The Sequencing Layer
for Bitcoin.
Char Network lets rollups and applications coordinate outcomes on Bitcoin without changing Bitcoin’s rules. Operators stake BTC, sign updates, and produce proofs your app can verify.
No Rule Changes
Char is optional software. No softfork, no base-layer modifications. Bitcoin stays Bitcoin.
BTC-Secured
Operators lock real BTC to participate. Cheating leaves cryptographic evidence that can be proven.
Verifiable Proofs
When enough stake agrees on an outcome, Char emits a proof your app can verify.
How It Works
From bond to proof in three steps.
Rollups define a domain on Char. Each domain gets its own sequence of decisions, and every decision can be checked by any consumer.
Lock BTC
Operators join by posting a bond on Bitcoin and locking BTC. More locked BTC = more weight, once it appears in an active stake snapshot. This creates economic accountability without changing Bitcoin’s consensus.
Sign & Relay
Operators publish an append-only stream of signed updates anchored to Bitcoin context. Every update chains to the previous one, so double-signing leaves cryptographic evidence.
Prove Outcomes
For each domain and ballot, votes are aggregated by stake. Once an outcome crosses the threshold, Char emits a decision roll—a proof object consumers can verify independently.
Ecosystem
What you can build.
Any service that needs verifiable coordination on top of Bitcoin can become a Char domain. The first focus is validium-style rollups with precommitments.
Validium-Style Rollups
Precommitments and ordered outcomes anchored to Bitcoin.
Bridge Attestations
Cross-chain bridges secured by BTC bonds instead of multisigs.
Rollup Sequencing
Stake-weighted sequencing without changing Bitcoin consensus.
Shared Ordering
Deterministic ordering for domain events anchored to Bitcoin.
Get Involved
Choose your path.
Whether you’re a developer, operator, or researcher, there’s a way to participate in and shape the network.
Build
Developers
Define a domain, propose ballot values, and consume decision rolls as verifiable outcomes. Your app reads proofs, not promises.
Operate
Node Operators
Lock BTC, run a node, and earn weight in the network. Operators publish signed updates and keep the network healthy.
Research
Researchers
Help close the gaps: BitVM enforcement, proof hardening, verifier tooling, and future Charmed VM / Char Units work.
Status
Open Source prototype now.
Hardening ahead.
The prototype tracks BTC bonds, stake weight, signed updates, payload data, and decision rolls. The next phase is hardening the verifier, SDK surface, and enforcement paths.
Shipped
- BTC bonds + stake weighting
- Signed updates + P2P sync
- Ballots + decision rolls (2/3)
- PureSign non-equivocation proofs
- Attestation payloads
- RPC surface for domains
Ahead
- On-chain enforcement (BitVM)
- Charmed VM + reward engine
- Verifier libraries + SDKs
- Parameter hardening
- Ecosystem integrations
FAQ
Common questions.
Does Char require changes to Bitcoin?
No. Char is optional software that runs alongside Bitcoin Core. It uses standard Bitcoin transactions for bonds and does not require a softfork or any base-layer protocol changes.
What is a bond?
A bond is a Bitcoin transaction that registers an operator in the Char network. Operators also lock BTC as stake, which determines voting weight through lagged stake snapshots.
What is a decision roll?
A decision roll is a proof that an outcome crossed the 2/3 stake threshold. It packages signed updates and non-equivocation proofs so any consumer can independently verify the result.
What prevents an operator from equivocating?
PureSign, Char’s non-equivocation primitive. Each attestation carries a proof that its nonce was derived deterministically from the domain and ballot number. Double-signing at the same ballot exposes the operator’s private key.
Does Char provide data availability guarantees?
No. Char provides sequencing and verifiable outcome proofs. Apps should use their own data-availability and retrieval strategy based on their requirements.
How is a leader chosen?
Leader selection is deterministic and stake-weighted, anchored to the current Bitcoin block hash. Given a domain and ballot number, all nodes compute the same leader without coordination.
What’s the roadmap?
The working prototype includes bonds, signed updates, decision rolls, and non-equivocation proofs via PureSign. Next up: BitVM enforcement paths, Charmed VM, verifier libraries, and ecosystem tooling.
Build verifiable services
on Bitcoin.
Join the operators, builders, and researchers shaping the sequencing layer for Bitcoin. No protocol changes required.