2024/25
The Rootstock network is developed and maintained by a decentralized ecosystem of independent core developers and entities.
Q2
The revelation phase
Rootstock becomes the most accessible Bitcoin Layer 2, providing builders more secure and efficient pathways to enter and exit the network.
BitVMX WhitePaper
BitVMX’s whitepaper introduces a new framework to optimistically execute arbitrary programs on Bitcoin. BitVMX provides the foundation for developing decentralized bridges, driving the evolution of Bitcoin and Rootstock towards greater decentralization and functionality.
Q2 2024 (Done)BitVMX PoC
This PoC implements the BitVMX challenge response protocol. As an example in practice, an early version of the PoC was used to verify a SNARK proof on Bitcoin.
Q2 2024 (Done)Q3
The advancement phase
Rootstock network becomes more robust, while bridging experience continues improving for more usability.
Bitcoin Native Assets Bridge
The new bridge introduces seamless cross-chain transfers of Bitcoin assets (Runes) into Rootstock, providing users easy access to a scalable platform that has a dynamic and diverse DeFi ecosystem.
Q3 2024 (Done)Upgraded Rootstock Accesswith Flyover and Boltz
- Simplified, faster, and cheaper non-custodial BTC mainchain and LN-BTC swaps with Rootstock via Boltz.
- Fast and frictionless native BTC/RBTC transfers with the Flyover protocol integration into Rootstock’s peg-in and peg-out web dApp: PowPeg Fast Mode
Q4
The scaling phase
Rootstock achieving faster and more cost-effective transactions, encouraging the development of scalable products and dApps.
FASTER Protocol Design
Key to parallel transaction execution and therefore Rootstock’s scalability, FASTER protocol design’s initial research phase is now completed.
Q3 2024 (Done)Union BitVMX BridgeWhitepaper
The Union Bridge whitepaper presents the design and functioning of the BitVMX-based Union Bridge between Bitcoin and Rootstock.
Q4 2024Q1 2025
The decentralization 2.0 phase
Rootstock’s decentralization journey continues, while contributing directly to Bitcoin innovation.
Rootstock LovellNetwork Upgrade
The Lovell network upgrade enhances the robustness of the PowPeg and introduces new VM opcodes for improved Ethereum compatibility, among other improvements. For a complete overview of the proposed changes, refer to RSKIP-435.
Q1 2025RSKj SnapSynchronization
RSKj, the Rootstock protocol reference implementation, introduces snap sync mode which enables full synchronization of Rootstock nodes in only a few hours, significantly enhancing the speed and efficiency of syncing operations.
Q1 2025Intel SGX-basedPowHSMs
Intel SGX-based PowHSMs enable HSM cloud setup, simplifying the addition of new pegnatories (entities overseeing Bitcoin transaction signing) to join the PowPeg and diversifying HSM manufacturers.
Q1 2025LATER 2025
Rootstock continues to become easier to access, more decentralised and interoperable.
Parallel Transaction Execution
RSKIP-144 introduces the Parallel Transaction Execution protocol which allows transactions to be safely parallelized. This increases the block gas limit and improves the scalability of Rootstock by increasing the transaction throughput.
Q2 2025Upgraded Access viaRootstock SuperBridge
Entering Rootstock becomes easy via the Rootstock SuperBridge that redefines the RBTC (and RIF) bridging experience. This platform will make bridging to and from Rootstock seamless, accessible, and engaging for both beginners and experienced users, setting a new standard for efficiency and user-friendliness in blockchain ecosystems.
Q2 2025Segwit-compatible PowPeg
RSKIP-305 proposes to upgrade the PowPeg to a SegWit-compatible 2-Way Peg, increasing the number of entities overseeing Bitcoin transaction signing to over 60. This significantly enhances decentralization and reduces peg-out transaction fees by up to 70%.
Q2 2025Faster TransactionConfirmations
This improvement proposal enables faster blocks and higher transaction throughput, reducing transaction confirmation times from 30 to just 5 seconds.
LATE 2025Union BitVMX Bridge
The Union BitVMX Bridge will revolutionize the bridging technology on Rootstock, by introducing a trust-minimized Bitcoin/Rootstock bridge. This will rely on the 1-of-n honest assumption, and will not require changes to the Bitcoin consensus protocol.
LATE 2025