币界网报道：Cardano has launched the Cardinal protocol, a new initiative aimed at integrating Bitcoin's decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem with its own blockchain. Developed by the Cardano Foundation, Cardinal enables cross-chain interoperability, allowing Bitcoin holders to participate in DeFi applications on Cardano without needing to convert their BTC into wrapped tokens. The protocol leverages Cardano's proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism to enhance scalability and reduce transaction costs compared to Bitcoin's proof-of-work (PoW) system. Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, emphasized that Cardinal will unlock liquidity for Bitcoin holders while maintaining security through Cardano's robust smart contract capabilities. The launch follows growing demand for Bitcoin-based DeFi solutions, as high gas fees and slow transactions on Ethereum have driven users to explore alternatives. Early tests show Cardinal can process transactions at a fraction of Bitcoin's typical costs, with plans to expand support for additional assets in the future. The protocol's rollout is expected to attract institutional interest, as it provides a compliant framework for Bitcoin DeFi operations. Analysts suggest this move could position Cardano as a key player in bridging Bitcoin with next-generation financial applications.