Rollkit, a modular framework for rollups, successfully launched its scalability solution on March 5, 2023. This solution brings the storage of rollup information developed for Ethereum to the Bitcoin network. This integration could help optimize the free space of Bitcoin blocks and expand the capabilities of the network.
Rollups are a way to compress or group a number of transactions into one, thereby increasing privacy and making the network more efficient. The execution layer of the blockchain, where smart contracts, protocols, and dApps reside, supports the application layer. The data layer is the most basic level of the blockchain, where the order of the blocks is handled. This layer is called the ‘data availability layer’, and it ensures all nodes are the same, recognizing the same transaction data.
The integration of Rollkit makes it possible to “run the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) on Bitcoin as a sovereign Rollkit rollup” and this has the potential to expand the possibilities for second-layer solutions. The news of Rollkit’s recent launch has stirred up mixed reactions from the Bitcoin community. While some view this as a step forward in blockchain technology, others are concerned about competing for the limited block space due to the increased functionality.
These changes in Bitcoin also impacted other rollup solutions like Stacks. Stacks, a high functionality layer 1 protocol, also relies on Bitcoin for security, but transactions take 150 Stacks blocks to reach “Bitcoin finality”. This is much different than the new proposed Rollkit, which could reach finality with just one block. The technicalities involving the quick and effective transfer of BTC between the layers is the main issue the developers need to tackle.
Recently, Sovereign Labs, a crypto project focused on rollup development, raised $7.4 million in seed funding. The team is building a software development kit (SDK) that makes it easier for developers to create custom zero-knowledge rollups. A rollup is a set of transactions that derive some of its security from another blockchain, allowing for scalability without sacrificing security.
With the help of the Sovereign SDK, developers can make these rollups compatible with any layer 1 blockchain. This makes the entire process easier and more accessible. Not only does this SDK help with scalability and security, but it also ensures that users maintain the verification processes that come with blockchains.
Overall, the integration of Rollkit’s scalability solution helps bring a new level of potential to the Bitcoin network. Expansion of the possibilities to these second-layer solutions could in turn create a healthier fee market on Bitcoin, helping to bootstrap a more sustainable security budget. Although this integration has stirred up some debates, the Rollkit team remains optimistic as they strive to bring an efficient, scalable, and secure platform to the crypto-space.
