Circle Launches cirBTC on Ethereum With 1:1 BTC Backing and Chainlink Reserve Checks

Circle has introduced cirBTC on Ethereum, aiming to let institutions and bitcoin holders use BTC-backed tokens as DeFi collateral without selling their underlying BTC. Each cirBTC is backed 1:1 by native bitcoin held at a regulated Circle entity, with reserves designed to be verifiable onchain via Chainlink Proof of Reserve. At press time, supply was about 0.0097205 cirBTC across roughly seven holders.