GOAT Network launches Bitcoin-native rollup testnet

GOAT Network has launched the public GOAT BitVM2 Testnet (V3), a bitcoin-native zkRollup designed to enable everyday BTC use without custodians, federations or committee-controlled withdrawals.

The testnet aims to allow users to deploy bitcoin in financial activity and earn yield while retaining full exit rights enforced directly by the Bitcoin network.

GOAT Network said the release marks the first production use of BitVM2, addressing long-standing limitations where so-called Bitcoin layer-2 systems rely on trust assumptions rather than Bitcoin-enforced outcomes.

“The Bitcoin Layer 2 market hasn’t truly started,”

Said GOAT Network chief executive Kevin Liu, adding that:

“Existing solutions lack essential attributes like permissionless exit or mainnet-level dispute resolution”.

The BitVM2 design uses Bitcoin’s native primitives, including time locks and one-time signatures, to allow disputes and withdrawals to be resolved under Bitcoin’s own rules rather than off-chain governance.

Testnet V3 introduces a full public environment with off-chain execution, zero-knowledge validity proofs and Bitcoin as the final enforcement layer, while anchoring sequencing and withdrawals to Bitcoin history.

GOAT Network said the broader stack also includes a Type-1 zkEVM execution environment, a decentralised sequencer model and Ziren, its in-house audited zkVM proving engine.

At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $88,584.15.