The Reed Network Upgrade is coming soon, cutting BTC withdrawal costs by 60%, allowing for an increase of PowPeg pegnatories for stronger security, and setting the stage for the Union Bridge, a next-gen, trust-minimized way to move Bitcoin into Rootstock.
Check out the Rootstock roadmap to learn more about what’s coming!
What is the Reed Network Upgrade bringing to Rootstock?
The Reed Network Upgrade is coming soon to mainnet, bringing major improvements to how Bitcoin moves between Bitcoin and Rootstock. It delivers stronger security, better decentralization, and sets up the next generation of trust-minimized bridging.
By allowing for an increase in the number of PowPeg pegnatories from 9 to 20, Reed makes the bridge more secure and less dependent on any single participant. This creates a safer and more reliable way to move BTC into Rootstock.
Reed also prepares the network for the Union Bridge, a new bridge powered by BitVMX technology that will allow Bitcoin transfers to be verifiable and programmable. When live, Union will open the door to more efficient Bitcoin yield opportunities, new financial products, and open DeFi, all backed by Bitcoin’s proof-of-work and Rootstock’s smart contract layer.
Key improvements with Reed
- 60% Cheaper Peg-Outs: Segwit PowPeg integration reduces BTC withdrawal costs, making Rootstock more affordable to use.
- More Decentralized Security: Allows for an expansion of PowPeg pegnatories from 9 to 20, with plans to grow to 60 in the future.
- Ready for Future Upgrades: Prepares for the Union Bridge and other major upgrades planned for later in 2025.
- Performance Gains (Testnet): Parallel transaction execution and new cryptographic tools are being tested for faster transactions and lower gas costs.
Why this matters for Rootstock users
The Reed Network Upgrade is more than a technical milestone, it’s a strategic leap toward greater security, decentralization, and stronger guarantees for Bitcoin assets moving between Bitcoin and Rootstock. By allowing for an increased number of PowPeg pegnatories, Reed enhances the resilience of Rootstock’s two-way bridge, reducing reliance on any single entity and reinforcing the trust-minimized foundation of the network.
The Reed Network Upgrade also sets the stage for the launch of an industry-leading, trust-minimized bridge between Bitcoin and Rootstock, powered by BitVMX, a breakthrough in verifiable and trustless interoperability. The upcoming Union bridge will combine Rootstock’s battle-tested security with cutting-edge cryptographic design, creating the most secure and decentralized infrastructure for Bitcoin DeFi to date. It’s not just an evolution of bridging; it’s a transformation that redefines how BTC can flow into smart contract environments without sacrificing the core principles of Bitcoin. By enabling verifiable, programmable BTC transfers, this bridge will unlock institutional-grade yield opportunities, capital-efficient financial products, and permissionless DeFi, all secured by Bitcoin’s proof-of-work and Rootstock’s robust smart contract layer.
These upgrades and innovations bring Rootstock closer to its vision of a decentralized and trustless bridge, aligned with Bitcoin’s foundational principles of openness and security. In this way, Rootstock is not just scaling Bitcoin’s capabilities, it’s building the trustless financial infrastructure of the future.
Check out the proposal on the forum and add your thoughts and suggestions.
