Overview
Bitlayer is a Bitcoin Layer-2 built on the BitVM paradigm, enabling smart contracts, DeFi, and dApps without altering Bitcoin’s base protocol.
Designed for Ethereum compatibility and Bitcoin-level security, it opens Bitcoin to a broader Web3 economy. Acts as a high-performance execution layer where developers can deploy EVM apps powered by BTC collateral.
• Think of Bitcoin as a mountain - immovable, unshakable, and secure. Bitlayer builds a city on top of that mountain, full of apps, markets, and games, without disturbing its foundation.
• Developers can code in Solidity, run dApps like on Ethereum, but have Bitcoin’s unmatched security watching their back.
• It’s like plugging the Ethereum brain into the Bitcoin body - a combination of agility and strength.
Smart Contract Layer on Bitcoin
Supports EVM-compatible environments and alternative VMs like CairoVM, enabling complex dApp logic directly tied to Bitcoin.
Hybrid Execution Model
Combines optimistic rollups with zero-knowledge proof validation for efficient, secure state updates.
Native BTC Bridge
Utilizes BitVM’s OP-DLC-based bridge for trust-minimized Bitcoin transfers - no custodians required.
Security Integration
Anchors proofs directly to Bitcoin’s main chain, inheriting its consensus and mining security.
Cross-Chain Expansion
Connecting BTC assets to networks like Base, Starknet, Arbitrum, Sonic, and Plume.
Core Mechanism
• Off-chain transaction batching processed via the Layered Virtual Machine (LVM).
• Fraud-proof and ZKP-verified state transitions posted to Bitcoin.
• Direct mining hashrate integration with support from Antpool, F2Pool, and SpiderPool.
Technical Edge
• Modular rollup framework optimized for Bitcoin’s constraints.
• Flexible data availability - choose higher security or lower cost per project needs.
Ecosystem Adoption
• Velar building a Bitcoin-native perpetual DEX on Bitlayer.
• Expansion into DeFi, gaming, NFTs, and cross-chain bridges.
Core Offerings
• EVM and alternative VM support on Bitcoin
• Trustless BTC bridge for asset movement
• Optimistic + ZKP hybrid execution
• Direct L1 proof anchoring for maximum security
Technical Edge
• Bitcoin-level security without requiring a protocol fork.
• Proven mining support for execution verification.
• Modular rollup design for flexible scaling solutions.
Innovations & Ecosystem Momentum
• Transitioning toward a true Bitcoin rollup in Bitlayer V2, moving beyond sidechain architecture.
• Unlocking $1.9T in Bitcoin liquidity for DeFi and Web3 use cases.
• Building trust within the DeFi community by offering Ethereum-grade programmability with Bitcoin-grade security.
Why It Matters
For Developers
Brings Ethereum tooling to Bitcoin, enabling dApps with real BTC collateral.
For Users
Unlocks DeFi, NFTs, and gaming without leaving Bitcoin’s safety net.
For the Industry
Proves Bitcoin can evolve without sacrificing decentralization or trust.
