RSK Labs
RSK Labs builds and operates Rootstock, an EVM-compatible Bitcoin sidechain secured by merged mining that enables smart contracts and DeFi on Bitcoin. It serves Bitcoin developers, DeFi users, and institutional BTCFi participants through a developer-led, transaction-fee model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersBuenos Aires, Argentina
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What RSK Labs does
RSK Labs, also operating as Rootstock, is a Buenos Aires-based private company that builds and operates the Rootstock (RSK) network, an EVM-compatible Bitcoin sidechain designed to bring smart contract and DeFi functionality to Bitcoin. The platform was launched in 2018 and is secured through merged mining with Bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus, which the company cites as enabling 100% network uptime since launch. Core technical components include the PowPeg native Bitcoin bridge (securing rBTC, the network's wrapped Bitcoin asset), the Union (BitVMX) optimistic bridge for additional interoperability, and full EVM compatibility that allows Ethereum-native smart contracts to be ported with minimal modification. The platform connects to over 20 leading blockchains including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, and Bitcoin, and supports an ecosystem of more than 150 partners spanning DeFi protocols, wallets, and infrastructure providers such as Uniswap, SushiSwap, MetaMask, Ledger, Alchemy, The Graph, and LayerZero.
The company's go-to-market is developer-led and product-led, targeting Bitcoin developers and DeFi builders through comprehensive documentation, a developer hub at dev.rootstock.io, and funding support via the Rootstock Collective DAO launched in 2025. RSK Labs monetizes indirectly through transaction fees on the Rootstock network paid in rBTC, and serves primary customer segments of Bitcoin developers building smart contracts and DeFi protocols, DeFi users seeking yield or liquidity services with Bitcoin exposure, and institutional investors exploring BTCFi strategies. The company is privately held, founded by CEO Diego Gutiérrez Zaldívar and co-founder Ruben Altman, operates with a small team of 1-10 employees, and has raised disclosed funding of approximately $4.85M across rounds between 2014 and 2018 from investors including Bitfury Group, Bitmain, Digital Finance Group, Coinsilium, and Digital Currency Group.
RSK Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RSK Labs
- Legal name
- RootstockLabs
- Website
- https://rsk.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- RSK Labs builds and operates Rootstock, an EVM-compatible Bitcoin sidechain secured by merged mining that enables smart contracts and DeFi on Bitcoin. It serves Bitcoin developers, DeFi users, and institutional BTCFi participants through a developer-led, transaction-fee model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RSK Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Blockchain Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Smart Contract Frameworks & SDKs (developer kits, templates, standards) (FSAPABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Deployment, Automation & DevOps (build pipelines, contract deployment tools) (FSAPABAH), Developer Tooling & SDK Platforms (BPAMAOAD), Crypto Payments & Stablecoin Settlement Platforms (BPAMAFAL)
Keywords
Where RSK Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buenos Aires
- HQ country
- Argentina
- HQ region
- Latin America
Markets served
RSK Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Platform Infrastructure Services: RSK Labs provides blockchain infrastructure services including smart contract execution, asset bridging, and DeFi primitives through the Rootstock platform. Revenue is generated through transaction fees on the network.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
RSK Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RSK Labs operates the Rootstock (RSK) platform, an EVM-compatible Bitcoin sidechain that brings smart contract and DeFi functionality to the Bitcoin network. The platform is secured through merged mining with Bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus and uses the PowPeg bridge to wrap BTC into rBTC for use in on-chain DeFi applications. The company also runs the Rootstock Collective, a community governance and funding structure for builders in its ecosystem.
Product overview
Rootstock (RSK) is a single unified product platform that functions as the Bitcoin DeFi Layer. It is an EVM-compatible Bitcoin sidechain that enables smart contract functionality on Bitcoin, secured by Bitcoin's proof-of-work through merged mining. The platform's native asset is rBTC (Rootstock Bitcoin), which users can obtain via the PowPeg bridge. Rootstock connects to over 20 leading blockchains including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Arbitrum, and Base, and maintains 100% uptime since its 2018 launch.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rootstock (RSK) Bitcoin DeFi Layer: an EVM-compatible Bitcoin sidechain that enables smart contract functionality and DeFi on Bitcoin, secured through merged mining with Bitcoin's proof-of-work. It allows developers to deploy Ethereum-based dApps and provides the rBTC native asset for swapping, staking, and yield farming.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% uptime since 2018
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use RSK Labs
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
RSK Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
RSK Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- UniswapcoreUniswap is deployed on Rootstock enabling decentralized token swaps and liquidity provision with rBTC and other tokens on the platform.
- SushiSwapcoreSushiSwap provides decentralized exchange and yield farming functionality on Rootstock.
- Beefy FinancecoreYield aggregator platform offering automated yield optimization strategies for Rootstock users.
- LedgercoreHardware wallet provider that supports storage of rBTC and interaction with Rootstock DeFi applications.
- MetaMaskcoreLeading Ethereum wallet that supports Rootstock network, enabling users to access Rootstock dApps and manage rBTC.
- AlchemycoreBlockchain development platform providing infrastructure tools and APIs for building on Rootstock.
- The GraphcoreIndexing and query protocol for blockchain data, enabling efficient data retrieval from Rootstock.
- LayerZerocoreOmnichain messaging protocol enabling cross-chain communication for applications on Rootstock.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RSK Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Babylon: Babylon provides Bitcoin staking infrastructure and timestamping services rather than a full smart contract platform, but it competes for the broader BTCFi narrative and institutional Bitcoin capital that Rootstock also targets.
- Alchemy: Alchemy is a blockchain developer platform and node provider that supports Rootstock and many other chains. It is a partner but also competes in adjacent developer-tooling and infrastructure layers.
Direct peers
- Citrea: Citrea is a Bitcoin ZK-rollup aiming to bring EVM smart contract execution to Bitcoin's security model. It competes with Rootstock on the same narrative of programmable Bitcoin with EVM tooling.
- Stacks: Stacks is the other major Bitcoin layer for smart contracts, using a separate consensus and Proof-of-Transfer rather than merged mining. It directly competes with Rootstock for BTCFi developers and Bitcoin-native DeFi users.
- BOB (Build on Bitcoin): BOB is a hybrid Bitcoin L2 combining Bitcoin security with EVM compatibility via rollup and BitVM. It targets the same EVM-on-Bitcoin developer segment as Rootstock.
Broad incumbents
- Polygon: Polygon offers EVM-compatible scaling (PoS, zkEVM, CDK) for Ethereum and broader ecosystems. While broader than Bitcoin-native L2s, it competes for EVM developer mindshare and Layer-1 liquidity.
- BNB Chain: BNB Chain is a high-throughput EVM-compatible Layer-1 with a broad DeFi ecosystem. It competes for EVM DeFi protocols and liquidity, including those considering Bitcoin-adjacent launches.
- Arbitrum: Arbitrum is the largest Ethereum optimistic rollup with EVM compatibility and a deep DeFi ecosystem. It is a benchmark for EVM Layer-2 traction that Rootstock's ecosystem partners are benchmarked against.
- Optimism: Optimism operates an EVM-equivalent optimistic rollup with the OP Stack used by multiple chains. It competes for the same EVM developer tooling and DeFi protocol deployments as Rootstock.
- Avalanche: Avalanche is an EVM-compatible Layer-1 with subnets targeting custom app chains. It competes for EVM-native DeFi liquidity and developer adoption outside the Bitcoin ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RSK Labs social profiles
Digital presenceRSK Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RSK Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
RSK Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RSK Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RSK Labs
What does RSK Labs do?
RSK Labs operates the Rootstock (RSK) platform, an EVM-compatible Bitcoin sidechain that brings smart contract and DeFi functionality to the Bitcoin network. The platform is secured through merged mining with Bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus and uses the PowPeg bridge to wrap BTC into rBTC for use in on-chain DeFi applications. The company also runs the Rootstock Collective, a community governance and funding structure for builders in its ecosystem.
Is RSK Labs a public or private company?
RSK Labs is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was RSK Labs founded?
RSK Labs was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is RSK Labs based?
RSK Labs is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the Latin America region.
How does RSK Labs make money?
One revenue line is on record: platform Infrastructure Services.
Who are RSK Labs's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Babylon and Alchemy. Direct peers are Citrea, Stacks and BOB (Build on Bitcoin). Broad incumbents are Polygon, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Optimism and Avalanche.
Does RSK Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for RSK Labs.
What industry is RSK Labs in?
RSK Labs's product category is Blockchain Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAPABAB, Smart Contract Frameworks & SDKs (developer kits, templates, standards), with a secondary code of FSAPABAH, Deployment, Automation & DevOps (build pipelines, contract deployment tools). Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 6200.