Bitlayer Series (65): Community Governance Innovations in Bitcoin Layer 2 Networks
Community governance in Bitcoin Layer 2 networks has always been a pain point for ecological development, as the design of the main chain emphasizes decentralization over flexible decision-making. Bitlayer brings innovation in this regard by enabling community members to participate directly in governance through the PoS consensus and the staking mechanism of the BTR token. Validators are not elevated roles but are elected by users who stake BTR. This system draws on the concept of DAOs while being anchored in the security of Bitcoin. The team emphasizes that governance is not a game for a few but a matter for everyone, regularly collecting feedback through forums and online meetings.
The core of the innovation lies in the integration of the recursive BitVM framework. It is not only used for settlement but also ensures the transparent execution of governance proposals. For example, a community proposal to modify rollup parameters must go through on-chain voting, where any fraudulent activity can be captured by the challenge mechanism. This is more reliable than traditional governance, as the security comes directly from Bitcoin's PoW. Community members have reported that this makes them feel more ownership, as they previously worried about opaque operations when voting on other chains. Now, Bitlayer's full node design allows anyone to independently verify.
Another highlight is the incentive model. Validators earn block rewards and governance subsidies by staking BTR, and delegators can also receive dividends, encouraging long-term participation. Bitlayer has also introduced epoch reconfiguration, adjusting the validator set periodically to avoid power concentration. For instance, the last epoch's community vote upgraded the privacy module, directly enhancing user experience. This innovation transforms Bitcoin Layer 2 from a technical island into a vibrant community.
Of course, governance innovation also faces challenges, such as uneven participation. However, Bitlayer is gradually addressing this through educational initiatives and low-threshold tools. In the long term, this will make the Bitcoin ecosystem more resilient, with community-driven decision-making becoming the norm.
