BitcoinOS (BOS) is proud to announce the release of BitSNARK version 0.2, advancing our mission to bring unlimited programmability to Bitcoin in a transparent fashion.
Anyone may now test and review the code for this basic version of our protocol. Visit our repo, clone it, and try BitSNARK here.
This update builds upon our September release of BitSNARK v0.1, introducing powerful new capabilities and improvements that further expand what's possible on the world's oldest and most secure blockchain.
What is BitSNARK?
BitSNARK is a specialized protocol that enables the verification of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) directly on the Bitcoin blockchain, developed by BitcoinOS. When we open-sourced BitSNARK v0.1 in September 2024, we demonstrated for the first time how zero-knowledge proofs could be efficiently verified on the Bitcoin mainchain—a breakthrough many experts had considered impossible.
At its core, BitSNARK works through an interactive verification game between a prover and a verifier:
- Proof Submission: The prover submits a ZK proof to Bitcoin, claiming that a certain computation was performed correctly.
- Verification Challenge: If the verifier believes the proof is incorrect, they can initiate a challenge.
- Binary Search Process: The protocol uses a binary search to efficiently identify the specific point of disagreement in the computation.
- On-Chain Resolution: The dispute is ultimately resolved directly on the Bitcoin blockchain through a deterministic process.
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This approach allows complex computations to be verified with minimal on-chain footprint, all without requiring any changes to Bitcoin's core protocol. By open-sourcing our code, we've invited the broader development community to scrutinize, debate, and contribute to this technological leap forward.
What's New in BitSNARK v0.2
BitSNARK v0.2 represents a substantial leap forward in what can be accomplished on Bitcoin. The key improvements include:
Universal Computation Verification
Unlike our previous release, BitSNARK v0.2 is no longer hard-coded for specific verification tasks. It now provides a flexible framework to verify any computation performed in any virtual machine. This means developers can build virtually any blockchain application and have its execution verified directly on Bitcoin.
Optimized Transaction Size
One of the most significant improvements in v0.2 is the dramatic reduction in transaction size. The new implementation produces transactions that prove external computations in under 100 kilo vbytes- small enough to be included in blocks without special consideration from miners.
Furthermore, our current version requires a challenge and response process of only 6 interactions - a vast reduction from our ZK proof verification in July 2024, which required 52 transactions. This makes the protocol more practical, economical, and scalable for real-world usage.
Regtest Demo
We've included a regtest demonstration with this release, allowing developers to clone our repository and run the protocol on any test network with minimal setup. This makes it easier than ever to experiment with BitSNARK and build new applications on Bitcoin.
While BitSNARK v0.2 maintains the two-party verification system of our previous release, it lays the groundwork for multi-party verification—a feature we're actively developing.
We once again welcome debate and scrutiny of our latest technological release to refine our approach and accelerate our progress.
Unlocking Bitcoin's Potential
BitSNARK v0.2 enables a wide range of applications that were previously impossible or impractical on Bitcoin:
Cryptographically Trustless Bridging
For the first time, users can move assets between Bitcoin and other blockchains without relying on centralized intermediaries or federations. Rather than trusting a single custodian, Bitcoin can be stored in secure multichain vaults controlled by smart contracts and ZK proofs that automatically respond to activity on other chains. This preserves Bitcoin's core value of trustlessness while enabling BTC interoperability with the broader crypto ecosystem, including smart contract chains. Our Grail bridge implementation is already live on testnet, with code to be released in the future.
Bitcoin Rollups
Developers can now build Layer 2 solutions that inherit Bitcoin's security while providing vastly improved scalability and functionality. These rollups can help scale bitcoin, processing thousands of transactions off-chain, and efficiently settling them on the Bitcoin mainchain.
Programmable Bitcoin
BitSNARK v0.2 enables the creation of a programmable bitcoin token that can move seamlessly between different blockchains and maintain its properties, behaviors, and special features—all while remaining secured by Bitcoin's unmatched security model.
Bitcoin DeFi
The door is now open to a full suite of decentralized financial applications on Bitcoin, from decentralized exchanges to BTC-backed stablecoins, lending protocols, and more—all without compromising Bitcoin's fundamental security or requiring trust in third parties.
BitSNARK is a foundational technology for BOS and its product suite, which is establishing Bitcoin as the foundation for a unified, interoperable blockchain world.
Join the Revolution
By open-sourcing BitSNARK v0.2, we're inviting developers, researchers, and the entire crypto community to join us in building Bitcoin's next chapter. The code is available for review, experimentation, and contribution, reflecting our commitment to collaborative development and open innovation.
Visit our GitHub repository to explore BitSNARK v0.2, and follow us on all our channels through our Linktree to stay updated on our progress.
The future of Bitcoin is programmable—and it's being built today with BOS.
