BitcoinOS Launches Grail Bridge Testnet for BTC Transfers
BitcoinOS (BOS), the smart contract operating system designed for Bitcoin, announced on Monday, February 17, 2025, the launch of the BitcoinOS Grail Bridge testnet app.
It's here, BOSes!
BitcoinOS Grail testnet bridge is now LIVE! 🚀
For the first time, you can trustlessly bridge BTC between Bitcoin testnet and multiple EVM chains using our groundbreaking ZK technology.
Try it here: https://t.co/xAq0EwH52h
What makes this special:… pic.twitter.com/klYHVFBRCH
— BitcoinOS (@BTC_OS) February 17, 2025
In a press release shared with Cryptonews, the firm stated that the app will enable secure, trustless BTC transfers across multiple blockchain networks, representing a notable advancement in cross-chain Bitcoin interactions.
Introducing the Grail Bridge Testnet
The first-stage testnet release of the Grail app will offer a practical tool for both users and developers. It introduces one-way bridging from Bitcoin testnet to Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible chains.
This move is intended to maximize user engagement and ecosystem participation. Initial integrations have been completed with Ethereum Holešky, Base Sepolia, Mode Sepolia, and Merlin Chain Testnet, said the firm.
Notably, the development journey included the first Bitcoin Zero-Knowledge (ZK) bridge transaction on Merlin Chain back in November 2024. This was a major milestone showing the platform’s technical ability.
Users can access the Grail app through several wallets, including OKX, Xverse, UniSat, Bitget, and other Wallet Connect-supported wallets.
“With deployment already secured with key projects across crypto and web3 ecosystems as partners, this milestone marks a significant step towards BOS’s mission to unlock Bitcoin’s ‘holy grail’ solution for trustless scaling, while preserving the stability and integrity of Bitcoin’s core protocol,” said Edan Yago, a core contributor to BOS.
By initiating the launch with EVM chains, BOS seeks to engage the largest possible user base.
Approximately 90% of DeFi activity occurs on EVM-compatible chains, where most wrapped Bitcoin also resides.
The move capitalizes on the proven track record of EVM chains in Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) applications and their dominance in the DeFi space.
Technological Breakthrough with BitSNARK
Grail is the first application built on BitSNARK, BOS’s zero-knowledge proof verification system.
Unlike traditional bridges relying on custodians or multi-signature schemes, Grail uses ZKP technology.
BitcoinOS plans to allow two-way bridging by the end of Q1 2025, with a small-scale transaction from Ethereum to Bitcoin on the mainnet.
The full mainnet launch is expected in Q2 2025, following security audits and planned integration with non-EVM ecosystems like Cardano and Solana.
Cross-chain interactions have long been a point of friction for Bitcoin, with centralized custodians and wrapped assets standing as necessary but imperfect solutions.
Grail’s integration of zero-knowledge proofs introduces a new paradigm—one where Bitcoin can move beyond these trade-offs without compromising its foundational principles.
If BOS succeeds in scaling this approach, it could shift how developers and institutions think about Bitcoin’s role in multi-chain ecosystems, not as a static asset but as an active participant in decentralized finance.
Source: cryptonews.com
