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Home CRYPTO

Everything You Need to Know About the Cardano-Bitcoin Bridge

Gary Ponce by Gary Ponce
November 20, 2024
in CRYPTO, DEFI
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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  • The Cardano-Bitcoin Grail bridge may allow for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications secured by Bitcoin without requiring a soft fork.
  • The bridge uses zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to enable Bitcoin withdrawals from Cardano even if most Cardano nodes become malicious.
  • Developing hybrid Bitcoin-Cardano DeFi apps may take significant work, as developers need to be trained in Cardano’s Aiken programming language.

The upcoming Cardano-Bitcoin bridge based on the Grail protocol may enable decentralized finance (DeFi) applications secured by the Bitcoin network.

How the Cardano-Bitcoin Bridge Works

The bridge is being developed by Emurgo, Cardano’s development team, in partnership with Grail’s developer BTC.OS. It allows users to deposit Bitcoin into a Layer 2 network and withdraw it without needing to trust the network’s validators.

Grail builds on an earlier idea called BitVM that used Bitcoin’s blockchain to store simple data. Grail improves on this by using zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to reduce the amount of data stored on Bitcoin. This shrinks the complexity and allows Bitcoin withdrawals even if Cardano nodes are compromised.

Creating Hybrid Bitcoin-Cardano Applications

According to Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, the bridge will enable hybrid Bitcoin-Cardano apps secured by Bitcoin. Developers can build these apps using Cardano’s Aiken programming language and pay fees in Bitcoin.

However, creating these hybrid apps from scratch will take significant effort since developers need training in Aiken. Cutting and pasting from Ethereum’s Solidity will not work. There will also be wallet integrations and other challenges. But Hoskinson believes it’s worth it given the capital tied up in Bitcoin.

Withdrawal Security Considerations

Withdrawals can still be blocked if 100% of the bridge’s verifiers collude maliciously according to BTC.OS co-founder Edan Yago. While not impossible, this is a stronger assumption than Bitcoin’s security model which assumes a majority of miners are honest.

Alternative Options

Another option called OP_CAT also claims to enable Bitcoin DeFi without Cardano. However, it requires a soft fork which some Bitcoin nodes oppose. StarkWare CEO Eli Ben Sasson predicts OP_CAT will go live in the next 12 months regardless.

Looking Ahead

While the Cardano-Bitcoin bridge is still developing, it aims to unlock the trillions of dollars sitting dormant in Bitcoin by enabling DeFi without compromising security. If successful, it could be the first step to true Bitcoin DeFi.

Disclaimer: BlockNews provides independent reporting on crypto, blockchain, and digital finance. All content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Readers should do their own research before making investment decisions. Some articles may use AI tools to assist in drafting, but every piece is reviewed and edited by our editorial team of experienced crypto writers and analysts before publication.
Tags: BitcoinCardanoCharles HoskinsonEdan YagoEli Ben SassonethereumStarkware
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Gary Ponce

Gary Ponce

Gary has been active in the crypto space since 2019, developing hands-on experience in trading, airdrop hunting, and identifying emerging narratives in low-cap tokens. For over four years, he has contributed research and editorial content with Aiur Labs and BlockNews, focusing on market analysis and community insights. His work reflects both transparency and independent reporting, with an emphasis on simplifying complex ideas for readers. Gary is a long-term believer in Bitcoin, Sui, Hype, Litecoin, XRP, and select meme tokens, combining personal trading knowledge with professional editorial standards.

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