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Protocol Overview

Beyond is a decentralized interoperability protocol that enables seamless cross-chain messaging and asset bridging between different blockchain ecosystems and Bitcoin L1 (including Bitcoin-to-Bitcoin transactions across its multiple token standards). The architecture has been designed to provide a robust and scalable solution for asset transfer, ensuring seamless interoperability with uncompromising security and efficiency.

Architecture Overview

Use Cases​

There are currently significant, underserved coincidences of ’wants’ between protocols (which largely seek daily active users) and token holders, who want yield and access to specific features (e.g. self-custodial trading or staking). It now becomes technically feasible to address these needs, with Beyond’s bridge acting as a secure gateway for both parties to resolve their ‘wants’ with minimal friction, as illustrated below.

Coincidence of Wants

The range of use cases Beyond supports is vast, but the most essential highlights can be summarized as follows:

B2B Verticals — for protocols

1. Bitcoin L1 Protocols (click to expand)

Supporting 200+ protocols like Liquidium or RunesTerminal, primarily in DeFi sectors (such as DEX, lending, perps/derivatives, vaults…), by providing access to +$1 trillion USD liquidity in stablecoins and blue-chips (like USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL…) that exist now—for the first time in history—as native Bitcoin L1 tokens.

2. Protocols & Chains

Enabling thousands of non-Bitcoin DeFi protocols (and their respective chains) like Jupiter and Solana, or PancakeSwap and BNB Chain, to leverage Bitcoin's +$1 trillion USD liquidity by integrating Bitcoin-native tokens in their app/chain.

3. Bitcoin L2s & Meta-protocols

Facilitating tri-directional interoperability for 70+ Bitcoin L2s (Bitlayer, Core, BOB, Botanix…) and 20+ Bitcoin Token Standards (BRC-20, Runes, Taproot Assets…). For example, any given token like USDT, SOL, or BTC may follow any given path like this: BRC-20 ⇔ Solana ⇔ Runes ⇔ BOB ⇔ Arbitrum ⇔ Core ...

4. Tokens & Communities

Enabling hundreds of tokens from community projects like ORDI, DOG, PUPS, PEPE, or SHIBA to flow seamlessly among any chain and any Bitcoin standard, while avoiding liquidity fragmentation (thanks to LayerZero’s OFT standard).

5. BTC Wrappers

Making all major BTC wrapper solutions (e.g. wBTC, tBTC, fBTC, BTC.b) globally accessible, interoperable, and more liquid.

6. Cross-chain Aggregators

Enabling exclusive access to Bitcoin's ecosystem (via Bridge aggregators), liquidity (via DEX aggregators), and yield opportunities (via Yield aggregators).

7. Builders / Developers

Providing white-label bridge solutions via the Beyond SDK, and customizable frontend widgets.


B2C Verticals — for end users

1. Bridging external tokens

Import tokens like USDT, USDC, ETH, or SOL from any chain into Bitcoin, to gain access to its unparalleled security, decentralization, and vast liquidity.

2. Bridging BTC & Bitcoin tokens

Export tokens like ORDI, DOG, or PUPS to any chain, to take advantage of the developed and efficient infrastructure, protocols, and ecosystems on those networks.

3. Switching between Bitcoin meta-protocols

Seamlessly move between meta-protocols like BRC-20, Runes, Taproot Assets, or Atomicals as they evolve, upgrade, become obsolete, or are adopted by new protocols and applications.

4. Switching between chains / sidechains / L2s

Bridge your assets directly between sidechains and L2s (without intermediate steps), as new protocols and applications provide better services, returns, risk profiles, or APYs on the tokens you hold.

. . .

The wide range of B2B and B2C use cases addressed by Beyond, spanning users in every major blockchain, highlights its unique ability to meet a universal industry need that had remained unsolved: delivering a complete interoperability solution that includes the largest digital asset in history—Bitcoin—and its ecosystem.

Key Features​

Beyond aims to set a new standard for asset bridging on Bitcoin L1 with:

  • Omnichain Interoperability: Connected via LayerZero to the entire blockchain industry.
  • Tri-Directional Bridging: Move digital assets such as $USDT or $ETH to, from, and within Bitcoin L1.
  • Native Token Support: Transfer Bitcoin assets like $ORDI or $SATS between all supported networks.
  • Native Protocols Support: Platforms that integrate Beyond can tap into the broader industry's infrastructure and liquidity pools (for example, a Bitcoin-native lending protocol may use Uniswap to perform a liquidation).
  • Multi-Standard Support: Choose your preferred Bitcoin token standard: BRC-20, Runes, Atomicals...
  • Cross-Standard Conversion: Switch between standards in a single transaction, without leaving Bitcoin L1!
  • Universal BTC Wrapper: Access all major BTC wrapper solutions—now more interoperable, liquid, and globally accessible (even in chains without an original wrapper) via Beyond.
  • Prime Functionality: Best-in-class infrastructure, enabling optimal efficiency over your assets.
  • User-Centric Design: Polished user experience with 360° coverage of your needs.
  • Uncompromising Security: Check our in-depth explainer to learn all the safety measures implemented.
. . .

On the community side, some noteworthy links include:

  • Leaderboard: An open program to reward Beyond's most active users (details yet to be officially announced).
  • Blog: A communication channel (in addition to our socials) for long-form content about Beyond. You can also subscribe as a newsletter to get email notifications.
  • Analytics: An interactive dashboard to provide detailed insights into the Beyond ecosystem. If you have a request for additional charts or features, feel free to share it with our team.

Supported Chains, Tokens, and Standards​

This section will go live shortly after Beyond is deployed on mainnet. Stay tuned for the next updates!

Architecture​

Main Components​

In simple terms, the asset bridging process involves locking native tokens on the source chain, and minting wrapped tokens on the destination chain. This process is facilitated by a combination of on-chain and off-chain components that ensure seamless interoperability and asset transfer across different blockchain ecosystems.

  • Node and Indexer: Together they facilitate transactions and indexing on all blockchains, ensuring real-time data accuracy and accessibility. These components are sometimes called RPC nodes and Subgraph indexers.
  • Registry: A database consolidating data from various sources (e.g. indexers) into a unified repository with extended business logic.
  • Source: A smart contract that mints and burns tokens on non-Bitcoin-L1 chains.
  • Forge: A multisig-controlled entity (MPC) that locks and unlocks tokens on the Bitcoin L1.
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The Forge is secured by 11 signers, with a 7-key threshold needed to authorize transactions. This approach mirrors the battle-tested system used by industry leaders like LayerZero or Wormhole, ensuring a high degree of security. For Beyond V1, the Forge is permissioned, while V2 becomes permissionless via staking.

User Journey Examples​

Avalanche ➤ Bitcoin
  1. User locks AVAX tokens in Beyond's Source smart contract on Avalanche, which also triggers a cross-chain event via LayerZero messenger.
  2. Beyond's Forge mints wAVAX wrapped tokens on Bitcoin, then waits 6+ blocks for immutable confirmation.
  3. Bitcoin indexer and Registry update with the mint event.
Bitcoin ➤ Avalanche
  1. User burns wAVAX wrapped tokens via Bitcoin Forge.
  2. After 6+ blocks, Bitcoin network immutably confirms the transaction, Bitcoin indexer and Registry update with the burn event, while a cross-chain event is triggered via LayerZero messenger.
  3. The original AVAX becomes unlocked in Beyond's Source smart contract on Avalanche.
Bitcoin (BRC-20) ➤ Bitcoin (Runes)
  1. User locks native ORDI (BRC-20) tokens in the Bitcoin Forge.
  2. After 6+ blocks, Bitcoin network immutably confirms the transaction, Bitcoin indexer and Registry update with the lock event, while a Bitcoin event is triggered.
  3. Beyond's Forge mints wORDI (Runes) and sends it to the user's wallet.
  4. If the same or another user wants to switch back to BRC-20, the process is identical in reverse order: burn wORDI (Runes) and retrieve the original ORDI (BRC-20).