The demand for generating returns on bitcoin holdings is increasing, prompting finance platform Mezo to launch a new product that enables institutions to earn yield on their bitcoin assets. Mezo Prime is introducing segregated vaults, known as Enclaves, which allow institutions to earn yield on bitcoin held in custody with Anchorage Digital Bank. This development reflects a changing perception of bitcoin among institutions, which are now exploring ways to generate immediate returns from the cryptocurrency. The emergence of bitcoin-native yield infrastructure has driven this shift, with projects like Rootstock and Babylon developing mechanisms for using BTC in lending, collateralized borrowing, and other financial strategies.
Mezo's Enclaves are designed to meet institutional requirements for asset segregation, reporting, and risk controls, addressing historical limitations in crypto lending and decentralized finance. The project has received 250 BTC in funding from Bullish, which is also among the first users of the product. Bitcoin deposited into the vaults can be locked to earn protocol fees or used as collateral to borrow a bitcoin-backed stablecoin, all without being rehypothecated. While institutional adoption of these products is still in its early stages, and yields are relatively low, projects like Mezo demonstrate a growing trend of treating bitcoin as a productive financial asset rather than just a digital equivalent of gold.