Botanix Welcomes Antpool, Fireblocks, and Others as It Fully Decentralizes Bitcoin Layer 2 Network
Botanix Labs, the team behind the Bitcoin Layer 2 protocol Botanix, has taken a major step toward full decentralization, officially handing over operational control to a newly formed validator federation. The move marks a shift from a development-led model to a federated, community-driven structure, with prominent names like Antpool, Fireblocks, Galaxy, HashKey Cloud, and Kiln among the initial 16 independent node operators.
According to Botanix Labs co-founder and CEO Willem Schroé, the project is now "fully removed from all operational responsibilities." Governance and day-to-day decision-making are in the hands of the federation. This setup, Schroé explained, ensures that “no single entity, including us, can unilaterally influence or control the network.”
Botanix's approach differs from many Layer 2 blockchains by starting with a decentralized validator set, instead of launching with a centralized core and decentralizing over time. The long-term goal is to allow anyone worldwide to spin up a validator and join a growing, diverse network—what Schroé calls a “dynamic federation.”
The update comes ahead of Botanix's planned mainnet launch later this quarter. Though decentralization adds “operational complexity and development overhead,” Schroé said the tradeoff is worth it to earn the trust of the Bitcoin community.
A New Kind of Bitcoin Layer 2
Botanix is not just another scaling solution. Built to enable Ethereum-style smart contracts on Bitcoin, the protocol uses a mechanism called the Spiderchain, introduced in 2022. This design leverages a decentralized network of multisig wallets and a proof-of-stake consensus model to handle complex transactions and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications—without modifying Bitcoin’s base layer.
Each Bitcoin block triggers a new randomly selected validator set and a newly created multisig wallet, separating "bitcoin the asset" from "Bitcoin the blockchain" to improve security and flexibility.
Schroé noted that Botanix had received interest from over 50 candidates to join the federation. The final group of 16 was selected based on “security and decentralization,” with a preference for teams with proven experience in cryptographic infrastructure, node reliability, and global distribution.
High Stakes, High Requirements
Running a Botanix node isn’t for the casual hobbyist. The hardware and maintenance requirements are similar to operating high-performance Ethereum validators or rollup sequencers. While this raises the entry bar, Schroé says it's a necessary tradeoff to enable smart contracts and DeFi on Bitcoin.
“These systems need to be fast, reliable, and secure,” he said. “And we believe the cost is reasonable for participants who are serious about helping build Bitcoin’s future infrastructure.”
Looking ahead, Botanix plans to expand its validator network within the next six months, further diluting centralized influence and enhancing resilience. This move could set a new precedent for how Bitcoin Layer 2 ecosystems evolve—prioritizing decentralization from day one, not as a future goal.