Bitcoin’s First Major Layer-2 in Nearly a Decade Goes Live With Arkade
Arkade, the first major Bitcoin Layer-2 since Lightning, has launched its public beta to enable programmable financial applications on Bitcoin.Summary
Arkade, developed by Ark Labs, has launched its public beta, marking the first significant Bitcoin Layer-2 solution in nearly a decade, following the Lightning Network. Built upon the two-year-old Ark protocol, Arkade aims to transform Bitcoin into a programmable financial platform without compromising its core security. It achieves this by virtualizing Bitcoin’s UTXO system using Virtual Transaction Outputs (VTXOs) and batch settlement, allowing developers to build sophisticated applications like lending protocols and trading platforms directly on Bitcoin, bypassing the need for bridges or custodial solutions. The launch also introduces Arkade Assets, a native multi-asset framework intended to bring stablecoins, including planned support for Tether (USDT), onto Bitcoin's execution layer. Ark Labs CEO Marco Argentieri stated that this launch begins Bitcoin's evolution as programmable money, addressing the historical limitation of Bitcoin's conservative base layer for complex financial tools.
(Source：Bitcoin Magazine)