Q3 2024 launch targeted for cross-chain bridge linking Solana and Bitcoin

Zeus Network, the Solana-to-Bitcoin cross-chain bridge, has announced the upcoming launch of its Zeus Program Library (ZPL), which will connect the two ecosystems by the third quarter of 2024. ZPL is a collection of Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) programs that allow developers to incorporate native Solana support into decentralized applications and facilitate transactions across multiple blockchains. By utilizing ZPL, users can deposit their Bitcoin (BTC) and receive ZPL-wrapped zBTC tokens in return. These tokens can be used for various activities within the Solana ecosystem, including DeFi, GameFi, SocialFi, DePIN, and more. Additionally, Zeus Network plans to expand its range of ZPL-supported assets to include Bitcoin Runes and Ordinals, known as “zRuneX” and “zOrdX” respectively, and enable Bitcoin staking on its Apollo mainnet. The protocol recently secured $8 million in funding and is backed by Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko and Stacks co-founder Muneeb Ali. The Bitcoin decentralized application ecosystem has also seen a resurgence with the introduction of innovative protocols such as Bitcoin Runes, which allows users to tokenize real-world assets, and Bitcoin Ordinals, a numbering system for satoshis. Overall, the development of cross-chain bridges and new token standards is contributing to the growth and expansion of the cryptocurrency industry.