Bitlayer
Bitlayer is a Bitcoin Layer 2 infrastructure provider operating a BitVM-based optimistic rollup network with 100% EVM compatibility, serving on-chain developers, BTCFi protocols, and BTC holders seeking yield through trust-minimized bridging and recursive Bitcoin settlement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersSingapore, Singapore
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Bitlayer does
Bitlayer is a Bitcoin Layer 2 infrastructure provider building a BitVM-based optimistic rollup network that combines fraud proofs with validity proofs (Groth16, STARK-based systems) to settle Layer 2 state transitions directly on Bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus. The company's core product is a 100% EVM-compatible L2 blockchain using BTC as the native gas token, featuring a dual-level finality model with sub-second soft finality via PoS consensus and approximately seven-day hard finality through Bitcoin settlement. Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Singapore (incorporated in the British Virgin Islands as Bitlayer Labs Ltd), the company launched its mainnet in April 2024 and is developing Bitlayer V2 with the proprietary OpVM verification solution.
Bitlayer monetizes through a usage-based model: all transaction fees are paid in BTC and split into Execution Fees and Storage Fees distributed to validators. Additional revenue streams include BTR token staking rewards for validators and Rollup Operators, and transaction fees from the trust-minimized BitVM Bridge that enables BTC cross-chain transfers with 1:1 asset pegging. The company pursues a developer-centric go-to-market combining community-led growth (ecosystem grants, hackathons, the AI Boostcamp program) with API-first self-serve access through public RPC endpoints, Chainlist integration, and full Ethereum toolchain support (Hardhat, Foundry, Remix, ethers.js).
The company serves on-chain developers building decentralized applications, Bitcoin DeFi (BTCFi) protocols seeking to leverage BTC liquidity for lending and staking, Ethereum dApp developers migrating to a Bitcoin-secured environment, and BTC holders seeking yield-generating products such as YBTC. Key operational metrics include $360M+ YBTC TVL, 30K+ users, $3M+ daily trading volume, and 3K+ BTC deposited on the platform. Mining pool partners cover 36% of Bitcoin network hashrate, and the company has raised approximately $16 million total at a $300 million valuation from institutional investors including Franklin Templeton, Polychain Capital, Framework Ventures, ABCDE, and StarkWare.
Bitlayer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bitlayer
- Legal name
- Bitlayer Labs Ltd
- Website
- https://bitlayer.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bitlayer is a Bitcoin Layer 2 infrastructure provider operating a BitVM-based optimistic rollup network with 100% EVM compatibility, serving on-chain developers, BTCFi protocols, and BTC holders seeking yield through trust-minimized bridging and recursive Bitcoin settlement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bitlayer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Blockchain Layer 2 Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Securities and Commodity Exchanges (52321)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Smart Contract Developer Platforms & Tooling (SDKs, APIs, frameworks, indexing) (FSAPAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interoperability & Cross-Chain Infrastructure (Bridges, Messaging, Atomic Swaps) (FSAGAMAI), RPC / Node API Infrastructure Providers (FSADAKAD)
Keywords
Where Bitlayer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Singapore
- HQ country
- Singapore
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Bitlayer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Transaction Gas Fees: Transaction fees on the Bitlayer Network are paid exclusively in BTC. The multi-dimensional gas model separates transaction costs into Execution Fee and Storage Fee, distributed among validators securing the network.
- BTR Token Staking Rewards: Validators stake BTR tokens to participate in consensus and earn rewards proportional to their total stake. The Rollup Operator receives additional BTR rewards to compensate for operational costs of settling state claims on Bitcoin L1. Validators also receive attestation rewards for pre-signing ceremonies.
- BitVM Bridge Fees: Fees generated from the BitVM Bridge facilitating secure cross-chain asset transfers between Bitcoin and other blockchain networks via trust-minimized bridging mechanism.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | BTC as Gas Token |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Bitlayer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bitlayer operates a Bitcoin Layer 2 network built on the BitVM paradigm, providing an EVM-compatible scalable computational layer for Bitcoin that uses BTC as its native gas token. The platform enables trust-minimized cross-chain asset transfers via the BitVM Bridge, supports Ethereum-native dApp deployment through full EVM and toolchain compatibility, and offers yield-generating BTC products (YBTC family). Core infrastructure includes dual-level transaction finality and a recursive Bitcoin settlement protocol that anchors Layer 2 state to Bitcoin L1.
Product overview
Bitlayer is a Bitcoin Layer 2 platform offering a comprehensive stack of products centered on the BitVM paradigm. The core product is the Bitlayer network (V1 and upcoming V2), a Bitcoin Layer 2 blockchain that achieves 100% EVM compatibility with BTC as the native gas token. Key products include the BitVM Bridge (trust-minimized BTC bridge for cross-chain asset transfers), Bitlayer Safe (multisig wallet on Safe-Global), and YBTC (yield-generating BTC). The ecosystem also includes two partner DeFi products — Desyn Simple Earn and BitFi Simple Earn — which Bitlayer integrates for yield services. Bitlayer's technology layer encompasses Groth16, TapSTARK, and BF-STARK zero-knowledge proof systems for Bitcoin verification, plus Bitlayer AI Boostcamp, a Web3 + AI Agent collaboration program. Developer infrastructure includes BTR Scan block explorer, RPC/WebSocket APIs, The Graph integration, and a testnet with faucet. The network operates at Chain ID 200901.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Sub-second soft finality for transaction confirmation
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Bitlayer
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bitlayer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature10 records
Bitlayer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Safe-GlobalcoreSafe-Global's open-source multi-signature wallet system has been deployed on Bitlayer mainnet and testnet, enabling secure multisig wallet functionality for developers and enterprises managing funds on the network.
- SinohopecoreSinohope MPC WaaS service provides hot wallet private key management for Bitlayer using MPC-TSS technology. Supports 3-3 threshold settings where private key shards never fully appear. Sinohope has completed Bitlayer support and offers WaaS features for custom public chain extensions.
- BitVM AlliancecoreBitlayer is an active member of the BitVM Alliance, contributing to BitVM and BitVM2 development. Alliance includes dedicated developers and researchers working on BitVM-based solutions. Bitlayer's ZKP solution is intricately linked with BitVM.
- Mining Pool PartnersminorMining pool partners representing 36% of Bitcoin hashrate are integrated with Bitlayer network, providing infrastructure support and hash rate alignment.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bitlayer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stacks: Stacks is a leading Bitcoin Layer 2 network that enables smart contracts and DeFi on Bitcoin using its own consensus mechanism (Proof of Transfer). Like Bitlayer, it aims to bring programmability to Bitcoin and is a direct competitor for Bitcoin-native dApp developers.
- Rootstock (RSK): Rootstock is one of the longest-running Bitcoin L2 networks, offering EVM-compatible smart contracts merged-mined with Bitcoin. It competes directly with Bitlayer for Bitcoin DeFi developers and BTC bridging use cases.
- Babylon: Babylon is a Bitcoin staking protocol that enables BTC holders to stake and earn yield by providing security to Proof-of-Stake chains. It competes with Bitlayer's YBTC product for the Bitcoin yield generation use case.
- BOB (Build on Bitcoin): BOB is a Bitcoin L2 hybrid chain combining Bitcoin security with EVM compatibility. It targets similar developer use cases as Bitlayer, offering EVM smart contract functionality with Bitcoin bridge integration.
- Liquid Network: Liquid Network is a Bitcoin sidechain operated by Blockstream for fast BTC transfers and token issuance. It is one of the longest-running Bitcoin L2 solutions and competes for institutional Bitcoin liquidity use cases.
Emerging players
- Citrea: Citrea is an emerging Bitcoin L2 that uses zero-knowledge proofs for verifiable execution on Bitcoin. It competes with Bitlayer's BitVM-based approach by offering an alternative ZK-based architecture for Bitcoin scalability.
- Alpen Labs (Strata): Alpen Labs is developing Strata, a Bitcoin L2 focused on programmable Bitcoin using ZK proofs. It represents an emerging technical alternative to Bitlayer's BitVM-based architecture.
Broad incumbents
- Polygon: Polygon is a major Ethereum L2 ecosystem with broad L2 infrastructure offerings. While not Bitcoin-native, it competes for the same DeFi and dApp developer mindshare and offers proven EVM-compatible scaling solutions.
- Arbitrum: Arbitrum is the largest Ethereum L2 by TVL with a mature ecosystem of DeFi protocols and developer tools. It represents the established incumbent that Bitcoin L2s like Bitlayer must attract liquidity away from.
- StarkWare: StarkWare develops STARK-based zero-knowledge proof technology powering Starknet. As a Bitlayer investor (seed round) and a developer of competing ZK proof systems, StarkWare is both a partner and a broad technology peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bitlayer social profiles
Digital presenceBitlayer compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Bitlayer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bitlayer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Bitlayer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors45 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bitlayer M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bitlayer
What does Bitlayer do?
Bitlayer operates a Bitcoin Layer 2 network built on the BitVM paradigm, providing an EVM-compatible scalable computational layer for Bitcoin that uses BTC as its native gas token. The platform enables trust-minimized cross-chain asset transfers via the BitVM Bridge, supports Ethereum-native dApp deployment through full EVM and toolchain compatibility, and offers yield-generating BTC products (YBTC family). Core infrastructure includes dual-level transaction finality and a recursive Bitcoin settlement protocol that anchors Layer 2 state to Bitcoin L1.
Is Bitlayer a public or private company?
Bitlayer is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Bitlayer founded?
Bitlayer was founded in 2023. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bitlayer based?
Bitlayer is headquartered in Singapore, Singapore, in the Asia region.
How does Bitlayer make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Transaction Gas Fees are the primary driver. The others are BTR Token Staking Rewards and bitVM Bridge Fees.
Who are Bitlayer's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stacks, Rootstock (RSK), Babylon, BOB (Build on Bitcoin) and Liquid Network. Emerging players are Citrea and Alpen Labs (Strata). Broad incumbents are Polygon, Arbitrum and StarkWare.
Does Bitlayer have an API?
Yes. Bitlayer provides RPC API endpoints for network connectivity, including a public RPC URL (https://rpc.bitlayer.org) for mainnet and WebSocket (wss://ws.bitlayer.org) for real-time data. The network supports Chain ID 200901. For testnet, RPC is available at https://testnet-rpc.bitlayer.org and WebSocket at wss://testnet-ws.bitlayer.org. The Bitlayer Scan APIs documentation covers account-related endpoints. The network is EVM-compatible, and developers can use Ethereum tooling including Hardhat, Foundry, ethers.js, and Truffle (note: Truffle is sunset). Developer documentation is at docs.bitlayer.org/docs/Build/BitlayerScanAPIs/Accounts.
What industry is Bitlayer in?
Bitlayer's product category is Blockchain Layer 2 Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAPAAAH, Smart Contract Developer Platforms & Tooling (SDKs, APIs, frameworks, indexing), with a secondary code of FSAGAMAI, Interoperability & Cross-Chain Infrastructure (Bridges, Messaging, Atomic Swaps). Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 6200.