RIF

What RIF does

RIF is the utility token (ERC-677) powering the Rootstock ecosystem, the first and longest-running Bitcoin Layer 2 sidechain, launched in 2018 and operated by RootstockLabs Limited, a private company incorporated in Gibraltar with 1-10 employees. RIF functions as the settlement and governance layer for a portfolio of open-source Bitcoin DeFi infrastructure, including the RIF Wallet (white-label Bitcoin wallet SDK), RNS (decentralized naming service), RIF Relay (gas-fee abstraction), RIF Flyover (BTC bridge), RIF Rollup (ZK-proof scaling), and RIF DeFi Gateway (lending/borrowing marketplace). The token anchors the USDRIF stablecoin, which in V3 supports multi-collateral issuance backed by RIF and DOC, and underwrites the RootstockCollective DAO, the first Bitcoin-focused DAO with a $10 million foundation treasury directing grants to builders.

RIF is distributed through a hybrid GTM model combining community-led growth, product-led developer tools, and direct exchange/wallet distribution. Centralized exchange listings (Binance, Gate.io, Mexc, Bitget), decentralized exchange liquidity (SushiSwap, Changelly), and fiat on-ramps (Lemon, Bit2Me, Mt Pelerin) provide retail access, while the open-source RIF Wallet SDK and Dev Portal target B2B integrators including neobanks, wallets, and fintech platforms. The RootstockCollective DAO, governed by staked RIF (stRIF), operates a Collective Rewards program in which builders and backers share grant distributions, creating a self-reinforcing incentive loop. Revenue mechanics are indirect and tied to token utility: governance staking yields, USDRIF protocol economics, treasury yield on the $10M foundation fund, and selective strategic investments such as the €5.5M BionIT Labs round in July 2024.

Rootstock's network inherits Bitcoin's security through merge-mining (83%+ of Bitcoin hashrate) and has maintained 100% uptime since 2018, with 200+ integrated protocols across DeFi, bridges, and wallets. Customer segments span Bitcoin holders and DeFi users, developers and builders, token stakers and governance participants, users in hyperinflationary regions (LATAM-focused stablecoin use cases), and B2B fintech integrators.

Name

RIF

Legal name

RootstockLabs Limited

Website

https://rif.technology

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RIF is the utility token and infrastructure layer for the Rootstock Bitcoin Layer 2 ecosystem, offering open-source DeFi tools, a multi-collateral stablecoin (USDRIF), and a builder-focused DAO (RootstockCollective) serving developers, BTC holders, and fintech integrators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bitcoin Layer 2 Infrastructure

NAICS

Other Financial Vehicles (52599)

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)

akta.pro primary industry

DAO Treasury, Governance & On-Chain Finance Tools (FSADAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Stablecoin Issuers (Fiat-Backed) (FSADADAA)

Keywords

• Bitcoin Layer 2
• Utility token
• Decentralized finance
• Blockchain infrastructure
• Smart contracts

Headquarters

HQ city

Gibraltar

HQ country

Gibraltar

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Token Utility & Infrastructure Services: RIF functions as a service token enabling infrastructure access on Rootstock. Revenue is generated through token utility in staking (governance), stablecoin minting (USDRIF), naming services (RNS), and gas fee abstraction (RIF Relay). Token holders earn staking rewards through RootstockCollective participation.
2. Governance & Staking Rewards: RIF stakers (stRIF holders) participate in RootstockCollective DAO governance and earn rewards paid in rBTC and RIF. Builders receive grants from the DAO treasury based on ecosystem impact. Backers share in builder rewards based on allocated voting power.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

RIF is an ERC-677 utility token that powers infrastructure services on Rootstock, the longest-running EVM-compatible Bitcoin Layer 2 sidechain. It enables staking and governance via stRIF in the RootstockCollective DAO, minting of the USDRIF USD-pegged stablecoin, gas-fee abstraction through RIF Relay, and a suite of open-source developer tools (RIF Wallet SDK, RNS, RIF Flyover, RIF Rollup, RIF DeFi Gateway) for building Bitcoin DeFi products.

Product overview

RIF is a growing toolkit of open-source protocols that make it easy to build fast, scalable and secure Bitcoin DeFi products and services on the Rootstock ecosystem. The portfolio centers on the RIF token (ERC-677 utility token) which serves as the foundational layer for governance, staking (via stRIF), and infrastructure payments. Core infrastructure products include RIF Wallet (white-label Bitcoin wallet for businesses with smart contract capabilities), RNS (decentralized naming service replacing crypto addresses with .rsk usernames), RIF Relay (gas fee abstraction enabling payments in any ERC-20), RIF Flyover (BTC transfer in/out of Rootstock), RIF Rollup (ZK-proof scaling for payments), and RIF DeFi Gateway (marketplace for lending/borrowing). The stablecoin layer is anchored by USDRIF (RIF-backed stablecoin, now V3 with multi-collateral support using RIF and DOC). RootstockCollective provides decentralized governance via stRIF staking. These products work together to enable Bitcoin DeFi with EVM compatibility while inheriting Bitcoin's security.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RIF Wallet: An open-source, white-label Bitcoin wallet built for businesses with smart contract capabilities. Non-custodial wallet with modular architecture supporting EOA and smart contract wallets.
• RNS (Rootstock Name Service)
• RIF Relay
• RIF Rollup
• RIF Flyover
• RIF DeFi Gateway
• USDRIF
• RootstockCollective

Products and services

• RIF Wallet Open-source, white-label Bitcoin wallet built for businesses. Non-custodial wallet with smart contract capabilities, compatible with Rootstock and Bitcoin blockchains, supporting EOA and smart contract wallet modes, seedless login via email or biometrics, and gas fee sponsorship via RIF Relay integration.
• RNS (Rootstock Name Service) Decentralized naming service that replaces long cryptocurrency addresses with human-readable .rsk usernames. It supports multi-chain aliases and integrates Self Sovereign Identity protocols to simplify onboarding and accelerate crypto adoption.
• RIF Relay Secure sponsored-transaction system that allows users to pay transaction gas fees with any ERC-20 token on Rootstock without first acquiring RBTC, enabling non-custodial atomic swaps and seamless onboarding for new users.
• RIF Flyover Fast and secure mechanism for transferring BTC in and out of the Rootstock ecosystem, allowing Bitcoin holders to interact with DeFi applications for sending, saving and spending money.
• RIF Rollup Scaling solution leveraging zero-knowledge proofs to enable fast, on-the-spot payments at ultra-low transaction costs while maintaining security and interoperability with the Bitcoin ecosystem.
• RIF DeFi Gateway Decentralized marketplace for lending and borrowing that provides access to trusted DeFi protocols across the Rootstock ecosystem without the need for individual protocol integration, with easy integration and secure revenue sharing.
• USDRIF Stablecoin USD-pegged stablecoin (1:1) backed by RIF token (and now also DOC) collateral, native to the Rootstock ecosystem. Supports inflation protection, cross-border payments and everyday transactions. V3 introduced dual-collateral architecture with RIFPRO and ROCR residual tokens.
• RIF Token ERC-677 utility token powering the Rootstock ecosystem. Used for staking in RootstockCollective DAO (as stRIF), governance voting, gas-fee abstraction, minting USDRIF stablecoin and accessing infrastructure services.
• RootstockCollective DAO First DAO dedicated to Bitcoin builders, built on Rootstock. Provides governance for decentralized decision-making on ecosystem growth, grant funding and treasury allocation, with stRIF holders voting on proposals and earning Collective Rewards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gas fees reduced to one-third (1/3) of original cost with USDRIF V2.0
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration31 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Money on ChaincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2024Money on Chain was a key collaborative partner in developing USDRIF V2.0, led by RootstockLabs. Money on Chain also developed the DOC Bitcoin-backed stablecoin and is an active builder in the RootstockCollective grants program, setting backer reward percentages of 50% for reward sharing.
• BoltzcoreTechnology or IntegrationBoltz integrated RIF Relay to enable non-custodial atomic swaps between Lightning Network, Bitcoin, and RBTC on Rootstock. This eliminated the need for users to hold RBTC, enhancing privacy and security while maintaining full custody of funds.
• SushiSwapcoreTechnology or IntegrationSushiSwap is an AMM on Rootstock where RIF can be used in liquidity pools. RIF is listed on SushiSwap enabling decentralized trading and liquidity provision.
• TropykuscoreTechnology or IntegrationTropykus is a lending platform on Rootstock allowing users to deposit rBTC as collateral for loans. It represents a key DeFi use case for rBTC holders within the ecosystem.
• RootstockCollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRootstockCollective is the first DAO dedicated to Bitcoin builders, using RIF as its governance token. It has secured $10 million in funding for its foundation treasury and directs grants to innovators building on Rootstock. The DAO provides Collective Rewards to builders and their backers in rBTC and RIF.
• MessariminorOthersMessari, a leading crypto research firm, has covered Rootstock and recognizes RIF as one of two core tokens in the Rootstock ecosystem alongside rBTC.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Money on Chain: Issuer of DOC (Dollar on Chain) Bitcoin-backed stablecoin and co-developer of USDRIF V2.0. Both a direct peer in the Rootstock stablecoin space and a strategic partner.
• Stacks (STX): The most direct competitor — a Bitcoin L2 bringing smart contracts and DeFi to Bitcoin via its own token (STX). Competes head-to-head with Rootstock/RIF for Bitcoin DeFi developers and users.
• Threshold Network (tBTC): Decentralized protocol enabling BTC bridging to Ethereum and other chains via tBTC. Competes with RIF Flyover and PowPeg for cross-chain BTC movement and DeFi integration.
• Babylon: Bitcoin staking protocol and emerging L2 enabling BTC holders to secure PoS chains and earn yield. Competes for Bitcoin builder mindshare and BTC-denominated DeFi liquidity alongside Rootstock.
• Core DAO: Bitcoin-compatible EVM L1/L2 hybrid (Core Chain) offering smart contracts and Bitcoin DeFi. Competes for the same Bitcoin-aligned developer and DeFi user base as Rootstock.
• Sovryn: DeFi protocol natively built on Rootstock for lending, borrowing, and trading. Both a direct DeFi peer and ecosystem partner — shares the RIF/Rootstock user base and liquidity.
• Lightning Network: Bitcoin's primary Layer 2 payment network. Boltz (a RIF partner) bridges Lightning to Rootstock, putting Lightning in direct competition with RIF Rollup for fast/cheap Bitcoin payments.

Others

• Chainlink: Oracle provider that Rootstock integrates with for cross-chain BTC bridging. Not a direct competitor — Chainlink is a complementary infrastructure provider in the RIF ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Liquid Network: Bitcoin sidechain operated by Blockstream for asset issuance and fast settlement. A more established Bitcoin L2 with a different focus (institutional settlement vs. DeFi) but overlapping ecosystem positioning.

Emerging players

• BOB (Build on Bitcoin): Emerging Bitcoin L2 combining Bitcoin security with EVM compatibility and a Bitcoin bridging stack. Targets similar BTC DeFi use cases as Rootstock with strong VC backing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RifTechnology
• GitHubgithub.com/rsksmart/rif-wallet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RIF