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Bitcoin Secured Networks (BSNs)

A BSN is any PoS chain that needs to ensure its blocks are final and unchangeable using Bitcoin as stake. To integrate with Babylon, BSNs need to implement several key modules:

  • a Bitcoin light client for verifying Bitcoin transactions,
  • a BTC timestamping module for securing data with Bitcoin-based timestamps,
  • a BTC staking module for managing staked Bitcoin and finality providers,
  • a finality module for handling the consensus process,
  • a relayer for facilitating communication between Babylon and the BSN, ensuring timely message delivery.
Overview of BSNsOverview of BSNs

BSNs have several advantages:

  • Security: BSNs inherit Bitcoin's security without relying on third parties or bridges.
  • Decentralization: BSNs tap into Bitcoin, the most decentralized network to become more resilient and resistant to censorship.
  • Liquidity: BSNs can benefit from Bitcoin's trillions of dollars in idle liquidity.
  • Fast finality: Transactions on BSNs can benefit from quicker finality times.

Who are BSNs?​

Upon the mainnet launch of Babylon's Phase 2, Babylon Genesis (built on Cosmos SDK) will be the first BSN. Accepting delegations from Bitcoin stakers, Babylon Genesis will be able to provide blockchain finality to itself and to any decentralized applications (dApps) that are built on it.

In Phase 3 of Babylon mainnet, Babylon will gradually and carefully introduce new BSNs to the ecosytem. This will allow other PoS blockchains to enhance their security and decentralization.

Babylon developed solutions for:

  • Cosmos-based networks
  • OP Stack L2 networks
  • Arbitrum L2 networks

and many more in the pipeline. PoS chains are the most common type of BSNs that will understand the value of economic security Bitcoin can provide.

Building a BSN​

Building a BSN takes a considerable amount of time and resources. It requires understanding of Bitcoin chain, inter-chain communication, and the existing consensus and reward mechanisms. Babylon Labs provides a comprehensive suite of tools, documentation, reference implementation and business support to help you become a BSN.

Before integration starts, there will be research, integration and development work needed. Discussions on economic impact and social impact of the integration should also be in place. The BSNs, if it is an existing chain, will likely need to go through a governance process to accept the integration. Likewise, the Babylon committee will also need to go through a governance process to accept the integration.

BSN Categories​

BSN architecture is flexible and allows for a wide range of chains to be integrated. Examples of these chains include layer 1 public blockchains, permissioned blockchains, layer 2 rollup chains, privacy preserving zkp chains, and more.

The key categories of BSNs are:

Categories of BSNsCategories of BSNsCategories of BSNs

Each BSN can modify its consensus mechanism by using Babylon as an additional security layer through Bitcoin staking. The modular design allows for flexible integration with various system architectures without requiring fundamental changes to the core application of a chain, thus allowing Bitcoin security to be more ubiquitous in blockchain networks.

Get in Touch​

Email us at [email protected] to get started.

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