GOAT Network is a Bitcoin Layer 2 solution designed to provide a secure, sustainable, and trustless infrastructure for decentralized applications and financial activities on the Bitcoin blockchain. It aims to enable real yield generation for Bitcoin and Dogecoin holders through on-chain economic activities, distinguishing itself by avoiding inflationary token emissions ^[1].

In July 2025, the project launched a public beta for what it claims is the first zero-knowledge rollup built directly on Bitcoin, capable of generating cryptographic proofs in under three seconds ^[25].

Overview

GOAT Network positions itself as the first Bitcoin ZK Rollup to offer native yield, focusing on expanding Bitcoin's utility beyond a store of value. The project emphasizes inheriting Bitcoin's security while introducing advanced functionalities such as smart contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Its core mission is to create a new digital economy rooted in Bitcoin, accessible to a broad range of crypto users, from Bitcoin maximalists to Dogecoin enthusiasts ^{[1] [2]}.

The "BitVM2 Beta" rollout in July 2025 was aimed at tackling long-standing performance issues on Bitcoin, including slow transaction finality and the lack of scalable, Bitcoin-denominated yield options. Co-founder and CEO Kevin Liu stated, “Layer 2 transactions are fast, but they’re pointless without equally fast proofs to finalize on the Bitcoin mainnet. If proofs lag behind, it creates inefficiencies and security risks” ^[25].

The network is built on principles of trustless infrastructure, native yield, and limitless potential, aiming to provide a robust environment for building, earning, and playing within the Bitcoin ecosystem ^[1].

The development of GOAT Network is supported by ZKM, a universal settlement infrastructure that raised $5 million in funding to advance its technology. ZKM's involvement underscores GOAT Network's commitment to a secure and scalable Bitcoin Layer 2 solution ^[3].

GOAT Network's approach to yield generation is designed to be sustainable, deriving returns from genuine economic activities on the blockchain rather than relying on the issuance of new tokens. This model offers a stable and attractive option for users looking to earn yield on their Bitcoin and other supported assets ^[4].

Technology

GOAT Network's technological foundation is built to inherit Bitcoin-native security, leveraging advanced cryptographic techniques and decentralized mechanisms. The network integrates in-house developed zkMIPS and GOAT BitVM2, which are critical for its zero-knowledge rollup architecture. This combination aims to provide a trustless environment where transactions are processed off-chain and then verified on the Bitcoin mainnet, ensuring high throughput and low costs while maintaining the security guarantees of Bitcoin ^{[1] [5]}. Its testnet uses a distributed system of GPU-powered nodes that process blocks, aggregation, and Groth16 proofs in parallel. According to the project, this setup eliminates bottlenecks, allows for near-instant withdrawals, and enables the generation of ZK proofs in under three seconds ^[25].

Security Model

The security model of GOAT Network is designed to eliminate single points of failure and minimize trust assumptions, built on three layers: decentralized sequencers, a trustless bridge with an Optimistic Challenge Process, and ZK-proofs that ensure transaction validity ^[25]. Key components of its security infrastructure include:

• zkMIPS and GOAT BitVM2: These technologies form the basis of the network's trustless bridge, enabling secure asset transfers between the Bitcoin mainnet and the GOAT Network without requiring intermediaries or multi-party computations that rely on trust ^[6]. GOAT Network claims to be the first live implementation of BitVM2, marking a significant step in Bitcoin Layer 2 development ^[1].
• Decentralized Sequencers: The network utilizes a decentralized sequencer set to order and batch transactions. This decentralization prevents any single entity from censoring transactions or becoming a point of failure, enhancing the network's resilience and censorship resistance ^[7].
• Optimistic Challenge Protocol: GOAT Network incorporates an optimistic challenge protocol, which allows for a period during which anyone can challenge the validity of a rollup state transition. If a challenge is successful, the incorrect state is reverted, and the sequencer responsible is penalized. This mechanism, combined with zero-knowledge proofs, provides a robust security layer ^[8]. CEO Kevin Liu noted, "If a malicious node alters a transaction, the proof won’t go through" ^[25].
• Guaranteed Exit: The network ensures a guaranteed exit mechanism based on a 1-of-n honest assumption. This means that as long as at least one participant in the network is honest, users can always withdraw their assets back to the Bitcoin mainnet, even in adverse scenarios ^[1].

Key Components

The GOAT Network ecosystem is supported by several technical components that facilitate its operations and user interactions:

• GOAT Bridge: A crucial component for transferring assets between Bitcoin and the GOAT Network, built with zkMIPS and GOAT BitVM2 to ensure trustless operations ^[9].
• Networks & RPC: Provides the necessary endpoints for developers and users to interact with the GOAT Network, including access to network configurations and remote procedure calls ^[10].
• Contract Addresses: Publicly available addresses for key smart contracts deployed on the GOAT Network, essential for application development and interaction ^[11].
• Subgraph: A data indexing solution that allows developers to query blockchain data efficiently for their applications ^[12].
• Oracle and VRF: Integration of oracle services for real-world data feeds and Verifiable Random Functions (VRF) for secure randomness, supporting various decentralized applications ^{[13] [14]}.

Economic Model and Yield Generation

GOAT Network's economic model is centered on generating real, sustainable Bitcoin yield through on-chain economic activities, rather than relying on inflationary token emissions. This approach aims to provide a stable and attractive yield for users, aligning with the long-term value proposition of Bitcoin ^[4]. The network allows users to earn native BTC yield, and notably, also enables staking of Dogecoin (DOGE) to earn Bitcoin ^[15]. The yield is derived from gas fees paid in Bitcoin on the GOAT Layer 2; users can stake Bitcoin into the decentralized sequencer nodes and earn a share of the fees they generate. CEO Kevin Liu commented on the demand for this, stating, “Nearly every Bitcoin holder we’ve talked to—large and small—wants yield, but they’re not willing to sell their Bitcoin to get it” ^[25].

Yield Strategies

GOAT Network offers various strategies for users to generate yield, catering to different risk appetites and investment horizons:

• SafeBox: A low-risk option providing a fixed yield, advertised at 2% APY, designed for long-term holders seeking stable returns on their Bitcoin ^{[16] [17]}.
• PoS Staking: Users can stake their assets to secure the network and earn rewards, with an advertised APR of 104.42%. This strategy involves a low level of risk associated with network participation ^[16].
• Options Market: For users with a higher risk tolerance, the platform offers BTCFi derivatives through an options market, with an advertised APY of 10%. This allows for more active participation in decentralized finance strategies ^[16].

These tailored BTCFi strategies are unified by their focus on delivering real, sustainable BTC yield, aiming to create a new digital economy that is both rooted in Bitcoin and open to a wider audience ^[1].

Ecosystem and Partnerships

GOAT Network has established an ecosystem of partners and collaborators to support its development and expand its reach. These partnerships span various sectors within the blockchain and cryptocurrency space, including infrastructure providers, DeFi protocols, and other projects building on or integrating with the GOAT Network. The network's ecosystem is designed to foster innovation and provide diverse opportunities for users and developers ^[18].

Notable partners and projects within the GOAT Network ecosystem include:

• Haskey ^[18]
• RockX ^[18]
• Symbiosis ^[18]
• Avalo Labs ^[18]
• Amber ^[18]
• Artemis Finance ^[18]
• Stable Jack ^[18]
• BitSmiley ^[18]
• BitPerp ^[18]
• JasperVault ^[18]
• Solv ^[18]
• Nudex ^[18]
• Vdex ^[18]

Applications and Use Cases

GOAT Network supports a range of applications and use cases, categorized broadly into "Build," "Earn," and "Play." The network provides resources and tools for developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) and for users to engage with the ecosystem ^[1].

• Building: Developers can utilize the GOAT Network to create smart contracts and applications. The platform supports Solidity, a popular programming language for blockchain development, and provides documentation for precompiled contracts, transaction fees, and fee estimation. This allows for the creation of various DeFi protocols, gaming applications, and other decentralized services ^{[19] [20]}.
• Earning: As detailed in the economic model, users can earn native BTC yield through various strategies like SafeBox, PoS Staking, and the Options Market. This provides opportunities for passive income and active participation in BTCFi ^[16].
• Playing: The "One Piece Project" is an example of a gaming or interactive application within the GOAT Network ecosystem, designed to engage users through play-to-earn or similar models ^{[21] [22]}.

Additionally, the network supports sequencer operations, allowing individuals to run sequencer nodes, contribute to network security, and earn rewards for their participation ^[23]. GOAT Network also hosts a "Global Tour 2025," a series of events aimed at connecting leaders, creators, and innovators within the blockchain space to foster collaboration and growth ^[24].

The project launched its BitVM2 Beta to the public in July 2025. A full public release of the BitVM2 ZK Rollups is planned to be available before the end of 2025 ^[25].