodes, a decentralized solution where participants can stake their assets to secure the monitoring process. These nodes ensure that data syncing is reliable and attack-resistant.

2. Addressing Commitment Issues in BTC Staking

In most Proof-of-Stake systems, stakers can face penalties if they act maliciously, often losing their staked assets. However, in Core Chain’s BTC staking, the risk is much lower. Bad actors only lose potential CORE rewards, while their staked BTC remains untouched, allowing them to profit elsewhere, which undermines the system’s security.

A slashing mechanism is needed. However, implementing such a mechanism presents challenges: First, slashing BTC is impractical due to its high value. No one would burn gold, right? Second, allowing slashing of BTC introduces security risks. An event on the PoS chain, such as an attack, could trigger the slashing of BTC locked on the Bitcoin network, creating more points of security vulnerabilities.

To fix this, b14g employs Merge Staking. Here’s how it works:

• Users merge their staked BTC with CORE tokens to secure Core Chain.

• In the event of any misbehavior, only the CORE tokens are slashed, while the BTC remains protected. This ensures a fair penalty system without risking high-value BTC, reinforcing both security and fairness.

Here is the overview of how Observer Nodes and b14g’s Merge Staking strengthen Core Chain security:

The whole process:

1. You stake BTC on Core Chain.

2. You merge staked BTC and CORE and restake into b14g to secure Observer Nodes.

3. Also, your locked CORE token is then automatically staked into stCORE staking on Core chain.

How You Can Benefit

You can now create a threefold income source from a single staking action.

1. BTC Staking Rewards
   When you stake your BTC on Core Chain, you earn regular BTC staking rewards.

2. CORE Staking Rewards
   Merge your BTC with CORE tokens and restake on b14g. Once restaked, your CORE token is automatically staked into stCORE staking on Core chain, allowing you to earn stCORE staking reward.

3. b14g Restaking Rewards
   The merge also unlocks b14g restaking rewards. Stay tuned for more details in our next post, but here’s a tip: if you join early, your rewards can multiply up to 10x (shhh… but don’t wait too long — this ends soon!).

Earn Exclusive b14g Rewards Now!

b14g Exclusive Rewards for Early Adopters of Bitcoin Merge Staking are now live. You can start earning today Stake BTC now.

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• With a market capitalization exceeding $1.2 trillion, Bitcoin reigns supreme as a valuable asset class. However, a significant portion of these coins lie dormant in wallets and exchanges.

• Bitcoin Restaking unlocks capital efficiency by utilizing dormant BTC assets for staking on PoS chains.

• Bitcoin Restaking is the process of initially staking to secure PoS chains, then staking again to secure other protocols, increasing potential rewards for stakers and boosting security for DeFi ecosystems.

• Two primary approaches for BTC restaking: centralized (e.g., BounceBit) and decentralized (e.g., Babylon).

• Centralized BTC restaking offers ease of use but involves counterparty risks, potentially leading to loss of BTC.

• Decentralized BTC restaking ensures your full control of BTC but may be less user-friendly for newcomers to staking and carries slashing risks.

• The future of restaking is promising, with ongoing evolution, integration with DeFi, and advancements in blockchain technology.

Introduction

Bitcoin has a massive market cap of over $1.2 trillion now. Yet, a significant portion of this digital gold sits idle in users’ cold wallets and in various exchanges. Traditionally, BTC holders could only profit by waiting for BTC price hikes (driven by halvings, ETFs,…) to sell it later.

What if you could earn on your Bitcoin without selling it?

Bitcoin restaking lets you do just that. It allows you to put your idle Bitcoin to work on Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchains. Here’s the gist:

• You earn passive income for helping secure other PoS networks.

• Your Bitcoin remains yours!

This article dives into the world of Bitcoin restaking, explaining how it works, the potential benefits, and any drawbacks to consider.

What is Staking and How does it works

Before diving into restaking, let’s understand staking itself.

In PoS (Proof-of-Stake) blockchains, staking is the process of locking up a specific amount of token (usually the blockchain’s native token) to support network functions like transaction validation, thereby contributing to the network’s security and operations.

By staking your tokens, you essentially become a validator on the blockchain. Validators are responsible for verifying transactions and making sure everything runs smoothly. The more tokens you stake, the greater your influence in the network.

As a reward for helping to secure the network, you earn interest on the tokens you’ve staked. Conversely, if you (as the validator) act dishonestly or do anything that could harm the network, you may lose your staked assets via a process called slashing (a punishment process).

In some ways, staking is similar to depositing cash in a savings account. You commit your tokens for a predetermined period and receive interest in return. Staking Ethereum (ETH) is a widely recognized example of this process.

What is Bitcoin Restaking?

Bitcoin Staking is the process of staking your Bitcoin to increase the security of PoS chains and earn yield.

Bitcoin Restaking, as the name suggests, is when you take the staked BTC, and stake it again on a new protocol. You’ll get additional yields as a reward. This creates a compounding effect, where both the initial stake and subsequent re-stake generate additional returns.

How Does Bitcoin Restaking Work?

Bitcoin staking and restaking differ slightly from the regular staking we discussed earlier (e.g., Ethereum staking). Bitcoin operates on a Proof-of-Work (PoW) system, where miners compete to solve complex puzzles to secure the network. This design doesn’t allow for direct staking.

Therefore, Bitcoin restaking requires an additional step: “converting” your Bitcoin into a compatible form for Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchains. Then, you can stake this “converted Bitcoin” to earn rewards from those PoS chains.

There are two main approaches to achieve this compatibility:

Centralized Approach (e.g., BounceBit)

One approach to Bitcoin staking/restaking is to bridge bitcoins from the Bitcoin chain to PoS chains. Bridging Bitcoin involves depositing (locking) your Bitcoin with a trusted custodian, typically a centralized exchange. In return, you receive wrapped Bitcoin issued by the custodian. These wrapped tokens are essentially derivatives that mirror the value of your original Bitcoin but reside on PoS blockchains. You can then stake/restake your wrapped BTC on DeFi platforms within those PoS blockchain ecosystems.

For instance, a Binance user could deposit her native Bitcoin into her Binance account and then withdraw a wrapped Bitcoin token on the BNB chain. Another example is wBTC where Bitgo serves as the custodian of the native Bitcoin.

While centralized approach offers convenience, a critical concern lies in their inherent security. By transferring your Bitcoin off its native network and into a centrialized custodian on another blockchain, you give up control of your Bitcoin to the custodian. This means you’re placing trust in these centralized entities not to act maliciously, not to be hacked, and to manage funds properly. If they fail, either intentionally or under attack, you may suffer losses and face difficulties withdrawing your Bitcoin.

Such centralized custodians are considered too risky for many bitcoin holders. For example, wBTC, one of the largest wrapped Bitcoin assets, only has a market capitalization of less than $5B, a fraction of a percent of the total Bitcoin market capitalization.

One of Bitcoin restaking platforms that use this approach is BounceBit, a project funded by Binance Labs. Users can deposit their BTC on Binance, receive BTCB (wrapped Bitcoin) on the BNB Chain. Then, they deposit BTCB to Ceffu (Binance Custody) through the BounceBit website and receive BounceBTC (BBTC). BBTC can be staked to a validator node along with BounceBit tokens to earn staking rewards and receive stBBTC (liquid restaking tokens). stBBTC, in turn, can be re-staked to help secure other protocols such as DeFi, bridges, oracles, and more.

Decentralized Approach (e.g., Babylon)

This approach lets you stake your Bitcoin on the Bitcoin network without relying on a custodian. Typically, this involves locking your Bitcoin in a time-lock vault on the Bitcoin network to enter a staking contract. Restaking platforms then use various techniques to reflect your original Bitcoin on the PoS chain and keep the PoS chain in sync with the Bitcoin chain. These techniques may include zk proofs, liquid staking tokens, UTXO transactions, Bitcoin timestamping, and others. You can use the Bitcoin reflection proof to stake or restake on the PoS chain.

The core idea of this approach is to keep your Bitcoin under your control on its native blockchain while allowing you to participate in Bitcoin staking/restaking on a PoS chain.

Similar to regular PoS staking, some platforms may implement slashing penalties if you or your delegated validator misbehaves. This could result in the loss of your staked Bitcoin, your staking rewards, or both. Different restaking platforms have different slashing mechanisms, so be sure to understand them before choosing a service.

For example, Babylon uses a time-locked self-custodial vault where a BTC holder stakes their assets on the Bitcoin blockchain for a chosen period of time. Only the private key of the BTC holder can be used to retrieve the asset. They earn rewards in the native token of the PoS network they help secure. In case the staker misuses their stake to attack another network or the underlying validator they delegate their stake to goes offline or acts maliciously, their stake will be slashed, meaning they lose their original BTC.

What’s Next for Bitcoin Restaking?

Bitcoin staking/restaking holds immense potential, with ongoing developments aimed at enhancing its integration with other PoS blockchain systems.

These advancements will likely focus on 4 key areas:

Network Scalability

Future iterations of Bitcoin staking/restaking methods will likely address Bitcoin network scalability to handle increased transactions and interactions. Layer-2 solutions, operating on top of the existing Bitcoin blockchain, could enable staking protocols to expand without overburdening the core network, maintaining performance and minimizing transaction fees.

Cross-chain Security

There’s ongoing debate about how BTC staking/restaking protocols could effectively integrate a PoW asset like Bitcoin into a PoS system. This integration adds complexity and exposes vulnerabilities due to the smart contracts and cross-chain infrastructure involved.

Put simply, the more smart contracts and commands interact with your Bitcoin, the more points of vulnerability there are that could be exploited.

For example, if a smart contract only time-locks your Bitcoin on the Bitcoin network, the security risk is minimal. But if it allows slashing your BTC locked in the contract triggered by events from a PoS chain, there are now more points of security vulnerability.

Therefore, a preferred security solution is keeping your Bitcoin on the Bitcoin network and find ways to quickly and accurately sync the PoS chain and Bitcoin chain. The goal is to protect staked Bitcoin and ensure staking is as secure as regular Bitcoin transactions.

DeFi Integrations

Bitcoin staking/restaking is a two-sided marketplace. On one side are PoS chains and DeFi apps that need security and are willing to pay yields for it. On the other side are Bitcoin holders who have the capital and want to earn yield on it.

Therefore, it is inevitable that DeFi protocols like lending, DEXs, payments/fintech, and others will build deeper compatibility for BTC restaking.

Multi-chain Expansion

As the Web3 ecosystem increasingly adopts multi-chain architectures, the infrastructure for BTC restaking must also evolve.

Instead of supporting BTC LSD (Liquid Staking Derivatives) on each chain individually, protocols should develop generalized staked asset derivatives that represent claims across multiple chains.

These “multi-chain” LSDs will efficiently compound yield harvested across various PoS networks and address liquidity fragmentation.

Choose a Secure, Scalable, and Risk-Managed Bitcoin Restaking Platform

Bitcoin restaking is a great way to earn extra money on your Bitcoin. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge the inherent challenges. The ideal platform should address these concerns, and that’s precisely what we at b14g strive to do.

Here’s what we offer:

• Maintain full control of your BTC

• Minimize security vulnerabilities

• Ensure compatibility with multi-chain, especially EVM-based chains

• Implement dual-staking mechanisms to safeguard your BTC from slashing penalties, aiming to provide a near risk-free staking experience.

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