Mintlayer is a Bitcoin‑inspired layer‑2 sidechain that enables native Bitcoin to participate directly in decentralized finance through trustless atomic swaps and UTXO‑based token issuance. It secures the network with a Rust‑implemented PoS consensus, offers staking of its ML coin, and supports future ZK‑rollup Layer‑3 for scalable, EVM‑compatible smart contracts.
Funding
$12M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Bitcoin’s core blockchain is limited to simple value transfers, and existing DeFi solutions either rely on wrapped BTC or congested layer‑1 protocols, creating counterparty risk, high fees, and limited accessibility for Bitcoin holders.
Solution
Mintlayer is a Bitcoin‑inspired layer‑2 sidechain that enables native Bitcoin to participate directly in decentralized finance. It uses hash‑time‑locked contracts (HTLCs) to perform trustless atomic swaps between Bitcoin and Mintlayer assets, eliminating the need for wrapped tokens. The network operates on a UTXO model with non‑Turing‑complete smart contracts, simplifying token issuance and reducing audit complexity. Security is provided by the Pulsar Proof‑of‑Stake consensus, built in Rust for performance and safety, while staking of the native ML coin secures the chain and rewards participants. Tokenization of real‑world assets and future ZK‑rollup Layer‑3 (ZK Thunder) extend functionality, offering scalable, EVM‑compatible smart‑contract execution without compromising Bitcoin’s security.
Target Audience
Mintlayer targets Bitcoin holders and investors seeking DeFi exposure, developers building Bitcoin‑native dApps, and institutions looking to tokenize real‑world assets on a secure, Bitcoin‑backed infrastructure.
Features
- Native cross‑chain atomic swaps using HTLCs for direct BTC ↔ Mintlayer asset exchanges, removing intermediaries and wrapped token risks.
- UTXO‑based ledger with built‑in token standards (MLS‑01) that allow simple, audit‑friendly token creation without complex smart contracts.
- Pulsar consensus: a Rust‑implemented PoS protocol with VRF‑based block producer selection and 2‑minute block times, providing security and decentralization.
- Non‑Turing‑complete smart contracts that enable deterministic token logic while facilitating easier formal verification and lower gas costs.
- Integrated staking of ML coins via delegations or self‑run pools, offering up to 140 % APY and participation in network governance.
- Planned ZK‑rollup Layer‑3 (ZK Thunder) delivering EVM compatibility and high‑throughput execution for advanced dApps.
- Mojito wallet (desktop, mobile, browser extension) with non‑custodial key management, client‑side encryption, and optional Electrum/Tor integration for enhanced privacy.