Citrea, a rollup solution for Bitcoin, has just released the Testnet4, an essential step towards its Citrea mainnet. This development provides a means through which developers of Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) can acquire blockspace on the Bitcoin blockchain and leverage bitcoin as a settlement layer. The Citrea Testnet is the only operational roll-up solution enabling developers to create complex applications on Bitcoin, promoting financial inclusion and self-sovereignty.
EVM Compatibility and Access to Bitcoin Blockspace
Citrea offers full EVM compatibility, allowing developers familiar with tools like Solidity, Vyper, Foundry, and Hardhat to deploy smart contracts on Bitcoin seamlessly. The introduction of Citrea Testnet creates a unique environment where developers can build applications using Bitcoinâs secure blockspace, transforming the cryptocurrency from merely a store of value into a foundational layer for a decentralized financial system. The Testnet also includes Citreaâs BitVM-based bridge, Clementine, which aims to make Bitcoin a viable settlement layer, supporting advanced DeFi primitives and smart contracts.
The Citrea Testnet allows developers to use Bitcoin trust-minimized, leveraging its blockspace without relying on custodial solutions or bridges that compromise user freedom. Citreaâs EVM compatibility facilitates the migration of Ethereum-based applications to the Bitcoin network with minimal adjustments, broadening the scope of financial products and services that can operate securely on Bitcoin.
Testing Citreaâs Trust-Minimized Bridge: Clementine
Clementine, the trust-minimized bridge built on BitVM, is a core component of Citreaâs Testnet. The bridge facilitates a secure and transparent connection between Bitcoin and Citrea, enabling the execution of smart contracts on Bitcoin with minimal trust assumptions. The Testnet introduces multiple operator setups, which reduce single points of failure and enhance the bridgeâs security by detecting and flagging malicious operators through a nearly completed zero-knowledge (ZK) circuit.
Implementing Clementine on Testnet allows for bridging fixed amounts of BTC, initially capped at 10 BTC, to test and refine the bridgeâs security protocols. As Citrea progresses towards its mainnet launch, third-party solutions are being developed to enhance user experience, such as atomic swaps between BTC and cBTC (Bitcoin on Citrea), to facilitate smoother interactions within the ecosystem.