Technology to enhance our humanity, not replace it
Technology to enhance our humanity, not replace it
Unlocking the infinite scalability, privacy, and programmability of crypto without compromise.
How BOS Works
How BOS Works
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Rollups & True L2s
Using BitSNARK and Grail, BOS allows for Bitcoin “rollups” - execution environments that satisfy all three prongs of a true Bitcoin Layer 2: Gas fees payable in BTC, security inherited from Bitcoin L1 and trustless BTC bridging between L1 and L2.
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Programmable, Unchained Tokens
Runes and BRC-20 tokens have limited functionality. The Bitcoin economy on BOS will feature programmable tokens with asset-centric logic for customizable staking, governance, issuance, and more, across any chain.
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Unified Ecosystems
Crypto suffers poor UX due to fragmentation between blockchains. BOS SLAM nodes grease the wheels for multichain interactions using ZK, securing the network and making it all feel like one chain.
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Trustless Bridging
The holy grail technology for unleashing Bitcoin’s potential, and uniting all of crypto. Seamlessly move your BTC from L1 to L2 and throughout the entire BOS ecosystem – without trusting anyone.
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Scalability Solutions
Bitcoin’s 7 TPS throughput is a thing of the past. Scalability-optimized L2s on BOS will empower cheap, sub-second Bitcoin transactions for the entire planet.
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Private Transactions
Privacy-focused rollups and protocols will stop snoopers and tyrants from monitoring all of your financial activity.
BOS Roadmap
BOS Roadmap
BOS Architecture for a new internet
BOS Architecture for a new internet
Grail Pro
Grail Pro is the institutional grade technology that lets custodians mint zkBTC - a verifiable, 1:1 token backed by native BTC - without relying on any third party. Custodians themselves operate the system and keep full control of their Bitcoin while activating it for DeFi use. With zkBTC, institutions can finally deploy their holdings into lending, trading, and yield strategies while preserving Bitcoin’s unique quality: custody that remains entirely their own.
Charms
Charms is the universal token standard for programmable assets on Bitcoin. By extending the UTXO model with “charms” - app-specific data validated by zero-knowledge proofs - it enables fungible and non-fungible tokens, lending markets, DEXes, and more. Charms assets are portable and composable across chains, eliminating the need for bridges while preserving Bitcoin’s base-layer security. This architecture makes Bitcoin not just a store of value, but a foundation for a new programmable financial system.
zkBTC
zkBTC is Bitcoin made programmable - a 1:1 verifiable token backed directly by native BTC. Minted through Grail Pro and secured by the Charms standard, zkBTC allows institutions to deploy their Bitcoin into borrowing, lending, trading, and yield generation without giving up custody. Unlike wrapped tokens or custodial IOUs, zkBTC relies on zero-knowledge proofs to enforce validity and preserve Bitcoin’s sovereignty. It is the entry point for billions in institutional capital into BTCFi.
MerkleMesh
Aggregating data from a whole ecosystem of interoperable virtual machines and verifying it back to the security of Bitcoin, MerkleMesh allows more advanced crypto networks to piggyback on the security of Bitcoin’s proof of work.
FAQ
FAQ
- What is BOS and how does it work?
BOS is a system that connects Bitcoin with other blockchains and protocols, making it possible to transfer assets and data securely between them. It uses Bitcoin as the foundation for verifying and settling transactions, while advanced technologies like zero-knowledge proofs ensure transactions are fast and safe.
- What makes BOS secure?
BOS leverages Bitcoin’s highly secure and decentralized network as the final settlement layer. Zero-knowledge proofs ensure that every transaction is verified without exposing sensitive data. No intermediaries are involved, eliminating major security risks. Transactions are verified by a decentralized network of nodes that are financially incentivized to remain honest, in which even a single honest verifier can maintain the integrity of the system.
- What are the fees for using BOS?
For this testnet application, BOS provides the testnet3 BTC and also provides the underlying gas required to bridge. Eventually as we get to production - fees will be more clearly defined.
- Which networks utilize BOS to connect with Bitcoin?
On the testnet, BOS currently supports bridging from Bitcoin to Ethereum Holesky Merlin Testnet, Mode Sepolia, and Base Sepolia. More chains will be added soon as we continue to make progress. Coordinating, testing, and integrating new networks takes time, but we’re moving swiftly. Stay tuned to our official channels for the latest updates!
- Who can use BOS?
Both developers and regular users can benefit from BOS. Developers can build cross-chain applications, while everyday users can easily bridge assets to access DeFi, lending, and trading across different blockchains.
- How long does a cross-chain transaction take?
Most cross-chain transactions take about the time of 1 Bitcoin block (around 10 minutes), depending on network activity. BOS ensures efficient processing while maintaining security.
- What is the BOS Grail Bridge? What makes it special?
BOS allows for cross-chain interactions that are verifiable on Bitcoin itself. Unlike traditional bridges, Grail doesn't rely on custodians, intermediaries, or an honest majority of federation members to protect your BTC for you, making it uniquely trustless and secure. As such, Grail is thoroughly protected from the hacks and fraud that have plagued bridges and Bitcoin custody solutions of the past.
CLUB BOS
CLUB BOS
Join a community of Bosses (back) on the original blockchain.
zkBTC TVL STATS
zkBTC TVL STATS
Each unit of zkBTC represents BTC that Grail Pro operators have locked into the BitcoinOS network using their own bitcoin holdings. These operators maintain full custody of their BTC throughout the process - it never leaves their control. The zkBTC TVL directly reflects the bitcoin these operators have committed. Once minted, zkBTC can be deployed into borrowing, lending, trading, and other DeFi strategies - unlocking new opportunities without counterparty risk.
FAQs
FAQs
- What is zkBTC?
zkBTC is a programmable Bitcoin token minted 1:1 against native BTC using Grail Pro. It is fully verifiable on the Bitcoin network and secured by the Charms token standard.
- How is zkBTC different from wrapped BTC or custodial IOUs?
Unlike wrapped BTC, zkBTC does not rely on third-party custodians or federated bridges. It’s backed directly by BTC in institutional custody and validated with zero-knowledge proofs, eliminating counterparty risk.
- Who can mint zkBTC?
zkBTC is minted by institutions and custodians operating Grail Pro. Individual users cannot mint zkBTC directly, but can access it once it circulates in the DeFi ecosystem.
- Is my BTC safe when it becomes zkBTC?
Yes. The original BTC never leaves institutional custody. All transactions are validated inside secure environments (TEEs) and require a supermajority of Operators across multiple custodians to approve.
- What will I be able to do with zkBTC?
zkBTC will be used in lending markets, yield strategies, trading, and cross-chain applications. It will give Bitcoin holders access to DeFi opportunities while preserving the self-custodial qualities that make Bitcoin unique.
- Is zkBTC limited to the Bitcoin network?
No. zkBTC is chain-agnostic. It can flow to UTXO-based chains like Cardano and Litecoin, and eventually other ecosystems, while always remaining backed 1:1 by BTC.
- Where can zkBTC be used right now?
Right now, zkBTC is primarily being used in testing environments focused on our custodian integrations. It’s also being utilized by a select group of strategic partners—namely BTC hedge funds and large treasuries with significant Bitcoin holdings.
- Will retail users ever be able to mint zkBTC?
Yes, that’s our intention.
- How many custodians/institutions are using zkBTC?
Currently, we’re actively integrating with two strategic custody partners, while also in discussions with two more. There are currently seven organizations actively testing zkBTC.
- Where did the initial 100 BTC for the pilot enterprise program come from?
Currently, zkBTC is being adopted by strategic partners such as hedge funds and companies with large Bitcoin treasuries. These are the types of users exploring ways to generate yield on their BTC—both through custodian integrations and, over time, in decentralized liquidity pools.
- If zkBTC is a charm, has it adopted the Charms standards? Can it live natively on other UTXO chains?
Yes — zkBTC is built as a Charm, which means it follows the Charms universal token standard. Today, it lives natively on Bitcoin. Once the light clients and EVM integrations are fully developed, zkBTC (and other Charms) will be able to move across UTXO chains and operate natively there as well.
- When we say zkBTC is programmable, what does this actually mean on a tangible scale?
zkBTC is a tokenized form of Bitcoin, secured by Bitcoin’s Proof of Work, that can interact with smart contracts on integrated chains. This means zkBTC can be deposited into liquidity pools, used as collateral to take out loans, or earn yield through permissionless contracts. Once cross-chain integrations are complete, zkBTC will function much like WETH in DeFi — but without the counterparty risk.