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Wrapped Bitcoin

Ticker
WBTC
Category
Wrapped asset
Risk profile
Issuer risk

What it is

An Ethereum token meant to be backed one-for-one by bitcoin held in custody, so bitcoin can be used inside Ethereum applications.

Why this risk level

  • It lets bitcoin act as collateral in Ethereum DeFi, which the Bitcoin network itself cannot do
  • You hold a claim on a custodian's reserves, not bitcoin — the custodian is the single point of failure
  • The custody arrangements behind it have changed since launch, so confirm who holds the backing today

A plain-English risk overview for education, not investment advice. Risk profiles describe the asset's own characteristics, not a price forecast — always do your own research before buying.

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