The Birth of BitVM

BitVM began as an idea to extend Bitcoin’s capabilities beyond simple transactions. The ZeroSync team, led by Robin Linus, recognized the limitations of Bitcoin’s scripting language, which wasn’t designed for complex computations. Instead of proposing changes to Bitcoin’s core protocol, they developed a way to perform advanced computations on top of Bitcoin while preserving its foundational design. This approach became the basis for BitVM.

The project started with a proof-of-concept written in JavaScript, demonstrating that complex computations could be verified using Bitcoin’s existing script. This early example proved the concept was viable and drew interest from the community. Encouraged by the response, ZeroSync advanced the project with a Rust implementation, inviting contributions from developers worldwide to refine and expand the system.

To coordinate efforts and encourage collaboration, ZeroSync established the BitVM Alliance, bringing together teams and contributors working on BitVM. Through meetups, conferences, and community discussions, the Alliance has created a platform to share progress, address challenges, and grow a community dedicated to exploring new possibilities for Bitcoin programmability.