Computing on Bitcoin #44
June 20, 2025 - Week 25
Innovation on Bitcoin shows no signs of slowing down—and neither do we.
Whether you’re tracking zero-knowledge rollups, zkproofs bitcoin scaling, we got you covered. Let’s dive in 🚀
Robin Linus introduces BitVM3, moving SNARK verification off-chain with RSA-based garbled circuits. It reduces on-chain data from megabytes to 56 kB for assertions and 200 bytes for fraud proofs, enabling more efficient and trust-minimized computation on Bitcoin.
bitvm.org
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BitVM3: Efficient Computation on Bitcoin
BitVM3 is a protocol for verifying SNARK proofs on Bitcoin that dramatically reduces the on-chain footprint of its predecessor, BitVM2. By leveraging optimistic computation with a garbled circuit, BitVM3 shifts the burden of verification off-chain.
Eugene Bulltime breaks down BitVM3, highlighting its shift to fully off-chain zk-proof generation using garbled circuits. He also shares a comparison table of BitVM, BitVM2, and BitVM3.
BitVM3: Next big innovation in BTC eco
— Eugene Bulltime (@Eugene_Bulltime) June 17, 2025
BitVM – October 2023
BitVM2 – August 2024
BitVM3 – June 2025
Previously, I explained how BitVM and BitVM2 work in this thread: https://t.co/wfbr9kV25d
Now, a new implementation has arrived: BitVM3. You can read the full whitepaper here:… pic.twitter.com/VSo2GOISGx
Ariel Futoransky, from Fairgate, introduced the Transfer of Ownership Protocol (TOOP), a BitVMX-based design enabling trustless Bitcoin-native asset transfers across blockchains without centralized custody or pre-registered recipients
fairgate.io/blog
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Introducing the Transfer of Ownership Protocol
TOOP is a key step in bringing true ownership to cross-chain transfers. Most Bitcoin bridges today rely on semi-custodial models, fronting mechanisms, or predefined parameters that reduce flexibility and trustlessness. TOOP flips that model.
StarkWare granted funding to Post Capone to research OP_CAT's impact on Bitcoin MEV, scripting, and block production incentives—aiming to inform the upgrade debate with neutral, technical analysis.
We are happy to announce that @p0stc4p0n3 has received a grant from the StarkWare OP_CAT Research Fund.
— StarkWare 🐺🐱 (@StarkWareLtd) May 26, 2025
Post Capone is an educator, consultant, and contributor to the Bitcoin ecosystem. He is an independent researcher with a focus on smart contract mechanism design, MEV, and…
GOAT Network launched the first Bitcoin-native zkRollup economic model: rotating “Universal Operators” align incentives across roles, reducing finality to under 24 hours and solving key challenges in BitVM sustainability.
goat.network/blog
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GOAT Network Launches ZK Rollup Economic Model, Solving BitVM’s Major Challenge: Incentives
Considering that a rollup solution involves multiple roles, each with different responsibilities and costs, designing a fair and efficient rollup economic model becomes extremely challenging. GOAT Network unifies all these roles under a single identity — the “Universal Operator” — with universal operators rotating through the different roles over time.
You’ve reached the end of this week’s newsletter, but exploration never stops! Bitcoin’s programmable future is just getting started.
We’ll be back next Friday with more ideas from across the ecosystem.