BTC Builders IV: Alpha on Getting Your DeFi App Funded

Arch Network

07 Apr 2025 • 4 min read

In this weekly Bitcoin Builders newsletter, we update you on the latest ways to do and earn more with your Bitcoin. Read more for the latest news from the Bitcoin universe and Arch community.

Roadmap

This Week's Headlines
One Big Thought
Arch Updates
Quick Hits: Watch, Read, Listen.

💰BRC2.0 Goes Live on Bitcoin Signet. The long-anticipated upgrade of the UTXO-based token standard is now in its public testing stage, with developers predicting a 4-6 month timeframe for mainnet launch.

🏦 BTC Startups Raised Nearly $1.2 billion. Bitcoin-native startups have raised nearly $1.2 billion between 2021 and 2024, according to new research from Trammell Venture Partners. Early-stage activity continues to grow despite broader market declines, as Bitcoin Magazine reports.

Arch has officially completed its inaugural Keystone Cohort Accelerator Program, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of Bitcoin DeFi.

The program provided capital, hands-on technical support, and strategic guidance to builders creating the foundational primitives and protocols that will power a new generation of decentralized applications on Bitcoin.

Saturn – The first-ever base-layer AMM that trades at L2 speeds without leaving Bitcoin L1.
Funkybit – A high-performance DeFi hub for Bitcoin trading, launching with a launchpad, AMM, and perps.
Ordeez – A protocol bringing Buy Now, Pay Later to Bitcoin DeFi, designed for integration across marketplaces.
Stealth Projects – Additional teams are building across RWAs, stablecoins, margin trading, and derivatives, setting the stage for a full financial stack on Bitcoin.

Throughout the program, teams received:

Funding up to $250k
Direct technical guidance from Arch core engineers
Fundraising and go-to-market support

The program concludes with an in-person experience in Dubai during Token2049, where participating teams will align with Arch’s leadership to refine their roadmaps, forge ecosystem synergies, and deepen the relationships critical to long-term success.

We are opening the doors of Arch House Dubai to great developers and growth hackers who are interested in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Email caleb@arch.network if you would like to join us from April 28 - May 6!

SNEAK PEEK: Follow our socials this week for updates on our next Keystone cohort, and how skilled builders can apply to get similar funding, technical, and distribution support to create the next great Bitcoin app with Arch.

Product Updates:

🚀 Major Validator Improvements: We've supercharged our validator infrastructure with new self-contained testing capabilities and enhanced bootnode functionality, making the network more robust and reliable than ever. This is a huge step forward for network stability and decentralization.

💫 New Escrow & Offer System: We've implemented an exciting new offer system with comprehensive testing, along with escrow examples. This opens up powerful new possibilities for DeFi applications and secure peer-to-peer transactions on Arch Network.

⚡ Enhanced Block Building: Our latest updates include critical improvements to block building and consensus mechanisms, with optimized JSON handling and network peer management. These changes significantly boost the network's performance and scalability, setting the stage for handling higher transaction volumes.

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