Mintlayer, a well-known Layer-2 scaling solution for Bitcoin, has recently announced a strategic partnership with Salus, a research and security company focused on zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. This collaboration aims to develop the Thunder Network, an innovative Layer-3 ZK rollup-based solution built on Bitcoin and the Mintlayer Protocol.
Mintlayer is already enabling Bitcoin liquidity for decentralized finance (DeFi) through native BTC cross-chain swaps, known as Atomic Swaps. The introduction of the Thunder Network is expected to enhance scalability, privacy, and Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) functionality even further. This Layer-3 solution will not only offer improved scalability and privacy, but also faster transaction speeds and EVM-compatible features, making it easier for developers to build on a secure and reliable infrastructure connected to Bitcoin. EVM dApps will be compatible, simplifying the development process on Bitcoin via the Mintlayer protocol.
Enrico Rubboli, the Founder of Mintlayer, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating that it is a significant milestone in Mintlayer’s mission to revolutionize Bitcoin’s scalability and functionality. He believes that integrating ZK into the Thunder Network will enhance transaction speed and privacy, while also providing developers with powerful EVM capabilities to build innovative applications on top of Bitcoin. Rubboli looks forward to working with Salus to unlock Bitcoin’s full potential and drive the future of DeFi.
Mintlayer’s decision to collaborate 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 specifically designed for the Ethereum ecosystem, which became the most-viewed article on Ethereum Research in 2023. Alongside pioneering innovative ZK solutions, Salus also addresses the toughest security challenges in the blockchain space.
The Thunder Network is designed to address potential scaling issues on the Mintlayer network while enabling additional EVM functionality that is currently unavailable on Mintlayer. Shawn Chong, the COO of Salus, expressed excitement about joining forces with Mintlayer to build the Thunder Network, a cutting-edge Layer-3 solution that will redefine how developers and users interact with Bitcoin. Chong believes that the synergy between Salus’ privacy-enhancing ZK solutions and Mintlayer’s Bitcoin layer 2 scaling expertise will drive innovation and adoption in the Bitcoin space while maintaining security, privacy, and decentralization.
The partnership between Mintlayer and Salus marks a significant step forward in the evolution of Bitcoin and its integration with the broader blockchain ecosystem. By leveraging Layer-3 ZK rollups, the Thunder Network aims to provide a seamless and high-performance experience for users, while also maintaining the security, privacy, and decentralization that Bitcoin is known for.
Mintlayer utilizes Bitcoin’s Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) model and integrates Non-Turing Complete Smart Contracts to minimize bugs and vulnerabilities. Its team consists of industry-leading 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 has plans to unlock the use of native Bitcoin in DeFi applications through Atomic Swaps. Some of the financial use cases supported by Mintlayer include peer-to-peer trading using Atomic Swaps, real-world asset tokenization, security tokens, and digital collectibles. The collaboration between Mintlayer and Salus promises to unlock new possibilities for Bitcoin, driving forward the future of decentralized finance and blockchain technology.
