Promising Core DAO Apps & Projects to Watch: Top 5 Picks

With its Bitcoin-secured blockchain and over $300 million in total value locked (TVL) across DeFi, Core DAO is now regarded as one of the most established Layer 1 blockchains in the industry. Thus, its ecosystem is filled with numerous thriving projects and Decentralized Applications (dApps). 

Several protocols stand out for their integration of DeFi tools with Bitcoin's security features across the Core DAO Ecosystem. From Real World Assets (RWA) to NFTs and gaming, these projects boast features that drive their relevance in the blockchain industry. 

However, this write-up aims to narrow down these innovative protocols to just five, building on the Layer 1 blockchain’s core infrastructure to enhance their ecosystem. Drawing from recent developments as of September 2025, including launches and partnerships, these projects contribute to the chain's growth in areas like BTCfi and asset management.

ASX Capital: Bridging Real Estate to DeFi on Core DAO

ASX Capital operates as a project that connects real estate property cash flows to DeFi protocols within the Core DAO network. It allows users to create, trade, and generate yields from NFTs backed by institutional-grade RWAs. These NFTs are supported by a legal framework developed over a two-year period in collaboration with partners, including Prism Real Estate.

Key features include:

• Tokenization of U.S. commercial real estate rental income, where NFTs provide monthly payouts in USDC without granting physical ownership or voting rights.
• The $ASX token, deployed on the Core chain, features a 0% buy tax and a 4% sell tax, with 1% of the proceeds reflected in USDC.
• Monthly buybacks distributed as airdrops to NFT holders, alongside a liquidity-to-market-cap ratio of about 0.25 for price stability.
• Integration with non-custodial BTC staking, enabling users to lock Bitcoin for CORE tokens and purchase assets on platforms like Blockz.gg.
• Audits of smart contracts and compliance measures to ensure secure operations.

ASX Capital merits attention in the Core DAO ecosystem due to its focus on expanding BTCfi by incorporating RWAs. As Core DAO's TVL continues to grow, coupled with its ecosystem, which comprises over 125 decentralized applications (dApps), ASX offers a method for users to access Bitcoin-aligned yields on traditional assets. 

With regular activities like buybacks, it supports portfolio diversification in a chain that emphasizes Bitcoin security. This positions ASX as a component in Core's broader DeFi framework, where users can earn passive income from real estate while maintaining custody of their Bitcoin holdings.

The project's structure addresses a gap in DeFi by tokenizing fixed cash flows from properties, which can lead to higher annual percentage rates (APRs) if NFT floor prices decline, as distributions remain constant on-chain. Users engage by staking BTC to obtain CORE, then using it to acquire these NFTs. In an ecosystem where dApp revenue is increasing by over 200%, ASX contributes to revenue-sharing mechanisms like Rev+, where protocol fees are distributed to stakers and builders.

Blockz.gg: Core DAO's Digital Assets Marketplace

Blockz.gg serves as a marketplace for digital assets built on Core DAO, facilitating transactions involving NFTs, tokenized items, and related transfers. It serves as a hub for trading and discovery in an environment secured by Bitcoin's hash power, with transaction fees under $0.01 due to the chain's EVM compatibility.

Key features include:

• Tools for exploring NFT collections by metrics such as floor price, top offers, seven-day sales volume, number of holders, and active listings.
• Support for lending, bidding, and earning yields on assets, with dual CORE balances to separate wallet security from DeFi interactions.
• Gamified elements and community-driven updates, including recent AMAs on its development roadmap and interoperability enhancements.
• Integration with Core's consensus for secure, low-fee transactions, complementing the chain's DeFi focus with collectible and social components.

Blockz.gg is one to monitor in the Core DAO ecosystem because it extends the chain's narrative to include non-financial applications, aiding user onboarding to BTCfi. Launched in 2025, it has demonstrated activity through events such as the September 5, 2025, AMA, which discussed its origins and future plans. 

As Core DAO targets broader adoption, potentially reaching a billion users, Blockz.gg provides accessible entry points for retail participants via NFT trading. This correlates with the ecosystem's growth, supporting the flywheel of liquidity routing to builders.

The platform's design enables users to manage assets efficiently. For instance, sellers can list NFTs with minimal slippage, while buyers benefit from real-time metrics. Blockz.gg's role in cultural aspects of blockchain, such as collectibles, adds variety to Core's primarily DeFi-oriented apps. 

Recent integrations enable seamless connections with other protocols, thereby enhancing the overall utility of the ecosystem. 

BitFi: On-Chain Asset Management for BTC Yields

BitFi provides an on-chain platform that combines centralized finance (CeFi) yields with DeFi returns on Core DAO. It targets institutions and individuals seeking to earn on Bitcoin holdings through strategies that maintain custody.

Key features include:

• The bfBTC token, where one unit equals one BTC plus accrued yields updated daily, offering 5-8% APY via delta-neutral approaches.
• No minimum staking requirement, starting at 0.0001 BTC, with zero fees for entry and full liquidity for trading across Core's dApps.
• Secure storage partnerships with entities like Ceffu Global, and selection in Binance's MVB9 accelerator program.
• Integration with over 125 dApps on Core, allowing bfBTC use in staking and other DeFi activities.

BitFi warrants consideration in the Core DAO ecosystem for its contributions to scaling Bitcoin DeFi yields. The protocol enables passive income on idle BTC, aligning with Core's dual staking enhancements for 2025.

Users deposit BTC to mint bfBTC, which accrues yields without relinquishing control over their funds. This hybrid model bridges CeFi's structured returns with DeFi's transparency. BitFi's delta-neutral strategies mitigate market volatility, ensuring consistent APYs. As Core DAO's user base grows, BitFi's liquidity provisions support broader adoption of BTC as collateral in lending and trading. The project's audits and collaborations reduce operational risks, aligning with Core's emphasis on secure, Bitcoin-backed finance.

Houdini Swap: Secure Cross-Chain Swaps with Privacy

Houdini Swap offers cross-chain asset exchanges on Core DAO, emphasizing security and privacy in transactions. It supports transfers across multiple blockchains, including Core, with tools designed for anonymity.

Key features include:

• Houdini Mode for private swaps, using audited protocols to maintain user safety and transparency.
• Low slippage and fee structures for asset movements, suitable for BTCfi users avoiding exposure.
• Broad compatibility with chains, enabling seamless integration into Core's ecosystem.

Houdini Swap makes the list due to its address of privacy needs in DeFi. As Core advances interoperability in 2025, Houdini provides user-centric tools for secure BTC integrations, enhancing the chain's appeal for privacy-focused applications.

The platform's audited code ensures reliable operations, with privacy modes that obscure transaction details while complying with on-chain standards. Users can swap assets, such as BTC wrappers or stables, without leaving public traces, which is particularly useful in regulatory environments. Houdini complements Core's low-fee environment, facilitating cross-chain liquidity flows. 

Agora: Institutional-Grade Stablecoin on Core DAO

Agora issues AUSD, a USD stablecoin fully backed by collateral on Core DAO, aimed at institutional users. It provides on-ramps for fiat-to-crypto conversions within the ecosystem.

Key features include:

• Zero-fee purchases through integrations with Ramp and Trust Wallet.
• Proposals to support Hyperliquid's USDH via coalitions with providers like Rain for fiat connectivity and LayerZero for cross-chain operations.
• Focus on compliant, stable assets for DeFi flows.

Agora is a project to follow due to its role in stablecoin integrations. Amid Core's revenue-sharing models and DeFi expansion in 2025, Agora facilitates the bridging of traditional finance with Bitcoin-aligned stablecoins, aiding global-scale operations.

AUSD's collateralization ensures peg stability, with coalitions uniting multiple providers for efficiency. Users access it via wallets, enabling them to use it for lending or trading on Core. This supports the chain's BTCfi growth, where stablecoins act as a base layer for yields. 

Conclusion

Overall, these five projects demonstrate capabilities in the Core DAO ecosystem through RWA tokenization, asset marketplaces, yield generation, private swaps, and stablecoin issuance. Each utilizes Core's Bitcoin-secured infrastructure to deliver specific functions, such as monthly NFT payouts, low-fee trading, 5-8% APYs on BTC, anonymous cross-chain exchanges, and collateralized USD assets. 

Together, they support the chain's growing TVL, contributing to DeFi and BTCfi operations as Core DAO continues its development in the blockchain industry. 

Sources:

• Core DAO Official X Account: https://x.com/Coredao_Org
• ASX Capital Documentation: https://asx.capital/
• BitFi Official Site: https://bitfi.org/
• Agora AUSD Documentation: https://developer.agora.finance/ 
• Houdini Swap X account: https://x.com/HoudiniSwap 
• BitFi Website: https://www.bitfi.one/