StarkWare Bitcoin Scaling Solutions Now In Promotion

Key Points:

• StarkWare plans to extend its zero-knowledge scaling technology to Bitcoin, integrating with Starknet to support both Bitcoin and Ethereum.
• A $1 million fund is introduced for researchers to support StarkWare Bitcoin scaling solutions.
• Following Bitcoin’s Taproot upgrade, StarkWare now views Bitcoin as ready for scaling, enabling further innovation.

Blockchain developer StarkWare has revealed plans to extend its zero-knowledge scaling technology to Bitcoin, marking a significant shift in its development strategy.

StarkWare Bitcoin Scaling Solutions In Development

StarkWare Bitcoin scaling solutions will be integrated through Starknet, which will support both Bitcoin and Ethereum. This move coincides with the ongoing debate within the Bitcoin community about the new OP_CAT proposal.

StarkWare CEO and co-founder Eli Ben-Sasson highlighted the potential of Starknet to handle thousands of transactions per second on both Bitcoin and Ethereum. The advancement is anticipated to take place within six months of the potential adoption of the OP_CAT upgrade.

“Starknet will become the first network to settle simultaneously on Bitcoin and Ethereum, scaling Bitcoin to many thousands of transactions per second,” Ben-Sasson stated.

He emphasized that the time has come for STARKs (Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge) to take on the challenge of scaling Bitcoin. The adoption of OP_CAT will enable the implementation of a STARK verifier in Bitcoin Script, facilitating secure and self-custodial movement between Bitcoin and Starknet. This integration aims to create a unified Layer 2 solution for scaling both Ethereum and Bitcoin.

StarkWare Sees New Opportunities for Scaling

In support of this initiative, StarkWare announced a $1 million fund to encourage researchers to contribute to StarkWare Bitcoin scaling solutions. The fund, set to open for applications in the coming weeks, will finance new discoveries and proofs of concept related to OP_CAT, as well as identify potential risks.

StarkWare has long considered Bitcoin scaling, with Ben-Sasson discussing STARK scaling at Bitcoin conferences as early as 2013. The company initially prioritized Ethereum due to its readiness for STARKs, but recent advancements following Bitcoin’s Taproot upgrade in November 2021 have made Bitcoin a viable candidate for scaling efforts. StarkWare believes that Bitcoin’s lifted restrictions now allow for increased experimentation and innovation.