Yala PayFi Universe: A New Standard for Spending Bitcoin Yields Without Selling

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:

• DeFi strategies
  
  
• RWA integrations
  
  
• AI-driven yield automation
  
  
• Institution-grade structured 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:

• Alchemy Pay: $YU will be embedded within Alchemy Pay’s payment infrastructure, bridging DeFi-native stablecoins with real-world merchant networks.
  
  
• Circle Alliance: $YU holders can swap to USDC at zero fees, unlocking access to compliant payment channels across jurisdictions.
  
  
• Solayer Liquidity Network: $YU will gain reach across institutional-grade liquidity systems, enabling broader access to spendable yield in both retail and corporate contexts.
  

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:

• Personal spending via DeFi yields
  
  
• Business travel and operational costs covered by BTC collateral
  
  
• SME banking powered by overcollateralized yield streams
  
  

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.

This post is commissioned by Yala and does not serve as a testimonial or endorsement by The Block. This post is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment, tax, legal or other advice. You should conduct your own research and consult independent counsel and advisors on the matters discussed within this post. Past performance of any asset is not indicative of future results.