"As explorers of the Bitcoin metaverse, why build a new Bitcoin Layer2?"
The approval of BTC ETFs heralds a golden era for Bitcoin's ecosystem, with many believing this bull market will primarily unfold in the Bitcoin space. We sat down with Jeff, founder of Merlin Chain—a pioneering BTC Layer2 focused on serving native Bitcoin users, assets, and protocols through ZK technology for shared Layer1 security.
Bitmap and BRC-420: Designing for Decentralization
Q: Bitmap.Game and BRC-420 have seen remarkable traction. What inspired these projects?
Jeff: Bitmap represents a fully decentralized asset—each inscription captures specific block data (transactions, fees, mined BTC). With a massive community but initially low valuation ($2M), we built Bitmap.Game, a Bitcoin metaverse where:
- Yellow dots on the map indicate live users exploring virtual land parcels
- All visuals (avatars, game scenes) are on-chain assets
- Users customize land with wallet-owned NFTs
BRC-420 takes this further as a modular tokenization protocol, turning data into tradable assets (e.g., game DLCs with 600+ assets tokenized). Its success lies in:
- High trading volume and holder growth
- Enabling on-chain composability (unlike Ethereum’s reliance on off-chain data)
"We only innovate what doesn’t exist elsewhere—like making Bitcoin a ‘game console’ where players add games via inscriptions."
Why Bitcoin? Jeff’s Crypto Journey
Q: Did you consider other ecosystems before Bitcoin?
Jeff: This is my first Web3 venture after Web2 startups. Earlier cycles (ICOs, DeFi) lacked the productivity breakthroughs I sought. Bitcoin’s Ordinals movement aligned with my belief in:
- Permissionless composability (vs. Ethereum’s institutionalized rules)
- Anti-fragility—Bitcoin survives price crashes and skepticism, mirroring Ordinals’ resilience
"Bitcoin’s early-stage purity—developers brainstorming in Twitter Spaces despite mockery—reignited my crypto初心 (original intent)."
Merlin Chain: A Native BTC Layer2
Q: Why launch Merlin Chain?
Jeff: Bitcoin Layer1 struggles with:
- Limited app scenarios (e.g., no P2E games without VMs)
- Weak liquidity/leverage (investors can’t back Fair Launch assets)
Merlin Chain addresses this by:
- Serving native users: Integrated wallet solutions (Unisat/OKX) for seamless L1↔L2 switching
- Supporting BTC assets: ORDI, SATS, RATS—not just ETH/USDT imports
- Fostering native innovation: e.g., cross-chain bridge for Bitmap/BRC-420 (exclusive to Merlin)
Key differentiators:
- ZK Rollup with compressed proofs for Bitcoin-level security
- People’s Launchpad: Fair launches at $100K valuations (defying "impossible trilemma" of high costs/low holders)
Roadmap and Bitcoin’s Bull Case
Upcoming milestones:
- Feb: Staking rewards, testnet launch, MerlinSwap (DEX), Bitmap War games
- H1 2024: Developer programs for Bitcoin-native DApps (e.g., cross-chain inscription service)
Q: Will this bull run be Bitcoin-centric?
Jeff: Absolutely. Ethereum’s yield-bearing assets pale against Bitcoin’s 50% crypto dominance. Just BTC assets growing from 0.5% to 100% of Bitcoin’s市值 (200x gap) could drive the cycle. Merlin’s role?
"We’ll help BRC-20/420 assets gain liquidity/leverage—turning BTC holders into yield-seekers, creating a flywheel effect."
FAQs
Q: How does BRC-420 differ from ERC-20?
A: BRC-420 tokenizes modular data (e.g., game assets), enabling on-chain composability vs. ERC-20’s financial focus.
Q: Can Ethereum users access Merlin Chain?
A: Yes, but priority goes to Bitcoin natives—we’re building for BTC, not just on BTC.
Q: What’s next for Bitcoin Layer2s?
A: Expect more ZK-driven chains focusing on native asset utility, not ETH clones.
👉 Explore Bitcoin Layer2 innovations
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are the interviewee’s alone. Not financial advice.