Core DAO's TVL has nearly doubled since the start of April...

TVL Climbs More Than 75% in Under Two Months

The total value locked on @Coredao_Org's $CORE network has nearly doubled since the start of April. According to data from DefiLlama, TVL on the Bitcoin-focused chain grew from $4.71 million on April 4 to $8.25 million at the time of writing, representing more than 75% growth in under two months.

The recovery is notable, even if the figures remain a long way from the network's former peak. Core DAO's TVL crossed $1 billion in December 2024, a milestone that reflected the network's early momentum in the BTCfi space. The subsequent drawdown has been steep, but the recent uptick suggests that capital is beginning to return to the network.

Core is not alone in facing this kind of retracement. Across the broader DeFi landscape, many protocols and networks saw significant reductions in locked capital following the peaks of late 2024, as risk appetite cooled and liquidity consolidated into more established venues.

A Bitcoin-Focused Chain With a Distinct Model

Core DAO positions itself as a Bitcoin-native DeFi platform. Its Satoshi Plus consensus mechanism combines Delegated Proof of Work from Bitcoin miners with Delegated Proof of Stake using $CORE tokens, leveraging Bitcoin's security while enabling non-custodial staking and low transaction fees under $0.01.

Through self-custodial Bitcoin staking, Core enables users to earn rewards by timelocking their Bitcoin directly on the Bitcoin blockchain while maintaining full custody, powering an EVM-compatible blockchain with a growing suite of Bitcoin DeFi applications.

The network's Dual Staking model, which allows $BTC holders to boost yields by also staking $CORE tokens, has been a key driver of ecosystem engagement. As of May 2025, roughly one third of all $CORE staked was dual staked alongside Bitcoin. Earlier in the year, Core's DeFi TVL denominated in CORE grew 40% quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2025 to reach 1.1 billion CORE.

Whether the current dollar-denominated TVL recovery can build into something more sustained will depend on broader market conditions and the network's ability to attract and retain liquidity. For now, the trajectory is pointing in the right direction.

Sources:
DefiLlama: Core Chain TVL and DeFi Metrics
Coinfomania: CoreDAO DeFi Ecosystem Grows 40% in Q1
Core DAO: Why Bitcoin Holders Are Becoming CORE Holders