Bitgo Moves $7.7B WBTC Cross-Chain Infrastructure to Chainlink CCIP

Bitgo is swapping out Layerzero for Chainlink as the sole cross-chain infrastructure provider for wrapped bitcoin (WBTC), a shift that changes how the $7.7 billion token is moved between blockchain networks. Bitgo said Tuesday that starting Aug. 4, 2026, WBTC transfers will be standardized on Chainlink's Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP). The company added that any future Bitgo-issued digital assets will use CCIP by default, consolidating transfer operations and security controls under a single framework across supported networks. WBTC, which trades under the ticker WBTC, represents bitcoin on a 1:1 basis on non-Bitcoin blockchains. The token is widely used in decentralized finance (DeFi) for trading, lending and liquidity provision on networks such as Ethereum. Cross-chain movement typically relies on "bridges" that pass tokens or messages between chains, an area that has drawn heavy scrutiny after repeated hacks. Bitgo said the move to CCIP is aimed at tightening consistency in its security model and simplifying how it enforces operational policies. The firm pointed to Chainlink's security architecture, institutional compliance posture and built-in risk controls. It said each CCIP route is backed by at least 16 independent node operators across different organizations, regions and hosting providers, a setup designed to reduce the impact of single points of failure or coordinated attacks. CCIP also supports issuer-controlled transfer limits and configurable transaction controls. Bitgo said these features can act as automated safeguards, slowing or restricting transfers if suspicious activity is detected. Beyond infrastructure, Bitgo plans to use the Chainlink Cross-Chain Token standard to create unified versions of WBTC across supported blockchains. The company said that approach avoids maintaining separate implementations, provides a consistent and verifiable security model, and preserves Bitgo's ownership of its token deployments. Bitgo CEO and co-founder Mike Belshe said the firm's approach has been "security first" and that CCIP offers the controls, reliability and risk-management standards its institutional clients expect as Bitgo expands asset support across more networks. The migration comes as competition to control cross-chain rails intensifies. Following the Kelp DAO exploit on April 18, 2026, nearly $15 billion reportedly shifted from Layerzero to Chainlink, highlighting where institutions favored security under stress. Chainlink said Tuesday its infrastructure has supported more than $32 trillion in transaction value, secures over $110 billion across cross-chain applications and DeFi, and powers about 70% of the global DeFi ecosystem. Bitgo's move brings one of the largest wrapped bitcoin products into that network. The next key milestones will be Bitgo's rollout of WBTC transfers on CCIP and the onboarding of future Bitgo-issued assets onto the same framework, which will indicate how quickly the company completes its transition away from legacy infrastructure.