Mintlayer, a well-known Layer-2 scaling solution for Bitcoin, has announced a strategic partnership with Salus, a research and security company specializing in zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. The objective of this collaboration is to develop the Thunder Network, an innovative Layer-3 ZK rollup-based solution that utilizes Bitcoin and the Mintlayer Protocol.
Mintlayer already enables Bitcoin liquidity for decentralized finance (DeFi) through its native BTC cross-chain swaps, known as Atomic Swaps. The introduction of the Thunder Network will further improve scalability, privacy, and the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) functionality. This Layer-3 solution will not only provide greater scalability and privacy, but also faster transaction speeds and EVM-compatible features, making it possible for developers to build on a secure and reliable infrastructure connected to Bitcoin. EVM dApps will also be compatible, simplifying the development process on Bitcoin via the Mintlayer protocol.
Enrico Rubboli, Founder of Mintlayer, stated, “Partnering with Salus is a major milestone in Mintlayer’s mission to revolutionize Bitcoin’s scalability and functionality. By integrating ZK, the Thunder Network will enhance transaction speed and privacy while offering developers powerful EVM capabilities to create innovative applications on top of Bitcoin. We are excited to collaborate with Salus to unlock Bitcoin’s full potential and drive the future of DeFi.”
Mintlayer’s decision to partner with Salus is based on Salus’ extensive expertise in providing privacy-enhancing EVM ZK application layer solutions. Earlier this year, Salus authored a groundbreaking set of ZK solutions tailored for the Ethereum ecosystem, which became the most-viewed article on Ethereum Research in 2023. In addition to pioneering innovative ZK solutions, Salus also addresses the most challenging security issues in the blockchain space.
The Thunder Network is designed to address potential scaling challenges on the Mintlayer network while enabling additional EVM functionality that is currently not available on Mintlayer. Shawn Chong, COO of Salus, commented, “We are thrilled to join forces with Mintlayer to build the Thunder Network, a cutting-edge Layer-3 solution that will redefine how developers and users interact with Bitcoin. The synergy between Salus’ privacy-enhancing ZK solutions and Mintlayer’s expertise in Bitcoin layer 2 scaling will drive innovation and adoption in the Bitcoin space, while maintaining security, privacy, and decentralization.”
The partnership between Mintlayer and Salus marks a significant advancement in the evolution of Bitcoin and its integration with the wider blockchain ecosystem. Through the use of Layer-3 ZK rollups, the Thunder Network aims to provide a seamless and high-performance experience for users, while preserving the security, privacy, and decentralization that Bitcoin is known for.
Mintlayer utilizes Bitcoin’s Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) model and incorporates Non-Turing Complete Smart Contracts to minimize bugs and vulnerabilities. Its team consists of top industry engineers, cryptographers, and blockchain researchers. Mintlayer is a Bitcoin Layer-2 sidechain that enables native Bitcoin cross-chain swaps, facilitating truly trustless finance.
In the coming year, Mintlayer aims to enable the use of native Bitcoin in DeFi applications through Atomic Swaps. Mintlayer supports financial use cases such as peer-to-peer trading using Atomic Swaps, tokenization of real-world assets, security tokens, and digital collectibles. The collaboration between Mintlayer and Salus promises to unlock new possibilities for Bitcoin, driving the future of decentralized finance and blockchain technology.
