Bitcoin-zk

Bitcoin-zk is a new architecture for a fully stateless, Bitcoin-native zkEVM that anchors directly to the Bitcoin blockchain using Taproot or OP_RETURN. It’s designed to bring Ethereum-style programmable smart contracts to Bitcoin, but without sequencers, validators, governance, or tokens. Instead, Bitcoin-zk relies purely on cryptographic proofs, economic incentives, and Bitcoin’s finality.

The system is currently in the design phase. It is not yet deployed, but the full technical blueprint exists. In this model, zk proofs contain both smart contract state transitions and BTC-denominated fee validation, and are posted to Bitcoin for final settlement. Fees are paid in L2 and L3 BTC, not a new token, and all computation is enforced inside zk circuits, not by trusted intermediaries or governance mechanisms.

Users interact through a modular L2 and L3 structure. The L2 zkEVM hosts computation and anchors to Bitcoin. Developers can launch sovereign L3s that run independently but inherit Bitcoin finality through the L2. Most users will transact at the L3 level using L3 BTC for speed and low cost. Exits are fully client-side and verifiable using only the last anchored state root on Bitcoin.

Bitcoin-zk is built around one core idea: Bitcoin can be the foundation of decentralized finance, without copying Ethereum’s flaws. There is no inflation, no governance capture, and no protocol-level rent-seeking. Bitcoin is the gas. Bitcoin is the finality. Bitcoin is the only token.