Rootstock (RSK)
RSK is a Bitcoin sidechain with EVM compatibility, secured by merge mining + a federation peg. Launched 2018 by IOV Labs / RSK Labs.
Architecture
- Federation: Powpeg n-of-m multisig holds bridged BTC.
- Merge mining: Bitcoin miners can simultaneously mine RSK blocks for additional reward (no extra hashpower needed).
- EVM: full Solidity smart contract support.
- 30-second blocks (vs Bitcoin's 10 min).
- Native token: RBTC = 1:1 BTC-pegged.
Peg architecture (Powpeg)
Federation members hold:
- Bitcoin multisig keys.
- HSM (Hardware Security Module) attestation hardware.
- Special PowPeg software signing peg-out only when proof-of-work threshold is met.
Peg-out (RBTC → BTC):
- User sends RBTC to special bridge address on RSK.
- Federation observes, schedules release.
- After ~100 RSK blocks (~50 min), federation's HSMs sign release.
- BTC sent to user's destination on Bitcoin.
RIF (RSK Infrastructure Framework)
Companion ecosystem:
- RIF Storage — IPFS-like.
- RIF Communications — secure messaging.
- RIF Naming — domain names on RSK.
- RIF Marketplace.
Powered by RIF token (separate from RBTC).
Major projects
- Sovryn — DEX, lending, derivatives on RSK.
- MoneyOnChain — stablecoin (DoC, BPRO).
- Beexo — wallet.
- RIF Wallet.
Comparison
| Aspect | RSK | Stacks | Liquid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart contracts | EVM (Solidity) | Clarity | Limited |
| Block time | 30s | ~Bitcoin (10 min before Nakamoto) | 2 min |
| Peg | Federation + merge mining | sBTC threshold | Federation |
| Maturity | 2018, mature | 2021, Nakamoto 2024 | 2018, mature |
Use cases
- Bitcoin DeFi with familiar Ethereum tooling.
- Stable coins (DoC, USDS).
- Cross-chain bridges to Ethereum/BSC via Sovryn.
Implementations
- rskj — Java reference node.
- Web3 client compat — most Ethereum tools work (web3.js, ethers.js).
- MetaMask compatible with custom RPC.
Limitations
- Federation trust for peg.
- Merge mining depends on Bitcoin miners' participation.
- Solidity vulnerabilities inherited from EVM.