Portal to Bitcoin (PTB): Cross-Chain Infrastructure for Bitcoin DeFi
Portal to Bitcoin makes it easy to use Bitcoin across different blockchains without risky bridges or giving up control of your funds. Founded by Dr. Chandra Duggirala and backed by Coinbase Ventures, Arrington Capital, and OKX Ventures with $42.5 million in funding, Portal to Bitcoin (PTB) will soon be available on Bitget!
What is Portal to Bitcoin (PTB)?
Portal to Bitcoin is a cross-chain infrastructure project designed to make accessing and using Bitcoin effortless, safe, and non-custodial from other blockchains and Layer 2 solutions. Unlike traditional solutions that use risky bridges or wrapped coins, Portal to Bitcoin enables direct peer-to-peer transactions where users always keep control of their Bitcoin while trading across different networks.
The platform solves major problems with current cross-chain solutions: most bridges can be hacked, wrapped coins require trusting third parties, and users often lose control of their funds during trades. Portal to Bitcoin eliminates these risks by enabling atomic swaps - trades that happen instantly and simultaneously, so no one can cheat or steal your coins.
Core Innovation: Portal to Bitcoin's BitScaler technology enables secure, custody-less cross-chain transactions where users maintain complete control of their Bitcoin while accessing DeFi, trading, and other blockchain applications across multiple networks.
Who Created Portal to Bitcoin (PTB)?
Portal to Bitcoin was founded in 2018 by a team headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with extensive experience in blockchain, healthcare, and technology.
Dr. Chandra Duggirala (Co-founder, CEO & Chairman):
● Medical Background: MBBS from Rangaraya Medical College, internal medicine residency at Drexel University College of Medicine
● Academic Credentials: PhD in Biology and Biophysics at Northern Illinois University
● Entrepreneurial Experience: Founded Novobionics (medical devices) and tryFuel.com (personalized nutrition)
● Blockchain Expertise: Contributed to open-source blockchain projects and leads Portal to Bitcoin's vision for decentralized, custody-less cross-chain transactions
Manoj Duggirala (Co-founder, CTO):
● Technical Leadership: Responsible for Portal to Bitcoin's development and architecture
● Development Role: Core developer on Portal to Bitcoin's Bitcoin DEX infrastructure and reference wallet
● Background: Extensive experience in crypto engineering and protocol design
George Burke (Co-founder, Business Development):
● Industry Experience: Long track record in the crypto space, active since early Bitcoin days
● Business Leadership: Oversees partnerships, integrations, and business expansion
● Expertise: Product development and strategic relationships within the crypto ecosystem
Key Team Members:
● Ian Byrne - Chief Marketing Officer driving growth strategies and community engagement
● Robin Frey - Head of Business Development managing partnerships and market expansion
● John Shipman - Executive Leadership with previous CEO experience at Xai Games
● Anand Suresh - Engineering specialist in backend and protocol engineering for cross-chain swaps
The team combines medical training, technical expertise, and startup experience to drive Portal to Bitcoin's vision for secure, custody-free cross-chain Bitcoin DeFi infrastructure.
What VCs Back Portal to Bitcoin (PTB)?
Portal to Bitcoin has raised a total of $42.5 million across two funding rounds from leading crypto investors and exchanges.
Funding Rounds:
● Pre-seed (2021): $8.5 million
● Seed (2024): $34 million (second-largest Web3 seed round that year)
Major Venture Capital Backers:
● Coinbase Ventures - Leading crypto exchange investment arm
● Arrington Capital - Prominent crypto venture fund
● OKX Ventures - Major exchange venture division
● Gate.io - Strategic exchange partner and investor
● Shima Capital - Crypto-focused investment firm
Strategic Partnerships:
● Bitfinity Network - EVM-compatible network integration for smart contract solutions
● Ordibank - Bitcoin Layer 1 asset lending and borrowing platform integration
● Polygon - Strategic partnership for Bitcoin DeFi advancement
● Mintlayer - Collaboration for secure atomic swaps and Layer-2 DEX functionality
● Aark Digital - Cross-chain liquidity and non-custodial trading partnership
Funding Highlights:
Portal to Bitcoin's focus on eliminating bridge risks while enabling true Bitcoin DeFi has consistently attracted strategic investors and major exchanges, demonstrating strong confidence in their bridgeless, custody-less approach to cross-chain infrastructure.
How Portal to Bitcoin (PTB) Works
Portal to Bitcoin operates through several key technologies that make cross-chain Bitcoin transactions safe and user-friendly:
BitScaler Protocol - The Core Engine
BitScaler is Portal to Bitcoin's trustless technology that allows users to trade Bitcoin directly with other cryptocurrencies across different blockchains. Think of it like a digital escrow system - both parties lock their coins simultaneously, and the trade only completes when both sides are satisfied, ensuring no one can cheat.
Portal OS and Validator Network
Portal OS runs a network of validators who help coordinate trades but never touch or control user funds. These validators are like traffic controllers - they help direct transactions safely but never hold your Bitcoin. This eliminates the risk of custodial hacks that plague traditional bridges.
Multi-Chain Support and Easy Trading
Portal to Bitcoin works with Bitcoin, Lightning Network, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Stacks, and other major networks. Users can trade between any of these without needing wrapped coins or risky bridges. For example, you can swap Bitcoin for Ethereum tokens directly, peer-to-peer, in one simple transaction.
Portal Wallet and AI Features
The Portal Wallet is a user-friendly interface that manages your assets across all supported blockchains. RAFA AI agents provide intelligent suggestions for trades, portfolio management, and market opportunities, making complex DeFi strategies accessible to everyone.
Portal to Bitcoin has demonstrated its technology through successful partnerships with major DeFi platforms and exchanges, proving real-world utility and adoption.
You can access the platform at portaltobitcoin.com .
Portal to Bitcoin Token (PTB) and Economics
The PTB token serves as the native utility and governance token powering the Portal to Bitcoin ecosystem.
Token Details
● Token Name: Portal to Bitcoin
● Token Symbol: PTB
● Total Supply: 8,400,000,000 tokens (8.4 billion)
Token Distribution
● Shareholders: 29.8%
● LP Rewards: 24.3%
● Foundation: 11.4%
● Validator Rewards: 11.2%
● Ecosystem Development: 10.2%
● Liquidity: 8.1%
● Airdrop: 2.6%
● LiteNodes Rewards: 1.9%
● KOL + Advisors: 0.5%
Vesting Structure: Team, advisor, and investor allocations are subject to multi-year vesting schedules with cliff periods. Emissions and community rewards are released per epoch, promoting ongoing network participation.
Burn Mechanism: Half of all swap fees earned in other currencies are used to buy back and burn PTB tokens, permanently removing them from circulation and supporting deflationary tokenomics.
Token Utilities
● Transaction Fees: Pay fees for cross-chain swaps, DEX trading, and platform operations
● Validator Staking: Stake tokens to run validators or Litenodes securing the Portal to Bitcoin network
● Liquidity Provision: Provide liquidity to cross-chain DEX and earn trading fee rewards
● Governance: Vote on protocol upgrades, fee parameters, and network decisions
● Premium Features: Access advanced AI agents, enhanced trading tools, and priority support
Why Portal to Bitcoin?
Traditional cross-chain solutions face critical security vulnerabilities and force users to trust third parties. Portal to Bitcoin solves these fundamental problems with proven technology:
Experienced Leadership with Medical and Technical Background: Founded by Dr. Chandra Duggirala, combining medical training, academic research, and entrepreneurial experience, supported by proven crypto engineering team from major tech companies.
Strong Crypto Industry Validation: $42.5 million raised from leading investors including Coinbase Ventures, Arrington Capital, OKX Ventures, and Gate.io, with the 2024 seed round being the second-largest in Web3 that year.
True Custody-Less Technology: BitScaler protocol enables trustless atomic swaps without new Bitcoin opcodes, eliminating bridge risks that have caused billions in losses across the crypto industry.
Comprehensive Partnership Network: Strategic integrations with Bitfinity Network for EVM compatibility, Ordibank for Bitcoin lending, Polygon for scalability, Mintlayer for Layer-2 functionality, and Aark Digital for enhanced liquidity.
Multi-Chain Infrastructure: Native support for Bitcoin, Lightning Network, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Stacks (sBTC), Ordinals & BRC20, and Aeternity enables comprehensive cross-chain coverage without compromising security.
AI-Enhanced User Experience: RAFA AI agents provide intelligent portfolio management, trading recommendations, and automated DeFi strategies, making complex cross-chain operations accessible to all users.
Proven Market Traction: Successfully deployed technology with working partnerships, active validator network, and growing user base demonstrating real-world utility and adoption.
Developer-Friendly Ecosystem: Comprehensive SDK, API tools, Chrome extension wallet, and marketplace solutions enable easy integration for developers building cross-chain applications.
Deflationary Token Economics: Burn mechanism using trading fees creates sustainable tokenomics while validator rewards and community incentives drive network growth and decentralization.
Portal to Bitcoin successfully combines proven Bitcoin-native technology with user-friendly interfaces, positioning it as the leading solution for secure, bridgeless cross-chain DeFi infrastructure.
Portal to Bitcoin (PTB) Goes Live on Bitget
We are thrilled to announce that Portal To Bitcoin (PTB) is coming to Bitget Launchpool and will be listed in the Innovation Zone. Check out the details below:
Trading Available: 3 September 2025, 12:00 (UTC)
Withdrawal Available: 4 September 2025, 13:00 (UTC)
Trade PTB/USDT on Bitget!
Activity 1: Launchpool — Lock BGB & PTB to share 22,400,000 PTB
Locking period: 3 September 2025, 12:00 – 6 September 2025, 12:00 (UTC)
Activity 2: PoolX — Lock BTC and ETH to share 2,800,000 PTB
Locking period: 3 September 2025, 12:00 – 8 September 2025, 12:00 (UTC)
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are for informational purposes only. This article does not constitute an endorsement of any of the products and services discussed or investment, financial, or trading advice. Qualified professionals should be consulted prior to making financial decisions.
