Arkade is an open execution engine for Bitcoin. It offers developers a complete environment to build applications that handle payments, assets, swaps, and financial contracts, all with instant settlement.
Users retain full custody of their funds. Everything runs on Bitcoin today with no protocol changes.
Start Building
Connect
Set up the TypeScript SDK, connect to the Arkade operator, and create your first wallet.
Swap
Atomic swaps between Arkade, Bitcoin mainnet, and the Lightning Network.
Build
Write financial contracts with programmable spending conditions, such as escrows and multi-signature wallets.
Issue
Create, transfer, and manage Bitcoin-native assets on Arkade.
How It Works
Your application connects to the Arkade operator through the SDK.- Instant execution. Transactions execute in the Virtual Mempool, an offchain subsystem where independent operations run in parallel without waiting for block confirmations.
- Bitcoin finality. When you want L1 security, anchor transactions onchain through batch settlement. A single settlement transaction can finalize thousands of operations.
- Self-custody. Users always retain the ability to withdraw to Bitcoin L1 unilaterally, even if the operator goes offline.
Technical Primer
Deep dive into virtual outputs, batch outputs, the Virtual Mempool, and the settlement architecture.
Go Deeper
Core Concepts
The core architecture: virtual outputs, batch outputs, offchain execution, and onchain settlement.
Security
Unilateral exits, transaction finality, liveness, and the Arkade trust model.
FAQ
Common questions about Arkade, security, fees, and compatibility with existing Bitcoin infrastructure.