Institutional-Grade Support for BitcoinFi Applications
Mezo, the bank-free Bitcoin finance platform developed by Thesis*, has announced a significant strategic collaboration with Anchorage Digital. This partnership aims to provide institutional-grade support for BitcoinFi applications, leveraging the robust security of Anchorage Digital and its institutional-grade self-custody wallet, Porto.
The collaboration will unlock new opportunities for companies holding Bitcoin digital asset treasuries (DATs) and publicly traded companies to utilize Mezo’s Bitcoin finance platform. Mezo offers low-cost borrowing through its MUSD stablecoin and passive BTC yield opportunities via veBTC, a veNFT received by users for locking their Bitcoin on the platform.
Key Offerings for Asset Holders
Anchorage Digital will facilitate an institutional-grade pathway for asset holders to engage with Mezo’s offerings:
- •Borrowing: Asset holders can borrow against their BTC using Mezo’s MUSD stablecoin at a competitive fixed rate of 1%. This borrowing service is accessible through Anchorage Digital’s institutional-grade self-custody wallet, Porto.
- •Locking and Rewards via veBTC: Clients will have the ability to lock their BTC on Mezo to earn rewards. This mechanism is powered by veBTC, which generates returns on Bitcoin holdings for Anchorage Digital’s institutional clients through transparent, on-chain network fee sharing. The protocol features a flexible lock period ranging from 6 to 30 days, accommodating both short-term and long-term investment strategies. To incentivize user commitment, the Mezo protocol will offer higher rewards for longer lock times, along with governance rights to influence fee structures and protocol economics.
Borrowing on Mezo and accessing liquidity through MUSD is currently live on Porto. The feature for locking BTC and collecting rewards via veBTC will be available soon through Porto and the Anchorage Digital platform.
Vision for Bitcoin Finance
Matt Luongo, CEO of Thesis* and Co-founder of Mezo, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “After 16 years, and despite massive institutional interest and growth of the asset, Bitcoin holders still struggle to access and leverage their wealth. Today, Mezo is realizing Hal Finney’s vision for a Bitcoin banking experience that issues its own digital currency backed by Bitcoin, acting as banks did before they became nationalized. This partnership will create opportunities for holders to borrow, earn yield, and lend their assets, backed by the institutional trust and secure infrastructure Anchorage Digital has built over nearly a decade. We are excited to work alongside the Anchorage Digital team, and continue pioneering new ways for Bitcoin holders to leverage their wealth.”
Nathan McCauley, Co-Founder and CEO of Anchorage Digital, added, “The Bitcoin market remains largely untapped in institutional portfolios, with most holdings dormant and generating no returns. We’re proud to work with innovative protocols like Mezo that are changing this dynamic and revolutionizing BTC’s potential as an asset class. Access to BTC rewards through institutional-grade, secure infrastructure represents a new model for what finance of the future looks like: backed by secure custody, enforced by personal financial freedom.”
About Mezo
Mezo provides an on-chain Bitcoin banking experience that is owned and controlled by its users. It operates without loan officers, fixed banking hours, or credit checks, offering permissionless banking powered by a decentralized network that provides liquidity without necessitating the sale of Bitcoin. Mezo delivers familiar traditional financial services, including borrowing, lending, and saving, through DeFi-native products supported by its Bitcoin-backed stablecoin, MUSD.
Bitcoin holders now have a banking solution specifically tailored to their financial needs. Further details can be found at mezo.org.
About Thesis*
Thesis* is a leading venture studio focused on building innovative solutions on the Bitcoin network. Since its inception in 2014, Thesis* has been dedicated to developing market-leading products designed to empower individuals and communities. Its core portfolio includes established brands such as Fold, Mezo, tBTC, Acre, and Taho. Thesis* consistently challenges conventional systems through innovation and a commitment to fostering a sovereign digital future, advancing the decentralized landscape one project at a time.
More information is available at www.thesis.co.
About Anchorage Digital
Anchorage Digital is a global crypto platform that empowers institutions to engage with digital assets across trading, staking, custody, governance, settlement, and stablecoin issuance, all underpinned by industry-leading security infrastructure. As the home of Anchorage Digital Bank N.A., the sole federally chartered crypto bank in the U.S., Anchorage Digital also serves institutions through its operations in Singapore (licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore), New York (holding a BitLicense from the New York Department of Financial Services), and its self-custody wallet, Porto by Anchorage Digital. The company has secured funding from prominent institutions including Andreessen Horowitz, GIC, Goldman Sachs, KKR, and Visa, and achieved a Series D valuation exceeding $3 billion. Founded in 2017 in San Francisco, California, Anchorage Digital maintains offices in New York, New York; Porto, Portugal; Singapore; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Users can find more information at anchorage.com, on X @Anchorage, and on LinkedIn.
Important Disclosures
The features described are not yet universally available. Anchorage Digital clients will receive priority access, with general availability contingent on network conditions. Annual Percentage Yields (APY) for veBTC locking are variable, fluctuate daily based on network activity, and are not guaranteed. Yields are derived from Mezo network fees paid in Bitcoin. Mezo is a permissionless platform that does not hold any regulatory or banking licenses and is not insured by any governmental authority, including the FDIC. By interacting with the Mezo platform, users acknowledge the volatility of digital assets and the potential for loss of their entire principal investment. Smart contract vulnerabilities could lead to a total loss of funds. MUSD borrowing necessitates overcollateralization, with a risk of liquidation if the collateral value declines. Neither Mezo nor Anchorage Digital provides guarantees against platform insolvency. This information is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Users are advised to consult with qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.