Mintlayer, a prominent Layer-2 scaling solution for Bitcoin, has announced a strategic partnership with Salus, a science-driven research and security company specializing in zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. This collaboration aims to develop the Thunder Network, an innovative Layer-3 ZK rollup-based solution built on Bitcoin and the Mintlayer Protocol.
Mintlayer already enables Bitcoin liquidity for decentralized finance (DeFi) through native BTC cross-chain swaps, known as Atomic Swaps. The introduction of the Thunder Network is set to further enhance scalability, privacy, and Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) functionality. This Layer-3 solution will not only offer greater scalability and privacy but also faster transaction speeds and EVM-compatible features, allowing developers to build on a secure and reliable infrastructure connected to Bitcoin. EVM dApps will be compatible, simplifying the development process on Bitcoin via the Mintlayer protocol.
Enrico Rubboli, Mintlayer Founder, said, “Partnering with Salus is a significant milestone in Mintlayer’s mission to revolutionize Bitcoin’s scalability and functionality. Through integrating ZK, Thunder Network will enhance transaction speed and privacy while providing developers with powerful EVM capabilities to build innovative applications on top of Bitcoin. We’re excited to work with Salus to unlock Bitcoin’s full potential and drive the future of DeFi.”
A Significant Step Forward for Bitcoin
Mintlayer’s decision to collaborate with Salus stems from Salus’ extensive expertise in providing privacy-enhancing EVM ZK application layer solutions. Earlier this year, Salus authored a groundbreaking set of ZK solutions specifically tailored for the Ethereum ecosystem, which became the most-viewed article on Ethereum Research in 2023. Alongside pioneering innovative ZK solutions, Salus addresses the toughest security challenges in the blockchain space.
The Thunder Network is designed to resolve potential scaling issues on the Mintlayer network while enabling additional EVM functionality currently absent from Mintlayer. Shawn Chong, Salus COO, said, “We’re thrilled to join forces with Mintlayer to build the Thunder Network, a cutting-edge Layer-3 solution that will redefine how developers and users interact with Bitcoin. The synergy between Salus’ privacy-enhancing ZK solutions and Mintlayer’s Bitcoin layer 2 scaling expertise will drive innovation and adoption in the Bitcoin space while maintaining security, privacy, and decentralization.”
The Mintlayer-Salus partnership marks a significant step forward in the evolution of Bitcoin and its integration with the broader blockchain ecosystem. By leveraging Layer-3 ZK rollups, the Thunder Network aims to deliver a seamless and high-performance experience for users, maintaining the security, privacy, and decentralization that Bitcoin is renowned for.
Mintlayer employs Bitcoin’s Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) model and integrates Non-Turing Complete Smart Contracts to minimize bugs and exploitable vulnerabilities. Its team comprises leading industry engineers, cryptographers, and blockchain researchers. Mintlayer is a Bitcoin Layer-2 sidechain that enables native Bitcoin cross-chain swaps, facilitating truly trustless finance.
In the coming year, Mintlayer aims to unlock the use of native Bitcoin in DeFi applications through Atomic Swaps. Financial use cases supported by Mintlayer include peer-to-peer trading using Atomic Swaps, real-world asset tokenization, security tokens, and digital collectibles. The collaboration between Mintlayer and Salus promises to unlock new possibilities for Bitcoin, driving forward the future of decentralized finance and blockchain technology.