Bitlayer is a Layer-2 (L2) solution built for Bitcoin, designed to solve Bitcoin’s scalability and programmability limitations while preserving its core security traits . Leveraging the BitVM framework, Bitlayer enables Turing-complete smart contracts, EVM compatibility, trust-minimized bridging, and enhanced throughput—all without altering Bitcoin’s base layer .
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Key Features & Innovations
BitVM-Powered Rollups: Bitlayer implements rollup-style architecture anchored to Bitcoin, ensuring that state transitions are verified on-chain for robust security .
EVM Compatibility: Full support for Ethereum tooling (e.g., Solidity, MetaMask) allows seamless migration of dApps into the Bitlayer ecosystem .
Trust-Minimized Bridge (BitVM Bridge): Unlike traditional multi-sig bridges, Bitlayer uses an optimized trust model requiring only one honest participant, enhancing security for cross-chain asset transfers .
Scalable, Low-Cost Transactions: By processing transactions off-chain and batching verifications, Bitlayer dramatically lowers fees and increases throughput .
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Achievements & Ecosystem Growth
Bitlayer PoS (Mainnet-V1) launched in April 2024, laying the groundwork for developer tools and EVM compatibility .
2024 Milestones: Boasted over $725 million in TVL, 200+ dApps, and more than 24 million transactions processed .
March 2025 Snapshot:
TVL: ~$380M
Active network addresses: ~755,861
Total transaction count: 43.4M
Over 1.86M participants joined ecosystem events like the BTCFI Carnival .
Mainnet Smart Contract Bridge Launch: Backed by Franklin Templeton, Bitlayer introduced its smart contract bridge, reinforcing interoperability with other blockchains .
LayerZero Integration: Enables cross-chain messaging across 90+ networks, allowing broader interoperability for Bitlayer builders .
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Why It Matters
1. Unlocking Bitcoin for DeFi: Bitlayer brings true decentralized finance to Bitcoin with smart contracts, yield farming, lending, and more—all secured by Bitcoin itself .
2. Developer-Friendly Bridge: The combination of EVM support and trusted bridging lowers the technical and security barriers for developers entering BitcoinFi .
3. Future Rollup Upgrade (V2): Bitlayer V2 aspires to be the first Bitcoin-native rollup, delivering even higher throughput and modular scalability .
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Summary Table
Aspect Details
Layer Technology BitVM-based rollup on Bitcoin
Security Model Bitcoin-level, trust-minimized bridging
Smart Contract Support Turing-complete, EVM-compatible
Ecosystem Scale Hundreds of apps, hundreds of millions in TVL
Future Direction Rollup V2, deeper cross-chain integration
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Looking Ahead
Bitlayer is at the forefront of Bitcoin’s evolution—transitioning from a static store of value to a dynamic, programmable ecosystem. With continuous upgrades like the upcoming rollup infrastructure and growing cross-chain synergies, Bitlayer is poised to be a cornerstone of the Web3 infrastructure landscape.
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