Here we report on the progress of the leading builders in the zkBitcoin ecosystem, documenting recent significant releases, technical breakthroughs and general updates.
Featuring: @AlpenLabs, @babylonlabs_io, @BTC_OS, @citrea_xyz, @FairGateLabs, @fractal_bitcoin, @GOATRollup, @Starknet/@StarkWareLtd, & @TheTNetwork.
@AlpenLabs has partnered with @StarknetFndn to develop a shared 'Glock verifier' on @Bitcoin, supported by a grant from @Starknet: https://hozk.io/journal/shared-verification-for-bitcoin-finance
The project aims to build open, interoperable financial infrastructure that enhances connectivity between Bitcoin-based systems.
Through the introduction of @Strata_BTC, a coordination layer linking Alpen and Starknet, users will gain more control over their assets while reducing reliance on intermediaries.
Media
@simanta_gautam, CEO of Alpen Labs featured in a recent episode of @HouseofZK's ZK Industry Leaders series, explaining how his AI roots led him to Bitcoin: https://youtube.com/watch?v=BH0I4uuhsxw&t=4s
Simanta outlined Alpen’s trust-minimized BTC bridge and modular rollup, using “Glock” garbled-circuit verification to shrink rounds and on-chain data. G
He also highlighted his goals for Alpen including privacy, interoperability, great UX for Bitcoin finance, and a Bitcoin-backed dollar.
Testnet
@babylonlabs_io has launched its Testnet-6, allowing users to stake BTC through its Testnet Staking Dashboard: https://x.com/babylonlabs_io/status/1978428640280101043
Participants can also join as validators or finality providers via Discord and documentation. The network will soon upgrade to version 4, introducing co-staking and stake extension.
Trustless Vaults
Babylon has completed its first “Trustless Vaults” experiment, enabling users to borrow USDC against native @Bitcoin directly on @ethereum through @MorphoLabs: https://x.com/babylonlabs_io/status/1978808278915449329
The system operated without wrapped tokens, custodians, or bridges. Using ZKPs, it verified deposits, withdrawals, and liquidations cryptographically.
The trial confirmed that Bitcoin can serve as collateral in decentralized finance while remaining entirely on-chain and self-custodial.
@BTC_OS has raised $10 million in a funding round led by @greenfield_cap, joined by @FalconXGlobal, DNA Fund, @BTCFrontierFund and others: https://x.com/BTC_OS/status/1981015613297381610
The funds will support development of institutional finance tools and cross-chain protocols, including the Grail Pro platform.
Publications
@citrea_xyz published a post explaining that @Bitcoin applications, or ₿apps, can enhance the Bitcoin network by adding liquidity, demand, and value without altering its consensus rules: https://x.com/citrea_xyz/status/1978488565001502944
The project noted that limited Bitcoin app support pushes liquidity and developers to other chains. Citrea says ₿apps, enabled by ZK tech and BitVM, secure Bitcoin’s long-term relevance.
Integrations
Citrea has announced that @Alchemy support is now available for ₿app developers on its platform: https://x.com/citrea_xyz/status/1978867210463346758
The integration provides access to Alchemy’s enterprise-grade infrastructure, real-time WebSocket capabilities, and enhanced performance.
Developers can use both @ethereum-compatible and Citrea-specific RPC endpoints to build scalable, high-speed applications with improved reliability and data streaming features for blockchain development.
@FairGateLabs shared an article explaining how BATTLE for @Bitcoin introduces a dispute resolution layer enabling optimistic bridging on Bitcoin with minimal capital requirements: https://fairgate.io/publication/29-battle-for-bitcoin-a-dos-resilient-bridge-protocol-for-bitcoin
The protocol adapts the BATTLE tournament framework using BitVM-style components and garbled circuits to resolve disputes efficiently.
With its Tournament Chain mechanism and two-phase validation process, BATTLE supports scalable, DoS-resistant bridges and allows large, decentralized participation without altering Bitcoin’s core architecture.
@unisat_wallet engineering team introduced FB Farming, a non-custodial staking system on the @fractal_bitcoin network, built to ensure user control, transparent rewards, and compatibility with @Bitcoin’s UTXO model: https://x.com/fractal_bitcoin/status/1981170908938326055
It uses Taproot addresses where only users can access their funds, while reward calculations run off-chain for flexibility. The open-source design emphasizes auditability, atomic payouts, and modularity for future multi-asset and NFT staking support.
Roadmap
@GOATRollup shared its roadmap for Q4, focusing on advancing @Bitcoin L2 infrastructure and further expanding its ever-growing ecosystem: https://goat.network/blog/goat-network-post-tge-outlook-q4-2025-2026-and-beyond
Key Milestones (past and future) include:
• Launch of BitVM2 Beta-Mainnet, plus new releases including Safebox and the @dogecoin Bridge for cross-chain liquidity.
• Establishing a development fund, supporting BTCFi projects, and hosting trading competitions.
• Reward programs and initiatives to empower long-term contributors.
• Activating idle Bitcoin liquidity and collaborating with institutions to deliver sustainable BTC yield.
Media
Redouane Elkamhi, Chief Economist at GOAT Network, joined @alicelingl on an episode of @HouseofZK's ZK Industry Leaders series:https://youtube.com/watch?v=2BsYxfzGGck&list=PLKquVQ64ui2QEevQPW45SGG8LEcK5j1Cl&index=2
The University of Toronto Professor explained how his background in electrical engineering and finance led him to Bitcoin in 2013-14, describing it as an economic model built on cryptography.
He outlined GOAT Network’s Bitcoin L2 - decentralized operators, a PoS layer atop PoW, L1 commitments, and multicoin staking to earn BTC yield while supporting miners.
Other episodes in the series featured @robin_linus, @EliBenSasson, and @simanta_gautam.
Events
@sophianeverfold, COO of GOAT Network, took part in the On-Chain Summit hosted by @071_labs in Seoul during @kbwofficial: https://x.com/GOATRollup/status/1980706225613599094
She discussed the challenges of extending Bitcoin’s functionality without compromising its security, emphasizing that Bitcoin DeFi requires dedicated verifier networks aligned with its trust model - further noting that GOAT Network is developing such decentralized infrastructure secured by Bitcoin.
Starknet Earn
@Starknet has launched the beta version of Starknet Earn, a platform that centralizes all @Bitcoin yield opportunities: https://x.com/Starknet/status/1980620222588408221
Users can create a wallet, bridge Bitcoin, and start earning with one click. The service supports strategies for different risk levels, including staking, institutional funds via @Re7Labs, and DeFi options, all with gasless transactions powered by @avnu_fi.
Partnerships and Integrations
1/ Starknet has announced a collaboration with @AlpenLabs to build a highly secure, trust-minimized bridge connecting Bitcoin and Starknet: https://hozk.io/journal/shared-verification-for-bitcoin-finance
Using Alpen’s “Glock” protocol, based on advanced Bitcoin verification research, the system locks BTC on Bitcoin and verifies conditions directly, avoiding reliance on multisignatures. This partnership aims to make Starknet a key execution layer for Bitcoin DeFi, enabling users to deploy BTC securely across decentralized finance platforms.
2/ The project has also expanded its BTCFi ecosystem with several integrations, including:
• @tBTC_project by @TheTNetwork: The trust-minimized, fully BTC-backed asset is now live on Starknet, enabling decentralized Bitcoin participation in DeFi. Unlike custodial wrappers, tBTC operates without a single point of failure and can be used for yield generation, staking, and liquidity provisioning across the network: https://x.com/Starknet/status/1976270782998155351
• SolvBTC by @SolvProtocol: One of the largest institutional-grade Bitcoin wrappers has integrated with Starknet. SolvBTC is now usable in DeFi protocols such as @avnu_fi and @EkuboProtocol, where it can be traded, used as collateral, or deployed in various strategies - supporting deeper BTC liquidity: https://x.com/Starknet/status/1976633924857000340
• @noon_capital Stablecoins: USN and sUSN by Noon are now live on Starknet, introducing yield-bearing stablecoins to the BTCFi layer. Users can stake USN for sUSN, earning yield through Noon’s vault strategies, with integration into protocols like Ekubo and upcoming support on @vesuxyz: https://x.com/Starknet/status/1980650887023337716
BTCFi-focused Space
@StarkWareLtd CEO @EliBenSasson and @danheld will discuss the growth of Bitcoin-based decentralized finance on Starknet, what makes its approach distinctive in the BTCFi ecosystem, and upcoming developments as the network moves further into its acceleration phase: https://x.com/StarkWareLtd/status/1981300493214453912
Vault
@TheTNetwork announced that @tBTC_project vaults are now active across several DeFi platforms, expanding @Bitcoin’s on-chain utility: https://x.com/TheTNetwork/status/1981042802034405593
Users can stake tBTC on @endurfi to earn xtBTC through automated Hyper Vault strategies, while @EmberProtocol_ and @MEVCapital manage a Bitcoin-focused vault for optimized returns. AlphaFi also introduced a single-looping tBTC strategy on the @SuiNetwork network.
Publications
Threshold shared an article covering how tBTC has processed $3.6 billion in volume with no security incidents, highlighting its trust-minimized architecture built for institutional standards: https://blog.threshold.network/what-makes-tbtc-the-most-reliable-btc-in-defi/
Using threshold cryptography, tBTC removes custodial risk by ensuring no single party controls Bitcoin keys. With on-chain transparency, predictable settlements, and distributed operations, it has grown 86% year-over-year to $693 million TVL, signaling institutional confidence in its reliability.
Partnerships
Threshold announced the integration of its tBTC, across several DeFi protocols on @Starknet, including lending markets, staking platforms, and AMM pools: https://x.com/TheTNetwork/status/1976618801606336868
Activity on @vesuxyz and @EkuboProtocol is rising, with growing liquidity, lending demand, and trading volume. The expansion enhances Bitcoin liquidity and reinforces Starknet’s growing BTCFi ecosystem.
