Zest Protocol, a Bitcoin lending platform, raised $3.5 million in a seed round led by billionaire Tim Draper, with contributions from Binance Labs, Flow Traders, Trust Machines, and others. The protocol uses the Nakamoto upgrade on Bitcoin layer 2 Stacks and the sBTC bridging asset, pegged 1:1 to Bitcoin, to offer a fully native on-chain lending experience. This funding enables Zest Protocol to empower Bitcoin holders to generate yield from their assets, integrating Bitcoin with decentralized finance (DeFi) capabilities and enhancing the functionality of the world's largest blockchain network.