Expand the Bitcoin ecosystem with the Internet Computer's robust programming capabilities. Develop the DEXs the community needs for efficient BTC and Runes trading. Pioneer lending platforms that unlock new value from Ordinals. The tools are here – now it's time to build.
ICP is the best choice to build on Bitcoin
Network integration
By running Bitcoin adapters, ICP nodes provide canister smart contracts with real time access to the latest state of the Bitcoin blockchain. The availability of the Bitcoin UTXO set on ICP enables canister smart contracts to read the balance of any BTC address.
Chain-key signatures
ICP nodes collaborate to produce threshold-ECDSA signatures, enabling canister smart contracts to sign BTC transactions. Leveraging network integration, these BTC transactions are directly written to the Bitcoin blockchain - no need for any cross-chain bridges. Chain-key signatures also derive BTC addresses, enabling ICP smart contracts to read, write and own BTC.
ICP advanced capabilities
Developers can harness the security of Bitcoin while also leveraging the unique core features of the ICP tech stack. These include the reverse gas model, unparalleled performance, and HTTPs outcalls, all within the framework of full-stack decentralization—a hallmark of the industry’s only third-generation blockchain.
Chain Fusion & interoperability
Beyond Bitcoin adapters, ICP smart contracts can read and write to other blockchains providing an unrivaled interconnected Web3 experience. A single smart contract can read, write, and own assets on multiple blockchains via features such as network integration, RPC integration and HTTPs outcalls.
Chain-key bitcoin
Native Bitcoin transactions entail paying high fees and enduring lengthy wait times for block confirmations. Enter ckBTC, a 1:1 bitcoin twin introduced to leverage the 1-2 second finality and negligible fees within the ICP ecosystem. ckBTC is one of the first Chain Fusion applications, and powers several dapps across different use-cases.
Live ckBTC dashboard
Chain-key bitcoin (ckBTC), a multichain bitcoin twin on the Internet Computer, is anICRC-1-compliant token that is backed 1:1 by bitcoin (BTC) such that 1 ckBTC can always be redeemed for 1 BTC and vice versa.
ckBTC Total Supply
The total supply of ckBTC tokens, which is the amount of ckBTC tokens that have been minted minus the amount that have been burned.
cckBTC Transactions
The amount of ckBTC tokens transferred, minted, or burned, or for "approve" transactions, the designated amount of ckBTC tokens that the "Spender Account" is authorized to transfer on behalf of the "From" account.
ckBTC Volume
The volume of ckBTC tokens transferred, minted, or burned. Date ranges of one month or longer show daily volume, while shorter date ranges show hourly volume. The total volume shown in the chart header is the total for the selected date range.
BUILD on Bitcoin at the speed of ICP
Bitcoin on ICP is not just a future promise. Developers are already building incredible use cases with Bitcoin on ICP.
Lending
Liquidium
Liquidium is the leading decentralized Bitcoin lending protocol where users can borrow BTC against Ordinals, Runes & BRC-20. Borrow and Lend any asset on any chain.
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Runes
Omnity
Leveraging ICP’s Chain Fusion Technology, Omnity is an omnichain interoperability protocol offering cross-chain infrastructure for modular blockchains. It enables the transfer of Runes tokens and its roadmap lays cross-chain plans ahead for various L2s.
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Runes
Odin.fun
Odin.Fun is the fastest way to trade tokens on Bitcoin. Create tokens in seconds. Buy and sell tokens on a pump fun style bonding curve at lightning speed. Everything is lightning fast and updates in real-time.
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SocialFi
Open Chat
Send chat messages to others containing tokens like ICP and ckBTC using OpenChat - a decentralized real-time messaging service. Running entirely onchain on ICP, it offers all the features of a chat app - from GIFs, to creating polls, to offering users rewards.
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Decentralized mining
Loka Mining
Loka Mining is a trust-minimized, non-custodial Bitcoin mining pool. By facilitating co-investment with Bitcoin miners, it enables retail investors to acquire BTC at superior rates, surpassing market prices without the need for custodial services.
Try ItSample Code & Tutorials
Learn how to build with Bitcoin on the Internet Computer using clear code examples and step-by-step video guides. Get started quickly with ready-to-use snippets and see what’s possible when Bitcoin meets ICP.
See all samplesDeveloper documentation
Global
Bitcoin Canister
A sample canister smart contract that can send and receive Bitcoin on the IC.
Global
Inscription Canister
This example project explores the possibility of inscribing ordinal inscriptions onto the Bitcoin blockchain using the IC.
Global
ckBTC Canister
Canister smart contract for ckBTC, the trustless Bitcoin Digital Twin on the IC.
Global
Ordinal Canister
A canister that enables the retrieval of ordinals and their corresponding inscriptions, making them easily accessible on the IC.
News & Articles
Get all the news from the Internet Computer ecosystem
Explore more news
Internet Computer Protocol aims to become a Bitcoin 'layer zero' with threshold-Schnorr implementation
James HuntInternet Computer Protocol aims to be leveraged as a Bitcoin “layer zero” following the planned implementation of threshold-Schnorr signatures, announced today.
Bitcoin Runes Arrive at the Halving—And Internet Computer Will Support Them
Jason NelsonWith the Bitcoin halving and Runes protocol launch taking place this weekend, Dfinity is continuing Internet Computer's embrace of the Bitcoin ecosystem by adding support for etching Runes tokens and other BTC-centric functionality, the company said on Tuesday.
ckBTC: A Decentralized Mechanism for Efficient Bitcoin Transfers
DfinityOn September 7, 2021, Bitcoin obtained the status of legal tender within El Salvador. Shortly after the adoption of the so-called ‘Bitcoin law’, many Salvadorans had already opened Bitcoin wallets. However, as per a recent study done by the José Simeón Cañas Central American University, in 2023 just 12% of the local population engaged in cryptocurrency transactions in 2023.
Exploring data on ckETH, the digital twin of ETH on ICP
Jennifer TranThis article explores data on ckETH, the digital twin of Ether (ETH) on the Internet Computer (ICP). It outlines how ckETH works and how to query data on ckETH using SQL.
How ckBTC Solves the Dilemma of Blockchain Bridges
By DfinityDFINITY, the foundation behind the innovative Internet Computer Protocol (ICP), has just unveiled a remarkable opportunity for decentralized application (dApp) developers. This new feature involves the ability to integrate OpenAI’s...