Bitwise Launches New Non-Custodial DeFi Vault as Onchain Push Accelerates

Bitwise Asset Management, a $15 billion crypto asset manager, has launched a new non-custodial DeFi vault through its dedicated onchain strategy team. The move deepens the firm’s bet on yield products that operate entirely on-chain, with CEO Hunter Horsley teasing the development on social media while keeping exact parameters confidential.

The new vault follows Bitwise’s debut as a Morpho vault curator in January 2026, which targeted up to 6% APY on stablecoin deposits. This latest product suggests the firm is moving beyond stablecoin-only strategies into more complex onchain yield generation.

The vault is non-custodial, meaning Bitwise manages the investment strategy but never holds user assets. The architecture mirrors a financial advisor who recommends trades without ever taking control of the brokerage account. Users retain full ownership of their funds while the vault executes the strategy via smart contracts.

Bitwise has not disclosed the underlying protocol, the target yield, or the asset composition of the vault. The firm stated that it will share details publicly in a few weeks, an unusual timeline in DeFi where most launches come with immediate documentation and audit reports.

The onchain strategy team behind the vault is led by Head of Onchain Special Projects Yannimoto and Portfolio Manager Jonathan Man. They operate within a 140-person investment and technology team, a substantial headcount for a dedicated crypto DeFi unit.

For most of its eight-year history, Bitwise was known for index funds and spot ETFs. The January 2026 Morpho vault marked its first real onchain product. That vault curated stablecoin lending on Morpho, a relatively conservative entry point into DeFi. The new release signals a broader ambition to become a major onchain yield provider.

The firm managed over $15 billion in client assets at the time of the announcement. Multiple crypto teams and platforms were involved in the new vault’s development, suggesting a more complex strategy than the earlier Morpho product.

A key point of caution for DeFi users is the lack of immediate documentation. The vault’s smart contracts, audit status, and risk parameters are not yet public. Bitwise says it will release details in a few weeks, but in the DeFi ecosystem, most reputable vault launches include public code, audit reports, and risk disclosures from day one.

Without that information, users cannot independently verify the vault’s safety, fee structure, or withdrawal terms. The absence of a public audit is especially notable given that Bitwise is a regulated asset manager in traditional markets.

For CryptoRescue readers, the principle is clear: always wait for documented, audited contracts before depositing assets into any DeFi product, even if the sponsor is a well-known firm.

The vault is open only to certain investors? The source does not specify, but given Bitwise’s institutional focus, the product may target accredited or qualified purchasers. However, the non-custodial structure could eventually be offered to retail users through associated platforms.

Users should treat this as a developing story. The vault’s eventual documentation will reveal whether it relies on Morpho, another lending protocol, or a custom strategy. The involvement of multiple teams points to a multi-protocol or cross-chain approach.

For readers evaluating DeFi yield products, the core lesson is institutional: even a $15 billion manager with a strong reputation can launch a product without immediate transparency. The non-custodial nature is a safety advantage, but it does not eliminate risk from smart contract bugs, oracle failures, or liquidity crunches.

Until Bitwise releases the vault’s code, audit, and risk disclosures, treat the product as a pre-release. Follow the firm’s official channels for documentation. If you are considering depositing, wait for independent security reviews and third-party analysis.

Source: Crypto Briefing – “Bitwise launches new vault from onchain strategy team as DeFi push accelerates” (https://cryptobriefing.com/bitwise-launches-new-onchain-vault/)