Core Foundation and Hex Trust Strengthen Partnership for Bitcoin Staking
Core Foundation and Hex Trust have announced an expansion of their collaboration aimed at providing institutional-grade Bitcoin staking services to clients in the Asia-Pacific and MENA (Middle East and North Africa) regions. This joint initiative combines Core’s innovative Dual Staking technology with Hex Trust’s regulated custody framework, facilitating a more streamlined process for banks, family offices, and other institutional investors to “timelock” their Bitcoin. This method secures the Core network while allowing clients to retain custody of their assets and earn rewards from the protocol.
Enhanced Services for Institutional Investors
Under this new integration, Hex Trust will incorporate Core’s Dual Staking as a native feature within its custody accounts. This development enables clients to stake Bitcoin, CORE, or both while keeping their assets within a regulated environment, thus avoiding the risks associated with unregulated third-party platforms. Hong Sun, an Institutional Contributor at Core, emphasized the significance of this partnership in enhancing Bitcoin’s utility for institutional clients. He noted Hex Trust’s proactive stance in the digital asset sector and how their solutions align with Core’s mission to promote the adoption of Bitcoin yield strategies, ultimately leading to a more stable and efficient Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem.
Institutional Interest in Yield Generation
For many institutions, the primary attraction lies in generating yields from otherwise dormant Bitcoin while ensuring compliance and custody are maintained. Core’s Dual Staking structure promotes a self-custodial approach, with Bitcoin being timelocked on-chain to secure the Core network, which is compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). The rewards derived from this model come from actual blockchain activities instead of ambiguous off-chain programs. Hex Trust’s integration simplifies this process within a familiar, licensed custodial account, making it easier for large clients to comply with regulations. Additionally, Hex Trust’s platform will feature a built-in reward calculator, providing institutional investors with clearer metrics for evaluating returns based on different staking options and enhanced rates.
Market Position and Performance
Positioning itself as a leading Bitcoin-focused DeFi ecosystem, Core has established itself as a bridge between Bitcoin’s security and the programmable features of EVM. Recent reports indicate that Core’s decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem boasts over $500 million in total value locked (TVL), with more than 7,000 timelocked Bitcoin securing the network and support from approximately 75% of Bitcoin mining hash power. These figures highlight the growing interest from custodians and institutional investors. In terms of market dynamics, Bitcoin has experienced a strong trading performance this year due to renewed institutional interest, with prices around $116,000 as of mid-August 2025. Conversely, CORE, the native token associated with Core’s reward system, has been trading at approximately $0.48, prompting institutions to consider both Bitcoin price fluctuations and CORE reward potentials in their yield and risk assessments.
Potential for Growth in Compliance-Friendly Finance
For institutional clients in the APAC and Middle East regions, where Hex Trust has established regulatory foundations and client connections, this integration may open the door for larger, compliance-driven investments into what advocates refer to as “BTCFi”: decentralized finance leveraging Bitcoin’s security. Asset managers could potentially utilize timelocked Bitcoin as a regulated source of yield, all while maintaining the necessary asset backing and custody arrangements that institutions demand. Calvin Shen, Chief Commercial Officer at Hex Trust, expressed pride in integrating Core’s Dual Staking, advancing BTCFi, and enhancing Bitcoin’s utility. He highlighted the importance of their licensed infrastructure in providing secure, high-quality staking solutions for institutions and family offices, thereby promoting institutional adoption and growth within the Bitcoin economy.
Challenges Ahead for Institutional Adoption
Analysts suggest that the true challenge will be achieving scale and establishing stringent controls, as institutions will seek predictable reward structures, clear separation of custody, and comprehensive accounting and auditing processes before committing significant Bitcoin holdings to staking programs. Hex Trust’s established reputation in regulated custody, along with its expanding staking partner network, addresses these requirements. Meanwhile, Core is continuing to develop liquid staking products, such as lstBTC, which aim to transform staked Bitcoin into tradable, yield-generating instruments applicable across DeFi and structured financial products. The expanded collaboration between Core Foundation and Hex Trust represents a foundational layer for Bitcoin yield generation while adhering to the compliance standards essential for institutional investors. If custodians and asset managers increasingly embrace this partnership, it may indicate a shift in institutional Bitcoin strategies from passive holding to more active yield-generating approaches, all while prioritizing custody and regulatory assurance.
