# How it Works

hBTC enables Bitcoin holders to earn **BTC-denominated yield** while retaining self-custody and the ability to redeem for **native Bitcoin**.

#### Deposit & Mint

Users deposit Bitcoin via the decentralized sBTC bridge and stake sBTC into the hBTC vault. In return, the vault mints **hBTC**, representing a proportional share of pooled assets and strategy exposure.

#### Yield Accrual

hBTC accrues yield daily through on-chain strategies, including basis capture and Bitcoin-native staking. Yield is automatically compounded and reflected in the **hBTC share price**. All strategy profits are ultimately converted back into Bitcoin.

#### Withdraw & Redeem

Users may redeem hBTC for sBTC or native Bitcoin, subject to protocol cooldowns and underlying chain settlement times defined by the sBTC bridge.

#### Risk Controls & Transparency

The protocol employs automated controls for leverage, delta exposure, and interest spread regimes. All material metrics, positions, and transactions are transparently displayed and independently verifiable on-chain.

Detailed explanations of capital flows, yield mechanics, risk controls, and accounting are available in the sections below:

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th data-hidden data-type="image">Cover image (dark)</th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="image">Cover image</th><th data-hidden data-type="image">Cover image (dark)</th><th data-hidden data-card-cover-dark data-type="image">Cover image (dark)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Flows</td><td><a href="/files/sj4TapUOpE0jJ5VkRf2Y">/files/sj4TapUOpE0jJ5VkRf2Y</a></td><td><a href="/pages/Q7VGmv9CHEVqJYJuNg99">/pages/Q7VGmv9CHEVqJYJuNg99</a></td><td><a href="/files/HeGRXAj2uCLJgSgxivZL">/files/HeGRXAj2uCLJgSgxivZL</a></td><td><a href="/files/jKZOz1zYNtRJywS6Bvj4">/files/jKZOz1zYNtRJywS6Bvj4</a></td><td><a href="/files/mYxl1YYmpwRpfLsjfIv5">/files/mYxl1YYmpwRpfLsjfIv5</a></td></tr><tr><td>Yield</td><td><a href="/files/OZdwrTvu6fQJQUlP6Qsd">/files/OZdwrTvu6fQJQUlP6Qsd</a></td><td><a href="/pages/TZYsIKEWWfS3UZAF3s8X">/pages/TZYsIKEWWfS3UZAF3s8X</a></td><td><a href="/files/cMZPHaBeweeAs5xpVHOI">/files/cMZPHaBeweeAs5xpVHOI</a></td><td><a href="/files/g62d8fvMMLw51STP4T4B">/files/g62d8fvMMLw51STP4T4B</a></td><td><a href="/files/F3yScpg5vVlTMwtWz45W">/files/F3yScpg5vVlTMwtWz45W</a></td></tr><tr><td>Liquidity</td><td><a href="/files/j9448Mr9HYLwJNXxfE3w">/files/j9448Mr9HYLwJNXxfE3w</a></td><td><a href="/pages/s390Njc16sO1Y1JdkpwI">/pages/s390Njc16sO1Y1JdkpwI</a></td><td><a href="/files/ydfJXdRc72u5kib3Ti3h">/files/ydfJXdRc72u5kib3Ti3h</a></td><td><a href="/files/P6aYmuTzaAi9hIMvFERj">/files/P6aYmuTzaAi9hIMvFERj</a></td><td><a href="/files/fUIPI3M7YvFzBPJpg9Lh">/files/fUIPI3M7YvFzBPJpg9Lh</a></td></tr><tr><td>Risk Controls</td><td><a href="/files/pEWmWllIMrxjJ9tDWu21">/files/pEWmWllIMrxjJ9tDWu21</a></td><td><a href="/pages/JPh6kgU6T6D4074h3MUH">/pages/JPh6kgU6T6D4074h3MUH</a></td><td><a href="/files/MXRR8zAI8ygPNt8ZJSbx">/files/MXRR8zAI8ygPNt8ZJSbx</a></td><td><a href="/files/vDfksXBJANPHSr1e36tV">/files/vDfksXBJANPHSr1e36tV</a></td><td><a href="/files/hCNXjP86U40Dvhl41nsg">/files/hCNXjP86U40Dvhl41nsg</a></td></tr><tr><td>Accounting</td><td><a href="/files/nGqSH8c4zVD8ZuFewJTE">/files/nGqSH8c4zVD8ZuFewJTE</a></td><td><a href="/pages/obO4fXdQpXyYf1G2xHSa">/pages/obO4fXdQpXyYf1G2xHSa</a></td><td><a href="/files/HkcM6jYG05wRwjUbFJFq">/files/HkcM6jYG05wRwjUbFJFq</a></td><td><a href="/files/PMTz2TO2DELpI26LXgJ7">/files/PMTz2TO2DELpI26LXgJ7</a></td><td><a href="/files/Z8YFyNIckLy4nUjcrR2c">/files/Z8YFyNIckLy4nUjcrR2c</a></td></tr><tr><td>Governance</td><td><a href="/files/m3YuoBxsYMeR7SGXaSIz">/files/m3YuoBxsYMeR7SGXaSIz</a></td><td><a href="/pages/T5esV7ksQu8KSJkPHkf2">/pages/T5esV7ksQu8KSJkPHkf2</a></td><td><a href="/files/bQmSjmVDW5vCmVZ7hyrc">/files/bQmSjmVDW5vCmVZ7hyrc</a></td><td><a href="/files/lCHPv5Up8jn0YXSdVInT">/files/lCHPv5Up8jn0YXSdVInT</a></td><td><a href="/files/gd7UaswMGHbqMtbVgUcZ">/files/gd7UaswMGHbqMtbVgUcZ</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.hermetica.fi/hbtc/how-it-works.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
