#Rootstock What is RIF?
RIF stands for Rootstock Infrastructure Framework and is also known as the Bitcoin development token. RIF is designed to accelerate the adoption of decentralized Bitcoin finance on Rootstock by supporting incentives, infrastructure, and operational compatibility, providing an easy way to access and interact with the decentralized Bitcoin finance space.
Why RIF?
One of the largest use cases for RIF is RootstockCollective, a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) designed to decentralize and develop the Rootstock network. When RIF is stored, it becomes stRIF, allowing for governance voting, grant requests, and rewards paid in Bitcoin and RIF. RIF also powers other protocols such as a censorship-resistant stablecoin called USDRIF and a protocol called RNS, which replaces complex wallet addresses with readable user names.
RIF provides the broader web 3 world access to the success of decentralized Bitcoin finance on Rootstock through its easy availability on top trading platforms like Binance, and leading blockchains including Rootstock Base, Arbitrum, and Ethereum, as well as decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols like Uniswap, SushiSwap, LayerBank, Tropykus, and others.
Some use cases for RIF include:
Scaling decentralized Bitcoin finance – RIF fuels the Rootstock ecosystem, supporting developer grants, rewards, and decentralized governance.
Governance and staking – Storing RIF converts it into stRIF, allowing holders to vote on grant proposals and earn rewards in BTC and RIF through the decentralized autonomous organization RootstockCollective.
Stablecoin and payments – RIF supports the USDRIF stablecoin, a censorship-resistant currency used for transfers, lending, and cross-border payments.
Decentralized identity – RIF powers RNS (RIF Name Service), replacing complex wallet addresses with readable user names, enhancing user experience in digital currency transactions.