Bitcoin staking protocol securing PoS chains with native BTC
Last updated: July 2026
Babylon is a pioneering Bitcoin staking protocol that lets holders stake native BTC — without bridging or wrapping it — to provide security to proof-of-stake chains and earn rewards, unlocking Bitcoin's massive idle capital for staking use. Its breakthrough is a trustless, self-custodial design using Bitcoin's own scripting (timelocks and slashing via specialized transactions) so that BTC never leaves the Bitcoin chain or gets wrapped into a risky IOU; stakers retain self-custody while their staked BTC helps secure other networks and can be slashed if they misbehave. This 'Bitcoin as a security layer' concept has attracted enormous attention as a way to make BTC productive without the custody and bridge risks that plagued earlier attempts. Babylon works with PoS chains and an ecosystem of liquid staking providers building on top of it. The trade-offs: it's a novel and still-maturing protocol implementing genuinely new Bitcoin-native mechanisms, so the security model — while designed to be trustless — is younger and less battle-tested than established staking; rewards and the ecosystem are still developing; and the mechanics are more complex than clicking 'stake.' But for Bitcoin holders who want to earn staking rewards on native BTC without wrapping or surrendering custody, Babylon is the pioneering and most prominent protocol enabling it, and a foundational piece of the emerging Bitcoin-staking ecosystem.
Babylon offers a free plan.
Babylon
Free
| Feature | Babylon |
|---|---|
| Liquid Token | Native BTC (+ LST partners) |
| Minimum Stake | None |
| Reward Frequency | Continuous |
| Defi Compatible | ✓ |
| Node Operator Model | BTC self-custodial staking |
| Governance Token | ✓ |
| Multi Chain | ✓ |
| Slashing Protection | ✗ |
| Withdrawal Enabled | ✓ |
| Insurance Fund | ✗ |
| Non Evm Support | ✓ |
Yes, Babylon has a free plan.
Babylon is used for bitcoin staking protocol securing pos chains with native btc. It's primarily used by Web3 teams in the Staking & Liquid Staking category.
See our full alternatives comparison at https://chainpick.io/alternatives/babylon.
Babylon has a rating of 4.1/5 based on 93 reviews. Key strength: Stake native BTC without wrapping or bridging. Main limitation: Novel, still-maturing protocol and security model.
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