a16z Crypto Backs Babylon with $15M BABY Token Purchase to Expand Native Bitcoin Lending

Highlights:

• a16z Crypto has backed Babylon with $15 million to help turn idle Bitcoin into usable onchain collateral.
• Babylon is shifting from staking to native Bitcoin lending while users keep control of their BTC.
• The planned Aave rollout in 2026 reflects a more careful return of Bitcoin-backed lending.

Babylon has secured $15 million in funding from a16z Crypto through a direct purchase of its BABY token. The venture firm disclosed the investment in a blog post published midweek. It stated that the funding will support the continued development of Babylon’s Bitcoin-native infrastructure. The move reflects ongoing interest in building financial tools directly on Bitcoin rather than external networks.

🛡️ Babylon Project Update

a16z Crypto backs Babylon Project with $15M to advance Trustless Bitcoin Vaults, boosting BABY token utility.

📍 From a16z Crypto | ⏱ 2026-01-08 | 01:03 UTC#AlphazeRadar #Bitcoin #DeFi #CryptoFunding

— AlphazeRadar | Crypto & Fundraising News (@AlphazeRadar) January 8, 2026

a16z Crypto said large amounts of Bitcoin remain idle because the network offers limited programmability. As a result, Bitcoin rarely functions as collateral within decentralized finance. The firm argued that unlocking this unused capital could expand onchain credit markets. It added that Bitcoin could play a more active role in financial applications if developers address these limitations.

Babylon was founded in 2022 as a Bitcoin staking protocol. The first emphasis of the platform was on facilitating yield generation without the transfer of BTC out of the Bitcoin network. However, development priorities changed over time to lending infrastructure. This shift is in line with the wider effort to utilize Bitcoin in more cost-effective contexts.

The protocol is now building what it calls Trustless BTCVaults. These vaults allow native Bitcoin to be used as collateral while remaining on the Bitcoin blockchain. Users keep control of their assets throughout the process. The design avoids asset wrapping, bridges, and custodial arrangements that introduce counterparty risk.

a16z Crypto Backs Babylon as It Expands Beyond Bitcoin Staking

Babylon is now positioning itself as an infrastructure for native Bitcoin lending rather than staking alone. The company says Bitcoin’s limited programmability prevents most holders from using BTC productively. This leads to a high percentage of Bitcoin sitting onchain. Babylon intends to cover this loophole by having a trust-minimized design.

The core of this strategy is trustless BTCVaults. The system natively locks Bitcoin and provides verifiable collateral status evidence. Lending platforms do not need to custody user funds because they can depend on these proofs. This removes the need for synthetic or exchange-issued Bitcoin representations.

The design uses cryptographic techniques to ensure transparency and security. These tools allow verification without transferring ownership. Users therefore retain custody while still accessing financial services. Babylon says this model reduces risks associated with rehypothecation and opaque balance sheets.

The company envisions more use than lending. It has referenced use cases in stablecoins, credit issuance, and other structured products. The team, however, emphasizes conservative risk management and controlled deployment. Babylon aims to align its new products with the long-term security principles of Bitcoin.

This approach aligns with wider industry trends noted by a16z. In its 2025 State of Crypto report, the firm said institutional involvement continues to rise. The report described stablecoins as the clearest indication of the crypto market’s maturity. It said stablecoins processed $46 trillion in transactions over the past year, reflecting 106% annual growth.

4 takeaways from the @a16zcrypto 2025 State of Crypto report: https://t.co/SsXDt64UuO pic.twitter.com/4fqFDQWALg

— a16z (@a16z) October 22, 2025

Babylon and Aave Plan Simple Bitcoin Lending Rollout in 2026

The company plans to integrate its system with Aave V4 to support Bitcoin-backed lending. The partnership was announced in December. It includes plans for a dedicated Bitcoin-backed Spoke within Aave’s latest architecture. This setup will allow BTC to serve as collateral without wrappers or custodians. The teams expect testing to begin in the first quarter of 2026. They aim to launch a combined product by around April 2026.

a16z has also backed other crypto infrastructure efforts in parallel. Andreessen Horowitz recently led a $12.9 million funding round for ZAR, a fintech startup. ZAR focuses on offering dollar-backed stablecoins to users in Pakistan and other developing markets.