Bitlayer, a novel Layer 2 solution built on the Bitcoin $104,841 network and rooted in the BitVM paradigm, has recently emerged as a focal point in the digital finance arena. The company’s collaboration with major players in the Bitcoin mining industry, including Antpool, F2Pool, and SpiderPool, marks a significant milestone. This partnership aims to promote the widespread adoption of the BitVM technology and enhance Bitcoin’s integration with decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.
Innovative BitVM and Miner Collaboration
For a prolonged period, the Bitcoin network lagged behind other layers like Ethereum $2,604 due to its technical limitations. Specifically, its inability to support Turing-complete smart contracts hindered the deployment of advanced applications. Bitlayer’s BitVM paradigm offers the possibility of Turing completeness without altering Bitcoin’s fundamental design and security.
The support from miners is crucial for the widespread adoption of BitVM. The backing from Antpool, F2Pool, and SpiderPool removes one of the primary obstacles to implementing BitVM. These three pools constitute over 36% of Bitcoin’s total processing power and play a pivotal role in the materialization of BitVM.
Technical Developments and Economic Impacts
Through this collaboration, miners have begun supporting a specialized type of transaction known as non-standard transactions, which require direct miner involvement for network verification. This step enables the secure operation of the “challenge-response” mechanism that is fundamental to BitVM. The inclusion of non-standard transactions in blocks paves the way for scalable and secure utilization of BitVM.
The BitVM bridge facilitates Bitcoin’s secure integration with various blockchain ecosystems, such as unified chains, cross-chain protocols, or smart contracts. This expansion enables broader use of Bitcoin in decentralized finance applications, allowing transactions without reliance on central authorities.
Role and Statements of Miners
The proliferation of BitVM technology carries strategic importance not only for Bitlayer but also for miners. With Bitcoin’s reward model halving every four years, miners seek alternative revenue streams for long-term income sustainability.
“BitVM offers the most reliable way to introduce on-chain verification while preserving Bitcoin’s core security. This collaboration removes the last critical hurdle in integrating non-standard transactions into the blockchain,” commented Bitlayer co-founder Kevin He.
“Bitlayer built with BitVM channels BTC into DeFi and second-layer ecosystems. This translates into more usage, higher transaction fees, and sustainability for miners,” stated Antpool CEO Andy.
“We aim to support innovative projects. Bitlayer expands Bitcoin’s capabilities,” remarked F2Pool Strategy Director Leon Liang.
“This partnership opens new opportunities for Bitcoin DeFi and strengthens miners’ roles in the ecosystem,” said SpiderPool CTO Kenway.
Bitlayer continues to attract developers, validators, and new users compatible with this technology. Recent integrations with other major Layer 1 projects like Sui, Base, Arbitrum, and Starknet highlight efforts to provide a more scalable and secure DeFi environment within the Bitcoin infrastructure.
The collaboration between Bitlayer and leading Bitcoin mining pools is a crucial step towards transforming Bitcoin not only as a payment tool but also as a platform for advanced financial applications. BitVM and non-standard transactions aim to ensure seamless operation of Bitcoin in diverse blockchain ecosystems.
This alliance facilitates the creation of more financial products by overcoming Bitcoin’s technical limitations. New revenue models potentially enhance miners’ sustainability within the ecosystem. The implementation of BitVM technology allows for more integration and innovation, creating new opportunities for miners and developers as decentralized finance solutions securely spread across the Bitcoin ecosystem.