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VerifiedX Network released vBTC v2, a new version of its Bitcoin-backed asset built on FROST threshold signing, and brought it live on Coinbase's Base network under the ticker vBTC.b. Fireblocks has already listed the asset with native self-custody support, putting institutional custody rails in place at launch.
Why it matters
vBTC.b is positioned as a fully collateralized, non-synthetic Bitcoin asset — 1:1 BTC backing with automated minting and burning, and direct redemption from Base back to native BTC through VerifiedX's VFX Lockbox and Proof Publisher systems. The architecture explicitly removes third-party attestation from the redemption path. A Halborn audit and FROST MPC threshold signatures underpin the cryptographic layer, with the privacy profile FROST enables carried over to the Base deployment.
Market impact
The launch opens the asset to the full EVM stack: lending markets, liquidity pools, institutional vaults, payment rails, and on-chain settlement can now tap real BTC collateral on a Coinbase-aligned L2 rather than another wrapped or synthetic representation. Fireblocks integration is the key institutional unlock — it puts vBTC.b inside the custody perimeter most TradFi and crypto-native desks already operate in, lowering the integration cost for desks that want BTC-denominated collateral without building bespoke wrapping infrastructure.
Source: [VerifiedX Brings Native Bitcoin Redemption And FROST Privacy To Base DeFi With Fireblocks Integration — Bitcoin Magazine](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/verifiedx-brings-native-bitcoin-redemption-and-frost-privacy-to-base-defi-with-fireblocks-integration#webpage)
Frequently asked questions
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What is vBTC.b and how is it different from wrapped BTC?
vBTC.b is a 1:1 collateralized Bitcoin asset issued by VerifiedX Network on Coinbase's Base, backed by native BTC in VerifiedX's VFX Lockbox. The team frames it as non-synthetic, with direct redemption to native Bitcoin through the Proof Publisher system rather than a wrapped or synthetic representation.
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What does FROST-MPC threshold signing add to vBTC v2?
FROST (Flexible Round-Optimized Schnorr Threshold) signatures distribute signing key control across multiple parties, so no single party can unilaterally move the underlying BTC. VerifiedX paired the upgrade with a Halborn audit to back the cryptographic claims.
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How does vBTC.b redeem back to native Bitcoin from Base?
Redemption runs through VerifiedX's VFX Lockbox and Proof Publisher systems, which handle the burn on Base and the release of native BTC on the Bitcoin network. The design explicitly removes third-party attestation from that path.
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Why does the Fireblocks listing matter for vBTC.b?
Fireblocks is one of the main custody and settlement platforms used by institutional crypto desks. A native listing with self-custody support means institutional clients can hold and move vBTC.b inside infrastructure they already operate, without building bespoke wrapping workflows.
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What can vBTC.b actually be used for on Base?
Because it is EVM-compatible, vBTC.b can serve as collateral in lending markets, sit in liquidity pools, back institutional vaults, route through payment rails, and settle on-chain — the same use cases as any other ERC-20, but with a non-synthetic BTC claim underneath.
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