July 2025 – Yala, the Bitcoin-backed asset protocol behind $YU, has unveiled its latest innovation: the PayFi Universe: A system enabling users to live entirely off the yield generated from their Bitcoin holdings, without ever liquidating their BTC.
At the core of the launch is the Yeti Card, a globally accepted, yield-powered payment card that allows users to spend the interest earned from overcollateralized Bitcoin, rather than the principal itself. This marks a critical advancement in the emerging PayFi (Payment Finance) sector, blending decentralized finance (DeFi), real-world assets (RWA), and traditional payment rails into one seamless experience.
“Yala was built around a simple promise: to let people live off their Bitcoin without selling it,” said KT Chang, co-founder at Yala. “With the PayFi Universe, we’re taking that vision mainstream. Your $BTC works in the background, generating yield to cover your expenses—just like a sovereign, yield-bearing asset should.”
Yield as a Payment Rail
The PayFi Universe integrates Yala’s yield infrastructure with traditional finance rails. Through Yala’s Bitcoin-backed stablecoin, $YU, users mint and deploy capital into a range of yield-generating products:
Yields generated by these activities are routed to a personal or business account and can be used immediately for everyday expenses via the Yeti Card. The system is fully integrated with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and accepted anywhere Visa or Mastercard is supported.
Strategic Infrastructure Partnerships
To bring PayFi to life, Yala has secured key integrations:
A New Paradigm for Bitcoin
The PayFi model redefines how Bitcoin can function in a modern economy: not just as a long-term store of value, but as an active, yield-generating reserve that can power daily life. By enabling yield-based spending, Yala moves closer to positioning Bitcoin as a sovereign income layer.
“This isn't a card product. It's an economic model,” Yala’s team emphasized. “It’s about flipping the mental model: your Bitcoin doesn’t just sit in cold storage, it pays your bills.”
What’s Next
Early access to the Yeti Card and Yala PayFi integrations will be available later this quarter. Use cases include:
With ongoing integrations, partner announcements, and a growing stablecoin ecosystem, Yala is aiming to make “Buy Now, Pay Never” the new normal for Bitcoin holders.
About Yala
Yala is a Bitcoin-native liquidity protocol that unlocks $BTC through its overcollateralized stablecoin, $YU. By integrating DeFi, RWA, and institutional-grade yield systems, Yala enables $BTC holders to earn, deploy, and spend yield without giving up exposure to their core asset. Backed by partners such as Polychain and Ethereal Ventures, Yala is building the financial rails for a Bitcoin-based economic future.
For more information, visit yala.org or follow @yalaorg on X.
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