Best Layer 2 Protocols for Bitcoin

An open source community dedicated to scaling Bitcoin, especially its proof-of-work security, to meet global needs and emerging use cases, while sticking as close as possible to Bitcoin's original ideals. Syscoin's evolution across ten years of main net and the foresight reflected in its design means the project has a head-start providing a comprehensive network and protocol for projects aiming to achieve Bitcoin L2. Syscoin is a mainnet Bitcoin L2 that provides a data availability protocol that scales, making EVM and AltVM rollups on Bitcoin a reality. Merge-mined by a majority of Bitcoin's hash rate, Syscoin anchors rollups to Bitcoin's own proof-of-work and works with rollups’ existing sequencer architectures. Syscoin provides Bitcoin with a scalable data availability layer which is necessary for rollups (and other EVM or AltVM layers) to tap into Bitcoin's network in a safe and scalable way.

Faster, more confidential Bitcoin transactions. Liquid is a sidechain-based settlement network for traders and exchanges, enabling faster, more confidential Bitcoin transactions and the issuance of digital assets. Bitcoin transfers on Liquid are fully settled within two minutes, allowing traders to move funds rapidly between exchanges and their own wallets without facing long, uncertain confirmation times. Anyone can issue new assets on Liquid, including stablecoins and security tokens. Each asset can be traded freely within the network, taking advantage of Liquid’s privacy, speed, and secure trading features. Asset types and amounts are hidden by default on the Liquid sidechain, keeping traders’ sensitive financial data secure from third parties, and preventing the front-running of large orders. Each asset on Liquid can be swapped for any other asset using the open source Liquid Swaps Tool.

ChainX, the earliest launched project in polkadot ecosystem, ChainX is committed to the research and application of Bitcoin layer 2 expansion, digital asset gateway and Polkadot second-layer relay chain. To realize cross-chain asset exchange, leading the new direction of Bitcoin Cross-DEFi. Bitcoin, with a market capitalization on its way to reaching US$1 Trillion, holds the key to the digital currency world. Its value proposition is enabling further and deeper blockchain technology breakthroughs, validating Bitcoin as a payment method and a superior way of transferring and storing value; in the eyes of many, we have only seen the tip of the iceberg in terms of its full potential. ChainX is deeply committed to researching and expanding Bitcoin’s Layer 2 financial platform, striving to promote Bitcoin’s value flow, enrich financial derivative opportunities and improve hedging tools.

Loom Network provides developers the scalability and usability they need to build high-performance user-facing DApps today. With seamless integrations to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Chain, and all major blockchains, deploying once to Loom lets you future-proof your DApps by reaching the largest number of users possible. Loom Network is a multichain interop platform live in production since early 2018. Optimized for scaling high-performance DApps that require a fast and smooth user experience, the network allows DApps to offer a UX comparable to traditional applications and onboard new users without the friction of needing to download crypto wallet software. This allows developers to integrate assets from all major chains, as well as build a DApp only once and offer it to users on all platforms simultaneously. The token is also used by developers to pay for DApp hosting on Loom Network. Unlike Ethereum, developers pay a flat monthly fee to host their DApps on Loom.

Merlin Chain will bring innovation and utilities on Layer2 with those native Layer1 assets. Merlin Chain offers low fees and high scalability as an EVM-compatible chain, ensuring swift transaction processing and enhancing transaction liquidity. Merlin Chain supports popular Bitcoin protocols such as BRC20, BRC420, Bitmap, Atomicals, Pipe, Stamp, and more, enabling a more extensive user base to interact on Bitcoin Layer2. Merlin Chain has implemented ZK-Rollup to enhance efficiency and scalability, with sequencer nodes responsibly managing data transmission via decentralized Oracles, ensuring transparency and security. Merlin Chain continues its commitment to fair launches and community-driven native innovations on Layer2, dedicated to delivering unique solutions designed for the Bitcoin network and its users.

​Rootstock is a pioneering Bitcoin sidechain that integrates Ethereum-compatible smart contract capabilities with Bitcoin's robust security. As an open source platform, it leverages Bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus mechanism, achieving over 60% of Bitcoin's hashing power through merged mining. This integration allows developers to deploy EVM-compatible smart contracts, enabling the creation of decentralized applications secured by Bitcoin's network. Rootstock's native currency, RBTC, is pegged 1:1 to Bitcoin, facilitating seamless interaction with DeFi protocols and dApps on the Rootstock network for activities such as minting, swaps, and gas fees. The PowPeg protocol ensures secure and efficient two-way transfers between Bitcoin and Rootstock, enhancing interoperability. Rootstock's ecosystem encompasses a diverse range of applications, from swapping and staking with platforms like Sushi to yield optimization with Beefy and trading on Oku.

Botanix is a Bitcoin‑based blockchain platform whose live Mainnet delivers the foundational rails for a global, permissionless economy powered entirely by Bitcoin. It preserves Bitcoin’s sound, trustless, censorship‑resistant properties by leveraging Spiderchain, a decentralized network of independent operators that keeps funds safe from centralized control. Users can on‑board seamlessly via choice of compatible wallets, bridge BTC on‑chain to access the Botanix ecosystem, stake Bitcoin to earn real yield without ever selling, and transact or save securely in BTC using built‑in Lightning payments. Beyond basic transfers, Botanix supports DeFi‑style applications, including collateralized lending and borrowing of stablecoins, long and short positions through integrated trading protocols, and real‑time market access for tokens issued on the network. A comprehensive suite of developer tools, documentation, and explorer interfaces enables builders to deploy Bitcoin‑native applications.

Hemi is a breakthrough modular Layer-2 blockchain protocol that seamlessly merges Bitcoin’s rock-solid security with Ethereum’s versatile programmability by embedding a full Bitcoin node into an Ethereum-compatible EVM, known as the Hemi Virtual Machine (hVM). This architecture allows developers to write Solidity smart contracts that natively access Bitcoin data without relying on bridges or synthetic assets. Using its proprietary Proof-of-Proof (PoP) consensus, Hemi achieves “superfinality,” anchoring transactions in Bitcoin blocks for high integrity and resistance to reorgs, all while maintaining fast finality. Its Hemi Bitcoin Kit (hBK) gives developers the tools to build truly Bitcoin-powered DeFi applications, such as lending, staking, automated market makers, MEV systems, and multi-chain DAOs, using real BTC as collateral or yield sources.

Bitlayer is a “BitVM”-based protocol intended to unlock more of Bitcoin’s full potential by enabling smart, multichain functionality layered on top of Bitcoin. It claims to have over $3 million in deposited BTC, more than $360 million in daily trading volume, and a multichain environment with thousands of users. It offers or plans features such as a Bridge to move assets, a DApp Center, and support for developers via documentation, a multisig wallet, and testnet tools. Bitlayer also presents itself as trusted by multiple partners and investors, has a roadmap, and supports community participation (leaderboards, job opportunities). Key components include protocol tools, security documentation, and explorations into integrating with other chains. The site emphasizes that Bitlayer is designed to facilitate multichain DeFi/DApp deployment on Bitcoin, with infrastructure for token scanning, testnets, and developer resources as central features.

Stacks makes Bitcoin programmable, enabling decentralized apps and smart contracts that inherit all of Bitcoin’s powers. Build apps and smart contracts on Bitcoin. Stacks connects to Bitcoin, enabling you to build apps, smart contracts, and digital assets that are integrated with Bitcoin's security, capital, and network. Lock your STX temporarily to support the network’s security and consensus. As a reward, you’ll earn Bitcoin that miners transfer as part of Proof of Transfer. Stacks makes Bitcoin's $760B of capital programmable with smart contracts. Build a better financial system on top of Bitcoin that’s open, composable, and without intermediaries. Run your app’s logic on the blockchain with Clarity smart contracts. Clarity is a more secure and predictable language that prevents many bugs and exploits. Perfect for high-stakes code where bugs are not an option.

RSK the safest smart contract blockchain platform secured by the Bitcoin Network. Bitcoin is the greatest DeFi opportunity and fully enabled on RSK, the most secure smart contract platform in the world. Bitcoin users now can lend, borrow, trade and earn interest on their Bitcoin. The future of finance is decentralized. RSK is the most secure contract platform in the world. RSK’s Contracts goal is to add value and functionality to the bitcoin Contracts ecosystem by enabling smart contracts, near instant Contracts payments, and higher scalability. RSK Blockchain is connected to Bitcoin through Merged Contracts Mining and the two-way peg also known as the bridge. Built on top of RSK, RIF aims to create the building blocks to construct a fully decentralized internet to enable Decentralized Sharing Economies in order to empower and protect the value of individuals through identity, payments, storage, communications, gateways services and the marketplace.

Bitcoin Lightning Network. Instant Payments. Lightning-fast blockchain payments without worrying about block confirmation times. Security is enforced by blockchain smart-contracts without creating a on-blockchain transaction for individual payments. Payment speed measured in milliseconds to seconds. Scalability. Capable of millions to billions of transactions per second across the network. Capacity blows away legacy payment rails by many orders of magnitude. Attaching payment per action/click is now possible without custodians. Low Cost. By transacting and settling off-blockchain, the Lightning Network allows for exceptionally low fees, which allows for emerging use cases such as instant micropayments. Cross Blockchains. Cross-chain atomic swaps can occur off-chain instantly with heterogeneous blockchain consensus rules. So long as the chains can support the same cryptographic hash function, it is possible to make transactions across blockchains.

Omni is a platform for creating and trading custom digital assets and currencies. It is a software layer built on top of the most popular, most audited, most secure blockchain - Bitcoin. Omni transactions are Bitcoin transactions that enable next-generation features on the Bitcoin Blockchain. Our reference implementation, Omni Core is an enhanced Bitcoin core that provides all the features of Bitcoin as well as advanced Omni Layer features. With Omni it's simple to create tokens to represent custom currencies or assets and to transact these via the Bitcoin blockchain. The power and simplicity offered by Omni has helped to make it the leading Bitcoin based token protocol. Decentralized crowdfunding is easy with Omni. Crowdsale participants can send bitcoins or tokens directly to an issuer address and the Omni Layer automatically delivers the crowdfunded tokens to the sender in return - all without needing to trust a third party.