Mintlayer, a well-known scaling solution for Bitcoin, has announced a strategic partnership with Salus, a research and security company specializing in zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. This collaboration aims to develop the Thunder Network, a revolutionary Layer-3 solution based on Bitcoin and the Mintlayer Protocol.
Mintlayer already allows for Bitcoin liquidity in decentralized finance (DeFi) through native BTC cross-chain swaps known as Atomic Swaps. The introduction of the Thunder Network will further enhance scalability, privacy, and 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. Developers will be able to build on a secure and reliable infrastructure connected to Bitcoin, and EVM dApps will be compatible, simplifying the development process through the Mintlayer protocol.
Enrico Rubboli, Founder of Mintlayer, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating that it is a significant milestone in Mintlayer’s mission to revolutionize Bitcoin’s scalability and functionality. By integrating ZK, the Thunder Network will improve transaction speed and privacy while offering powerful EVM capabilities to developers, allowing them to build innovative applications on top of Bitcoin. Rubboli is eager to work with Salus to unlock Bitcoin’s full potential and drive the future of DeFi.
The decision to collaborate with Salus was driven by their extensive expertise in providing privacy-enhancing EVM ZK application layer solutions. Salus authored a groundbreaking set of ZK solutions tailored for the Ethereum ecosystem earlier this year, which became the most-viewed article on Ethereum Research in 2023. In addition to pioneering ZK solutions, Salus addresses the toughest security challenges in the blockchain space.
The Thunder Network is designed to address potential scaling issues on the Mintlayer network while adding EVM functionality that is currently absent. Shawn Chong, COO of Salus, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating that they are thrilled to join forces with Mintlayer to build the Thunder Network. This cutting-edge Layer-3 solution will redefine how developers and users interact with Bitcoin. The collaboration 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 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 preserving 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. The 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 plans to enable the use of native Bitcoin in DeFi applications through Atomic Swaps. Financial use cases supported by Mintlayer include 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.
