# Building on Bitcoin with Rootstock I Ezequiel Rodriguez

- Channel: [ETHGlobal](https://streameth.org/ethglobal)
- Date: 2025-11-09
- Duration: 11:30
- Topics: Rootstock, RSK, Bitcoin sidechain, merged mining, EVM compatibility, smart contracts on Bitcoin, RBTC, 2-way peg, Bitcoin security, Ethereum programmability, microblocks, DeFi on Bitcoin, Rootstock Labs, Activator Program, builder rewards, Replit, MCP integration, CLI, RIF Economy, hackathon, yield strategies, AI prediction markets, Rootstock developer portal, rootstock.io, RIF Me Up campaign, cross-chain solutions, DApp Protocol, open-source blockchain, Bitcoin scalability
- Watch: https://streameth.org/watch/yt-LhCDgB0Fg7k
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhCDgB0Fg7k

## Description

Ezequiel Rodríguez, Head of DeFi at Rootstock Labs, presents Rootstock (RSK) as the first and longest-running Bitcoin sidechain, secured through merged mining and fully EVM-compatible, bridging Bitcoin’s security and store-of-value with Ethereum’s programmability. Rootstock uses a 2-way peg between BTC and RBTC (1:1), enabling users to pay gas in Bitcoin and deploy Ethereum smart contracts—including ERC-20, 721, and 1155 tokens—on a faster and cheaper chain (24-second block time, ~$0.20 fees). Upcoming upgrades like microblocks will reduce confirmation time to 5 seconds. Rodríguez highlights Rootstock’s $400M TVL, 100% uptime since 2018, and over 225,000 monthly transactions secured by 80% of Bitcoin’s hash rate, showcasing the network’s maturity and resilience.

He introduces Rootstock’s Hackathon Tracks—Everyday DeFi (yield, lending, liquidity), Freestyle (AI, cross-chain, governance), and RIF Economy (staking, payments, Telegram mini-apps)—along with its Activator Program, rewarding developers and educators up to $1,000 for contributions. Tools like Replit starter kits, the Rootstock CLI, MCP integrations, and the new NPM package simplify development directly from IDEs. The Attestation Service supports both on-chain and off-chain verifications for identity, reputation, and proof-of-funds use cases. Builders can access the developer portal (dev.rootstock.io) and participate in the “RIF Me Up” campaign for community rewards. Rootstock’s ecosystem demonstrates a maturing vision: unlocking DeFi and smart contracts secured by Bitcoin’s proof-of-work.

00:02 – Introduction and session overview
00:35 – What is Rootstock: the first Bitcoin sidechain
01:07 – Combining Bitcoin security with Ethereum programmability
01:34 – Merged mining, 2-way peg, and open-source structure
02:24 – RBTC as native token, EVM and token standard compatibility
02:52 – Transaction speed, costs, and upcoming microblocks
03:44 – Network stats: TVL, uptime, wallets, hash rate, and volume
04:35 – Activator Program and community engagement
05:22 – Roles: Builders and Backers, collective contribution
05:50 – DApp Protocol example (bridging and swapping)
06:17 – Hackathon tracks: DeFi, Freestyle, and RIF Economy
07:08 – Rootstock Attestation Service: on/off-chain identity
08:15 – Developer tools: Replit starter kits, CLI, Scaffold
09:19 – Developer portal and resources
10:03 – MCP integration, CLI, and NPM package for IDEs
10:33 – Community campaigns: “RIF Me Up” rewards
10:58 – Closing remarks and contact details

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🇮🇳 *ETHGlobal New Delhi*
This workshop is specifically for ETHGlobal New Delhi, a 3-day hackathon held September 19-21 at the India International Convention & Expo Centre, bringing together the most skilled web3 developers, designers and product builders from all around the globe for a weekend-long adventure to advance the Ethereum ecosystem! Watch the full ETHGlobal New Delhi 2025 playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7zCFW3hBqatZ18rQaYeEJL
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