Blogs & Articles: Ark Labs Fully Embraces New Layer Two Scaling Solution 🔗 14 weeks ago

Ark Labs, a new project spearheaded by Bitcoin developers, has announced its intention to develop a layer-two network for Bitcoin transactions. 

This network, based on the Ark protocol, aims to address the growing need for faster and low-cost Bitcoin payment solutions.

Diagram of the Ark network infrastructure.

The Ark protocol utilizes a server-client architecture to facilitate low-cost, off-chain transactions among participants within the system. This approach reportedly avoids the drawbacks commonly associated with non-custodial systems.

According to Ark Labs CEO Marco Argentieri, the Ark protocol has the potential to complement existing solutions like the Lightning Network and sidechains like Liquid. He suggests that these technologies can work together to create a more robust and reliable payment ecosystem for Bitcoin.

Development of the Ark protocol initially gained traction within the Bitcoin community but stalled due to ongoing discussions regarding potential Bitcoin upgrades. 

Argentieri emphasizes that Ark Labs is pursuing a two-pronged approach, with implementations being developed for both Bitcoin and the Liquid Network. He believes the technology offers practical applications even without the proposed Bitcoin upgrades.

Ark Labs is actively collaborating with partners and anticipates the launch of Ark-enabled applications or products later this year. 

The team, composed of experienced Bitcoin developers, is currently prioritizing the creation of a flexible protocol implementation to facilitate seamless integration with existing applications. To achieve this, they have made their code open-source, encouraging contributions from the wider developer community.

Argentieri acknowledges the nascent stage of the Ark protocol's infrastructure but expresses confidence in its potential to fulfill its original vision. The project aims to provide universal wallet access to Ark servers, mirroring the current integration with the Lightning Network.