Sushi taps into ZetaChain to begin testing native Bitcoin DeFi swaps

cointelegraph.com:

DeFi platform Sushi has partnered with interoperability platform ZetaChain to explore the possibility of native Bitcoin swaps for its users across 30 different blockchain networks.

Sushi’s deployment of its decentralized exchange (DEX) on ZetaChain is touted to enable trading of BTC without wrapping across several blockchains in what the team describes as a “native, decentralized and permissionless manner”.

The integration is set to include Sushi’s v2 and v3 automated market makers and Sushi’s cross-chain swap SushiXSwap.

ZetaChain core contributor Ankur Nandwani tells Cointelegraph that the partnership can bring Bitcoin’s vast user base to the DeFi sector in a native manner. He also countered arguments that suggest that bridging BTC without wrapping the assets on another chain is not possible.

“There have already been early examples like THORChain who are trading Bitcoin natively with other chain assets. Other approaches like Bitcoin side chains also offer a flavor,” Nandwani said.

He adds that ZetaChain’s approach effectively allows anyone to build Bitcoin-interoperable decentralized applications (DApps) that can settle contracts and transactions natively.

ZetaChain has reportedly proven the technology at a testnet level and will look to prove the utility when it launches its mainnet through partnerships with SushiSwap and other DeFi protocols.

Sushi head chef Jared Grey hailed the integration as a significant advancement for DeFi and described the capability to swap Bitcoin natively as a “game-changer” for the industry.

Sushi’s integration with ZetaChain is set to take place in two phases. The first will see Sushi introduce a DEX on ZetaChain’s testnet to support basic asset swaps and liquidity provision. This phase is also