Tech
ZK Trials Come to Bitcoin, Roxom Launches Bitcoin-Based Stock, Commodity, and Futures Exchange
BitcoinOS Tests First-Ever ZK Proof on Bitcoin Mainnet
July 25: BitcoinOSA network of Bitcoin-based rollup chains has verified the first zero-knowledge (ZK) proof on the Bitcoin mainchain. ZK cryptography is considered a key technology for scaling blockchain productivity and utility, but the technology is complicated and computationally intensive, meaning it was unclear if or when it would arrive on the relatively bare-bones Bitcoin network. According to the BitcoinOS team, “This is the first permissionless upgrade of the Bitcoin system and the first time Bitcoin has been upgraded without a soft fork.” Bitcoin can now be “infinitely upgradeable,” the team told CoinDesk, “without requiring changes to the consensus code.” BitcoinOS aims to be “the definitive implementation of a Bitcoin rollup system,” eventually serving as a bridge connecting any number of rollups, fast and cost-effective layer-2 blockchains that are secured by the Bitcoin blockchain and ZK proofs.
Roxom Raises $4.3M, Launches Bitcoin-Based Stock, Commodity, Futures Exchange
July 25 (PROTOCOL VILLAGE EXCLUSIVE): Roxom has raised $4.3 million in pre-seed funding to launch the first Bitcoin-denominated stock, commodities, and futures exchange. The company was founded by CEO Borja Martel and CTO Nick Damico. Martel previously founded Latin America-based cryptocurrency exchange Lemon. Roxom’s round was led by Kingsway, Draper, and David Marcus, among others. “Bitcoin-native financial markets are an important step for holders to access a wide range of financial services natively. Roxom is an important step in that direction,” Marcus said.
P2P Validation Service Integrates with Avail Network
July 25: P2P.org is set to complement the newly launched Network available on its non-custodial staking platform. According to the team, the integration with Avail’s data availability network will enable “smoother cross-chain transactions, improving overall blockchain interaction.” Key highlights, according to P2P, include a “0% fee incentive for the first three months of AVAIL staking, successful testnet phases handling over 300 million requests and 37,000 concurrent connections, and the implementation of innovative solutions such as a proxy balancer for increased network capacity.”
Elastos introduces native Bitcoin staking
July 25 (PROTOCOL VILLAGE EXCLUSIVE): Layer-2 Service Based on Bitcoin Elastic claims to have introduced the first-ever native bitcoin staking. From the team: “Using the Elastos BeL2 SDK, partners can develop native Bitcoin dapps to encourage staking of over 1 trillion dormant Bitcoin.” The SDK debuted at Bitcoin Nashville 2024, with the StarBTC demo lending app. “Elastos is the only L2 with innovative arbitrator node and smart contract technology, facilitating dispute resolution and earning opportunities for node holders staking Elastos ELA or BTC,” the team said.
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By Sam Kessler and Bradley Keoun.