Hermetica Partners with Velar to Offer 5% USDh Yields to Bitcoin Traders on PerpDex
April 10, 2025 — Hermetica, the DeFi protocol that issues the USDh syntheti stablecoin backed by Bitcoin, has announced a strategic partnership with Velar, offering 5% yields on USDh collateral to users of the Velar PerpDex futures trading platform.
The partnership marks a new step forward in the Bitcoin-based DeFi ecosystem, opening up opportunities for traders to earn passive income while maintaining leveraged trading positions on Bitcoin.
Futures Trading on Bitcoin Layer 2
Velar PerpDex is a leveraged perpetual futures trading platform that operates on Bitcoin’s Layer 2 – specifically the Stacks network, which is where USDh is built. Thanks to the scalability and low costs of Layer 2, Velar offers a more efficient and optimized trading experience on the Bitcoin platform.
With the new integration, users can now trade leveraged Bitcoin while earning 5% annualized returns on USDh collateral – returns that are automatically calculated weekly, providing a steady and continuous source of passive income.
Increasing Capital Efficiency for Traders
By allowing USDh to earn interest directly on the trading platform, the partnership between Hermetica and Velar helps optimize capital efficiency, increasing the real value of collateral without withdrawing from trading positions.
"USDh is the first stablecoin that allows Bitcoin traders to earn interest while maintaining long positions," said Jakob Schillinger, CEO of Hermetica. "This opens up new potential for passive income in the Bitcoin-based DeFi space."
Bitcoin DeFi: Big Opportunities, Big Challenges
The Bitcoin DeFi space is expanding thanks to Layer 2 solutions like Stacks, which reduce costs and improve scalability. Stablecoins like USDh have played a pivotal role in making Bitcoin a key asset in decentralized finance, thanks to their price stability and increased utility.
However, the ecosystem remains fragmented, with many Layer 2 networks operating independently, making it difficult to transfer assets and liquidity between protocols.
USDh: Positioning as the Leading Stablecoin on Stacks
In January, Hermetica reached a major milestone by raising $3 million in USDh liquidity through a partnership with Bitcoin lending protocol Zest, making USDh the largest stablecoin on the Stacks network.
As of April, the Total Value Locked (TVL) in USDh has surpassed $5 million, according to data from DefiLlama — a strong signal that stablecoin demand in Bitcoin DeFi is growing steadily, although it remains modest compared to popular stablecoins like USDT or USDC.
Conclusion
The integration of yield-bearing USDh into the Velar PerpDex platform not only provides direct financial benefits to Bitcoin traders, but also marks a major step forward in building a sustainable and vibrant DeFi ecosystem on the Bitcoin platform.
This event is a clear demonstration that Bitcoin is not only a store of value, but can also play a central role in the next generation of decentralized finance.