# Introduction

<figure><img src="https://650902735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FwazS1tmdLmu2nyuiWFr8%2Fuploads%2FkmboC7FlHVTiiPKHFUuW%2Fbanner-top.png?alt=media&#x26;token=788b9892-bd88-4a5e-ba13-417158d8a514" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## What is Acre?

Acre’s mission is simple: Compound bitcoin without compromising its principles of decentralization, transparency, or financial sovereignty.

Compounding Your Bitcoin: the platform where bitcoin earns more bitcoin

* Acre is a platform that allows bitcoin holders to compound their bitcoin by earning additional BTC on their holdings while retaining control of their assets.
* When users deposit their BTC, Acre dispatches it to economically secure protocols like lending, insurance, liquidity bootstrapping, and layer 2 networks. These protocols use the BTC to bootstrap and secure these systems, creating a cycle of value: bitcoin strengthens the networks, and these networks pay for that security which Acre compounds into bitcoin.
* Acre connects bitcoin to these opportunities trustlessly, without centralized custodians or exposure to other tokens or chains.

<figure><img src="https://650902735-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FwazS1tmdLmu2nyuiWFr8%2Fuploads%2FiefryiP8hGTKMUxNsjgT%2Fdiagram-desktop.png?alt=media&#x26;token=1327fc2b-0aa9-41ce-aa7e-aaad0d73cbd9" alt=""><figcaption><p>Acre Flow of Funds Diagram</p></figcaption></figure>

## Why?

Until recently, the idea of bitcoin as an asset that provides economic security was uncommon, given bitcoin is a proof-of-work chain. However, recent technological breakthroughs in decentralized tokenized BTC have opened up new opportunities to integrate bitcoin more deeply in the expansive crypto ecosystem.

Acre is designed to feature a "bitcoin in, bitcoin out" experience, which means you can interact with the Acre protocol directly from your bitcoin wallet, without needing to switch chains, wallets, or deposit with a centralized custodian. Acre offers users the ability to earn rewards on their bitcoin, without the need for deep technical or financial expertise.<br>

## Bitcoin should work for bitcoin holders

Acre’s mission is simple: Compound bitcoin without compromising its principles of decentralization, transparency, or financial sovereignty.

Contribute to Bitcoin scaling; put your bitcoin to work.&#x20;