Best Layer 2 Protocols for Bitcoin

A community focused on open-source development is dedicated to enhancing Bitcoin's scalability, particularly its proof-of-work security, to accommodate global demands and new applications, while striving to remain true to Bitcoin's foundational principles. With a decade of advancements since its mainnet launch, Syscoin has positioned itself as a leader in offering a robust network and protocol tailored for projects seeking to implement Bitcoin L2 solutions. As a Bitcoin L2 operating on the mainnet, Syscoin introduces a data availability protocol that enables the realization of EVM and AltVM rollups on the Bitcoin blockchain. By being merge-mined by a significant portion of Bitcoin's hash rate, Syscoin effectively anchors these rollups to the integrity of Bitcoin's proof-of-work mechanism, seamlessly integrating with the existing sequencer architectures of these rollups. Additionally, Syscoin delivers a scalable data availability layer for Bitcoin, essential for rollups and other EVM or AltVM layers, allowing them to connect to Bitcoin’s network securely and efficiently. This innovative approach not only enhances Bitcoin’s utility but also strengthens its position in the evolving cryptocurrency landscape.

Liquid is a unique settlement network built on a sidechain that enhances the speed and confidentiality of Bitcoin transactions for traders and exchanges, facilitating the creation of various digital assets. Transactions on the Liquid network are finalized in just two minutes, which allows traders to quickly transfer funds between exchanges and personal wallets without enduring lengthy confirmation delays. The platform provides an opportunity for anyone to create new assets, ranging from stablecoins to security tokens. Within Liquid’s ecosystem, these assets can be traded freely while leveraging its robust features for privacy, speed, and secure transactions. By default, details regarding asset types and amounts are concealed on the Liquid sidechain, ensuring that traders' private financial information remains protected from external parties and helping to mitigate risks related to large order front-running. Additionally, the open-source Liquid Swaps Tool enables seamless exchanges between different assets on the network, enhancing liquidity and trading options. This innovative approach not only streamlines transactions but also empowers users with greater control over their digital assets.

ChainX, recognized as the first project to emerge within the Polkadot ecosystem, is dedicated to exploring and implementing advancements in Bitcoin's layer 2 scalability, serving as a digital asset gateway and a relay chain for Polkadot's second layer. Its goal is to facilitate cross-chain asset exchanges, paving the way for innovative developments in Bitcoin Cross-DeFi. With Bitcoin's market capitalization nearing the monumental US$1 Trillion mark, it stands as a cornerstone of the digital currency landscape, holding tremendous potential for evolving blockchain technologies and affirming Bitcoin's role as a leading payment option and an effective medium for value transfer and storage. Many believe that we have only begun to uncover the vast possibilities that Bitcoin offers. ChainX is fervently focused on enhancing and expanding Bitcoin's Layer 2 financial ecosystem, working to foster the flow of Bitcoin's value, broaden opportunities for financial derivatives, and enhance tools for hedging against market fluctuations. By doing so, they aim to unlock even greater potential for users and investors alike.

Loom Network empowers developers with the scalability and user-friendliness necessary to create high-performance decentralized applications (DApps) that cater to users today. By offering seamless integrations with major blockchains like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Binance Chain, deploying a DApp on Loom ensures it remains relevant and accessible to the widest audience possible. Since its launch in early 2018, Loom Network has served as a multichain interoperability platform that is fully operational. It is specifically designed to scale high-performance DApps, providing a user experience that rivals that of conventional applications, thereby making it easier to onboard new users without the complications of requiring them to install cryptocurrency wallet software. This capability allows developers to utilize assets from leading blockchains and create a DApp just once, making it available across all platforms simultaneously. Additionally, on Loom Network, developers can use the token to cover their DApp hosting costs, and unlike the model used by Ethereum, they pay a straightforward monthly fee for hosting their applications on Loom. This structure simplifies financial planning for developers looking to maintain their DApps efficiently.

Merlin Chain is set to revolutionize Layer2 through the integration of native Layer1 assets. By being an EVM-compatible chain, it guarantees low transaction fees and remarkable scalability, which facilitates quick processing and improves liquidity for transactions. The platform accommodates widely-used Bitcoin protocols like BRC20, BRC420, Bitmap, Atomicals, Pipe, Stamp, and more, expanding the opportunity for a broader audience to engage within the Bitcoin Layer2 ecosystem. To further optimize performance and scalability, Merlin Chain has adopted ZK-Rollup technology, with sequencer nodes effectively overseeing data transmission through decentralized Oracles, thereby providing both transparency and security. Committed to fostering fair launches and innovative solutions driven by the community, Merlin Chain remains focused on developing distinctive offerings tailored specifically for the Bitcoin network and its user base. This initiative not only enhances user engagement but also strengthens the overall infrastructure of Layer2 solutions.

Rootstock stands out as an innovative Bitcoin sidechain that combines the advanced smart contract functionality of Ethereum with the unparalleled security of Bitcoin. Operating as an open-source platform, it utilizes Bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus mechanism, tapping into over 60% of Bitcoin's hashing power through merged mining to ensure its reliability. This synergy allows developers to create EVM-compatible smart contracts, paving the way for decentralized applications that benefit from the strength of Bitcoin's network security. The native currency of Rootstock, known as RBTC, is maintained at a 1:1 peg with Bitcoin, which simplifies interactions with decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and dApps on the Rootstock ecosystem, facilitating processes like minting, swaps, and the payment of gas fees. Additionally, the PowPeg protocol plays a crucial role in guaranteeing secure and efficient two-way transactions between Bitcoin and Rootstock, significantly improving interoperability between the two networks. Within Rootstock's expanding ecosystem, users can engage in a variety of applications, including swapping and staking through platforms such as Sushi, optimizing yields with Beefy, and trading on Oku, demonstrating the platform's versatility and appeal. As a result, Rootstock offers a comprehensive environment that empowers developers and users alike to harness the full potential of blockchain technology.

Botanix operates as a Bitcoin-centric blockchain platform with its active Mainnet providing the essential infrastructure for a worldwide, permissionless economy fully driven by Bitcoin. By utilizing Spiderchain, a decentralized network of independent entities, it maintains the inherent soundness, trustlessness, and censorship-resistance of Bitcoin, safeguarding assets from centralized influence. Users can easily onboard using a variety of compatible wallets, transfer BTC on-chain to engage with the Botanix ecosystem, stake their Bitcoin to earn genuine yields without the need to liquidate, and conduct secure transactions or savings in BTC through integrated Lightning payments. In addition to facilitating standard transfers, Botanix also accommodates a range of DeFi applications, such as collateralized lending and borrowing of stablecoins, options for long and short trading via integrated protocols, and real-time access to market data for tokens issued on its network. Furthermore, a robust collection of developer tools, comprehensive documentation, and user-friendly explorer interfaces empower developers to create Bitcoin-native applications, fostering innovation within the ecosystem and enhancing its overall utility. This approach not only attracts a diverse user base but also promotes the sustainable growth of the Bitcoin economy.

Stacks transforms Bitcoin into a platform for programming, facilitating the creation of decentralized applications and smart contracts that leverage Bitcoin's inherent advantages. By utilizing Stacks, developers can create applications, digital assets, and smart contracts that seamlessly integrate with Bitcoin’s robust security and expansive network. You can also temporarily lock your STX to bolster the network's security and consensus mechanisms, earning Bitcoin rewards from miners through the Proof of Transfer process. Stacks allows for the utilization of Bitcoin’s $760 billion capital in innovative smart contracts, paving the way for an improved financial system that is open, composable, and free from intermediaries. With Clarity smart contracts, you can execute your application’s logic directly on the blockchain; this language is designed to be more secure and predictable, significantly reducing the risk of bugs and exploits. It is particularly suited for critical code where the presence of errors could have serious consequences, ensuring that developers can trust the integrity of their systems. Thus, Stacks not only enhances Bitcoin's functionality but also empowers developers to create a new era of decentralized finance.

RSK stands out as the most secure smart contract blockchain platform, benefiting from the robust protection of the Bitcoin Network. Recognized as a significant opportunity in decentralized finance (DeFi), RSK allows Bitcoin users to engage in lending, borrowing, trading, and earning interest on their holdings. The evolution of finance is clearly moving towards decentralization, with RSK leading the charge as the preeminent smart contract platform globally. The primary objective of RSK's Contracts is to enhance the Bitcoin Contracts ecosystem by facilitating smart contracts, enabling nearly instantaneous contract payments, and improving scalability. By utilizing Merged Mining and a two-way peg, RSK Blockchain establishes a seamless connection with Bitcoin, reinforcing its security and functionality. Furthermore, RIF, built on RSK, aspires to lay the foundational elements for a completely decentralized internet, fostering Decentralized Sharing Economies that empower individuals through enhanced identity management, payment solutions, storage options, communication channels, gateway services, and marketplace functionalities. This innovative approach not only protects individual value but also promotes a more equitable digital economy.

The Bitcoin Lightning Network enables immediate payments, providing rapid blockchain transactions without the delays typically associated with block confirmations. It enhances security through the use of smart contracts on the blockchain, eliminating the need for separate on-chain transactions for each payment. Users can experience transaction speeds ranging from milliseconds to mere seconds. This network boasts remarkable scalability, capable of handling millions to billions of transactions every second, far surpassing traditional payment systems in terms of capacity. Additionally, it allows payments to be linked to specific actions or clicks without the need for intermediaries. Cost efficiency is another benefit, as settling transactions off-chain results in substantially lower fees, paving the way for innovative applications like instant micropayments. Furthermore, the Lightning Network supports cross-chain atomic swaps that can be executed instantly and off-chain, provided the involved blockchains utilize the same cryptographic hash function. This interoperability between different blockchain systems opens up new possibilities for seamless financial interactions.

Omni serves as a versatile platform designed for the development and exchange of personalized digital assets and currencies. This software framework operates on the most widely used, thoroughly audited, and secure blockchain: Bitcoin. Transactions conducted through Omni are essentially Bitcoin transactions that unlock advanced capabilities on the Bitcoin Blockchain. Our reference implementation, Omni Core, is an upgraded version of Bitcoin Core, incorporating all Bitcoin functionalities alongside sophisticated features from the Omni Layer. With Omni, creating tokens that represent specific currencies or assets is straightforward, allowing seamless transactions through the Bitcoin blockchain. The unique combination of power and user-friendliness provided by Omni has established it as the foremost token protocol based on Bitcoin. Furthermore, Omni simplifies the process of decentralized crowdfunding, enabling participants to contribute bitcoins or tokens directly to an issuer's address, with the Omni Layer ensuring that the crowdfunded tokens are automatically sent back to the contributor, all without relying on any intermediary. This innovative approach to token distribution enhances trust and efficiency within the crowdfunding ecosystem.