Cardano has officially launched Cardinal, a protocol that allows Bitcoin UTXOs to be utilized within its DeFi applications, enabling lending and staking without centralized custodians. The protocol employs a trust-minimized model, utilizing MuSig2 for secure transactions and ensuring Bitcoin assets remain pegged 1:1. Although operational, Cardinal is not yet production-ready, with improvements expected. This launch positions Cardano as a significant player in the multi-chain DeFi landscape, catering to the growing demand for decentralized financial solutions.