Mintlayer, a well-known Layer-2 scaling solution for Bitcoin, has revealed a strategic partnership with Salus, a research and security company focused on zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. Together, they plan to develop the Thunder Network, a groundbreaking Layer-3 ZK rollup-based solution that will be based on Bitcoin and the Mintlayer Protocol.
With its current ability to provide Bitcoin liquidity for decentralized finance (DeFi) through Atomic Swaps, Mintlayer is already making waves in the industry. The introduction of the Thunder Network is expected to take scalability, privacy, and Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) functionality to the next level. This new Layer-3 solution will not only offer improved scalability and privacy, but also faster transaction speeds and EVM-compatible features. This will provide developers with a secure and reliable infrastructure connected to Bitcoin, making it easier for them to build innovative applications. The compatibility with EVM dApps will streamline the development process on Bitcoin using the Mintlayer protocol.
Enrico Rubboli, the Founder of Mintlayer, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, “Teaming up with Salus is a major milestone in Mintlayer’s mission to revolutionize Bitcoin’s scalability and functionality. By incorporating ZK technology, the Thunder Network will boost transaction speed and privacy, giving developers powerful EVM capabilities to create cutting-edge applications on top of Bitcoin. We look forward to collaborating with Salus to unleash Bitcoin’s full potential and shape the future of DeFi.”
This collaboration between Mintlayer and Salus signifies a significant advancement for Bitcoin, particularly in terms of integration with the wider blockchain ecosystem. The Thunder Network, powered by Layer-3 ZK rollups, aims to provide users with a seamless and high-performance experience while upholding Bitcoin’s core principles of security, privacy, and decentralization.
Mintlayer utilizes Bitcoin’s Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) model and integrates Non-Turing Complete Smart Contracts to enhance security and minimize vulnerabilities. The team behind Mintlayer consists of top industry professionals, including engineers, cryptographers, and blockchain experts. Operating as a Bitcoin Layer-2 sidechain, Mintlayer enables native Bitcoin cross-chain swaps, facilitating trustless financial transactions.
Looking ahead, Mintlayer plans to expand the use of native Bitcoin in DeFi applications through Atomic Swaps. This will support various financial use cases, such as peer-to-peer trading, real-world asset tokenization, security tokens, and digital collectibles. The partnership between Mintlayer and Salus is poised to unlock new opportunities for Bitcoin, driving the future of decentralized finance and blockchain technology.