Here's the latest news for WBTC (Wrapped Bitcoin):
π₯ Major Developments
BitGo Files for IPO (January 2026)
BitGo, the primary custodian for WBTC, filed for an Initial Public Offering on January 12, 2026, aiming to raise up to $201 million at a valuation of approximately $1.85 billion. This move brings more regulatory oversight and transparency to WBTC's infrastructure.
Multi-Jurisdictional Custody Transition
BitGo completed a transition to a multi-jurisdictional custody model in partnership with BiT Global (associated with Justin Sun). The underlying Bitcoin reserves are now distributed across:
- ππ° Hong Kong
- πΈπ¬ Singapore
- πΊπΈ United States
This diversifies geographical risk while maintaining BitGo's cold storage technology and real-time proof-of-reserves.
π Supply & Market Trends
Record Low Supply
WBTC's circulating supply hit an all-time low of ~124,963 coins in early January 2026, driven by:
- World Liberty Financial (WLFI) divestment: The Trump-linked platform shifted from WBTC to ETH due to low Aave yields (0.1% vs 3.81% for WETH)
- DeFi protocol phasing: Some protocols reduced WBTC weight following the Justin Sun custody controversy, favoring alternatives like cbBTC and tBTC
Price & Peg Stability
- Current price: $92,000-$95,000 (tracking Bitcoin closely)
- WBTC/BTC ratio: 0.9976-0.9980 (stable 1:1 peg maintained)
- Market cap: ~$11 billion (Top 20 cryptocurrency)
π Ecosystem Expansion
WBTC continues expanding across Layer 2 solutions, including Base (Coinbase's L2) and the Tron ecosystem, maintaining its position as the de-facto standard for Bitcoin liquidity in DeFi despite growing competition.
Bottom Line: While WBTC remains dominant, watch the BitGo IPO progress and monitor competition from cbBTC and tBTC as institutional preferences shift toward higher-yielding DeFi collateral.