Rootstock
by Rootstock Labs
Bitcoin
Ethereum
Binance Smart Chain
Solana
Quick Fact
Rootstock launched its mainnet in January 2018, becoming Bitcoin’s first Turing-complete smart contract platform. It uses merged-mining and the PowPeg mechanism to secure the network with Bitcoin’s hashrate, offering 30-second block times and 10–20 TPS — far faster and cheaper than Bitcoin’s base layer.
Rootstock (RSK) is a decentralized smart contract platform that extends the utility of Bitcoin by enabling Ethereum-compatible decentralized applications (dApps) to run on a Bitcoin-secured network. Developed by Rootstock Labs and governed in collaboration with the Rootstock Foundation, Rootstock delivers a scalable and programmable layer to Bitcoin while maintaining the principles of decentralization and security.
As the first smart contract platform anchored to Bitcoin, Rootstock plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between Bitcoin’s security and Ethereum’s flexibility.
Purpose and Design
Rootstock was created to bring Turing-complete smart contracts to Bitcoin without compromising network integrity or decentralization. It uses a two-way peg mechanism (PowPeg) to facilitate the movement of BTC into the Rootstock ecosystem, where it functions as RBTC, a native token used for gas and contract execution.
The platform achieves consensus through merged mining, allowing Bitcoin miners to simultaneously secure both the Bitcoin and Rootstock networks with the same hashing power—creating a deeply integrated, trust-minimized ecosystem.
Core eatures
EVM Compatibility Rootstock supports Solidity and Ethereum toolsets (Metamask, Truffle, Remix), enabling seamless migration of Ethereum dApps to the Bitcoin ecosystem.
Merged Mining with Bitcoin Rootstock leverages Bitcoin’s security through merged mining, with over 50% of BTC’s hash power securing the network at various times.
Two-Way Peg (PowPeg) BTC is converted into RBTC at a 1:1 ratio using a non-custodial, multi-signature mechanism secured by hardware wallets, enabling trustless interoperability.
Low-Cost, Fast Transactions Rootstock features 30-second block times and significantly lower gas fees than Ethereum, offering developers and users an efficient alternative for deploying smart contracts and DeFi applications.
Multi-Chain Bridges The network supports interoperability with chains like Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, and Solana via bridge solutions, expanding dApp reach and composability.