Get RBTC: Comprehensive Guide to Bridging to Rootstock

Published on: 6 September, 2024

This article is part of the “Journey in Rootstock” series, guiding users to access the Rootstock ecosystem. From compatible wallets to bridges, this series aims to simplify Rootstockers’ experience in the Bitcoin-powered DeFi world.

RBTC is your first step into the Rootstock ecosystem — opening the door to a huge community of dApps and DeFi protocols secured by Bitcoin.

RBTC is Bitcoin once it’s bridged into the Rootstock sidechain. Sometimes called “Smart Bitcoin”, RBTC on Rootstock is pegged 1:1 with BTC on the Bitcoin mainchain. It’s used for paying gas on Rootstock and navigating the apps built on top of the chain.

You can swap between BTC and RBTC in multiple ways, some of which are explored in this article.

Explore the Rootstock ecosystem.

What is a blockchain bridge?

As the name suggests, bridges create lasting connections between blockchains, allowing a digital asset on one network to be ‘moved’ from one chain to another. In reality, tokens never move between chains but instead, a token on Blockchain A is locked away securely while its equivalent can be redeemed on Blockchain B.

While trusted bridges mean transactions are overseen by a centralized platform, trustless bridges deliver greater decentralization by leveraging smart contracts and algorithms.

The key to selecting a dependable bridge is to ensure that the minting and locking process is secure, as this helps to prevent tokens from being double spent or stolen.

Bridging to Rootstock: Your options

The Native PowPeg

A dedicated, native bridging mechanism has been established to ensure BTC can be transferred to and from the Rootstock network.

PowPeg is secure, permissionless, and uncensorable, enabling you to obtain RBTC in a trustless and inexpensive way.

Carefully following the process set out on the Rootstock developer portal is crucial for ensuring the transaction goes smoothly — and remember, it takes 100 Bitcoin blocks (~16 hours) to be finalized.

Specially created platforms such as the 2WP App are helping to simplify the process, with real-time updates on how conversions are progressing.

You can find out more about how this protocol works in practice here.

Third-Party Bridging dApps

Beyond bridging, there are plenty of additional ways to get your hands on RBTC.

DApps built on Rootstock

Sovryn is a Bitcoin-based decentralized trading and lending platform built on top of Rootstock. To support bridging to Rootstock, the platform has a service called FastBTC, a simple mechanism that allows exchanges between BTC and RBTC to be executed directly from its dApp with rapid completion times.

Learn more about FastBTC in the dev portal.

Fiat to RBTC

If you’re looking to make a conversion from a fiat currency, Mt Pelerin is an on-ramp that can help. From pesos to euros, and dollars to pounds, this platform enables you to get RBTC using a plethora of payment methods — including via bank transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

Crypto to RBTC

1. Jumper

If you want to get RBTC using your existing crypto. Jumper facilitates swaps across 25 blockchains. Through its straightforward website, you can select the network and token you’d like to exchange (such as USDT on Ethereum) and then choose to convert to RBTC on Rootstock. An array of major wallets are supported.

See this step-by-step guide to getting RBTC on Jumper.

2. Rubic

Rubic supports more than 80 blockchains — and once you’ve entered your desired combination of tokens, its cross-chain exchange aggregator will scrape the market for balanced deals in terms of confirmation time and transaction fees.

Check the Rubic user guide here.

3. Symbiosis

Symbiosis is a cross-chain liquidity aggregation protocol that allows assets to move across different networks — eliminating fragmentation in the process. This DEX now supports 30 networks and has facilitated more than 2.3 million transactions since its launch.

Read the user guide to Symbiosis here.

4. Oku

Enabled by Uniswap v3, Oku Trade offers fee-free DeFi transactions, all while enabling users to enforce on-chain limit orders. The platform focuses on intuitive and user-friendly dashboards to make getting and moving RBTC seamless.

Read the user guide to Oku here.

5. Criptala

Criptala is a platform that’s geared toward beginners and offers plenty of support to newcomers who are buying digital assets for the first time.

6. Changelly

Changelly also offers the ability to swap to RBTC from more than 700 crypto assets.

7. SideShift

And last but not least, SideShift.ai allows swaps into RBTC to be settled directly in your wallet — removing friction.

Explore the guide to SideShift here.

There are numerous ways to get RBTC, the previous list includes the native bridge, Rootstock dApps, and common DEXs and aggregators. For more details, see the comprehensive list of ways to get RBTC.