One of the oldest Bitcoin ecosystem projects is to move to the next stage, allowing developers to build layer 2 networks using the computational layer.
Rootstock is one of many projects currently working on its goal of bringing Bitcoin more utility and interoperability using BITVMX, a modified version of the BitVM programming language.
The Rowstock project is a few weeks away from the release of the Software Development Kit (SDK) and allows developers to start producing their own Bitcoin Layer-2 using BitVMX.
An SDK is a set of tools that enable third parties to build applications using a specific platform or framework.
“We’re very close to preparing all the pieces for people to start building their own solutions on top of BitVMX,” Lerner said in an interview.
The BitVMX project from Rootstock uses the BITVM paradigm introduced by Robin Linus in 2023 as a design to help you build Ethereum-style smart contracts into Bitcoin. This can greatly improve the scalability of Bitcoin by enabling faster Layer 2 networks with similar programmability to what Ethereum and other blockchains can do.
BITVMX Platform
Alongside BitVMX contributor Fairgate, RootStocklabs made a breakthrough last year using BitVMX by examining the integral aspect of encryption in many blockchain systems: zero-knowledge snarks (a brief, non-interacting argument).
According to Lerner, the availability of tools for other developers to further explore these features will further drive competition and therefore adoption.
“There’s a difference between products and platforms. The products are closed, but the platform is something that allows you to easily plug in and develop your own ideas onto the top,” he said.
“BitVMX is becoming a platform, meaning there’s more competition. Rollups and sidechains compete with each other, and those who can find use cases to get people to move their tools will win.”
A programmer based in Aa Buenos Aires, Lerner is best known for his early research into Bitcoin and his subsequent contributions to the development of Ethereum.
He told Koindsk that he feared that Bitcoin would not meet the purpose it was created.
“If all BTCs just become ETFs, they are all managed by financial institutions and there is no more Bitcoin, as we know,” he said.
“So we all need to pay for Bitcoin and have to self-control our own BTC. So I think the key to this is the BITVM protocol, especially BitVMX, that we thought creating a layer of Bitcoin was the right approach.”
BitVmx Power
Rootstocklabs and Fairgate formed an alliance to expand Bitcoin utilities using BitVMX. Output (IO).
“BitVMX Force” will focus on standardization and protocol enhancements that will help smooth future Bitcoin soft fork and infrastructure improvements announced Tuesday, announced in an email shared with Coindesk.
“Rootstock and IO have their own initiative. The rootstock are building unions. This is a bridge between Bitcoin and Rootstock, and BitVMX and IO are working on a project to move assets from Bitcoin to Cardano again.”
“Fairgate was also promoting this technology, and we thought it would increase the ability to create more firepower, strength and larger communities.”
