> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://helios-finance.gitbook.io/helios-finance/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://helios-finance.gitbook.io/helios-finance/readme/how-helios-differs-from-other-protocols.md).

# How Helios Differs from Other Protocols

Bitcoin’s base layer doesn’t offer native smart contracts, so Helios anchors its logic on an EVM-compatible execution layer that sits directly on top of **Bitcoin mainnet**(MIDL). Every loan, repayment, and liquidation is executed in Solidity yet ultimately settled in **raw BTC** within **1 BTC block**, so users keep **self-custody** and never leave the Bitcoin security envelope.

Beyond the core architecture, Helios is built to satisfy the operational, security, and compliance checklists that professional capital demands:

* **Audit-ready transparency** – All positions are provably solvent via on-chain proof-of-reserves and real-time Merkle-tree attestations, making third-party audits and regulatory reporting frictionless.
* **Dynamic risk controls** – An adaptive model tunes LTVs and liquidation buffers block-by-block, reacting to mempool congestion, fee spikes, and spot-market volatility instead of waiting for governance votes.
* **Compliance hooks** – Native event feeds export KYC/KYB flags, travel-rule metadata, and transaction analytics, streamlining integration with custodians, fund administrators, and auditors.

Taken together, these choices make Helios a Bitcoin-first lending market that is secure, transparent, and ready for regulated capital—without the bridge risks or governance lag that characterize many Ethereum-based alternatives.