Chakra
A Bitcoin restaking protocol based on zero-knowledge proofs
Performances
RD Popularity Index
RD Growth Index
Comparison
Follow Updates
Follow Lists
People
About Chakra
Chakra is a Bitcoin restaking and liquidity protocol that acts as middleware for BTC: users stake bitcoin through a self-custodial scheme and receive a receipt usable on other chains, then restake that receipt for additional yield; the base layer relies on Babylon's timelocks and slashing, with MPC and zero-knowledge proofs keeping cross-chain state consistent.
It targets bitcoin that can only sit idle, since native BTC cannot directly secure proof-of-stake networks or earn onchain yield and wrapped versions add issuer risk. Chakra aims to make BTC composable without moving private keys. The risk sits in stacked trust layers: a problem in Babylon's slashing rules, the MPC key management or the bridge can depeg the receipt. Public data on staked scale and independent audits is limited.
Chakra, a ZK-proof-based Bitcoin restaking protocol, has achieved several milestones with long-term significance. In 2024, it announced a strategic partnership with Babylon to jointly build a more secure and reliable Bitcoin liquidity ecosystem, enabling BTC staked via Babylon to be efficiently mapped across ecosystems using ZK-STARK proofs and light clients. In June 2024, Chakra launched Phase 2 of its testnet, allowing users to stake Signet BTC on either Chakra or Babylon platforms, with dual rewards and a 448-day staking period, marking a practical step toward cross-platform restaking. Additionally, Chakra contributed to research on BIP-327 MuSig2 applications, exploring its use in inscriptions, Bitcoin restaking, BitVM co-signing, and digital asset custody, which underpins its technical roadmap for scalable and secure restaking solutions.
As a Web3 data analyst, based on official sources, Chakra's recent progress and roadmap are as follows:
Chakra, a Bitcoin restaking protocol based on ZK proofs, has continued to strengthen its position as a leading finality provider within the Babylon ecosystem. Its core focus remains on enabling secure, self-custodial Bitcoin staking through STARK-based proofs, which allow staking events to be verified without relying on trusted setups.
Key developments in the past six months include the expansion of its modular settlement layer, designed to unify liquidity across Bitcoin Layer 2 networks. This addresses the fragmentation issue where BTC mapped on one L2 cannot freely move to another, reducing the need for lengthy withdrawal and re-deposit cycles.
Looking ahead, Chakra's official roadmap emphasizes the launch of its mainnet, with a focus on delivering staked BTC derivatives (stBTC) to unlock DeFi opportunities. The protocol aims to bootstrap new Bitcoin L2s by allowing stakers to participate in consensus and governance, while also providing a secure foundation for AI, gaming, and other applications.
Future priorities include enhancing cross-L2 interoperability, expanding the range of yield-generating services, and maintaining a trust-minimized environment through continuous ZK-proof optimization. The team remains committed to its mission of unlocking Bitcoin's $1 trillion+ capital efficiency without compromising security.
Luke Wang — Founder & CEO; founder & CEO of Web3MQ and SwapChat, active in socio-technical networks since 2017, former AI researcher at MIT Media Lab.
Jingyi — Co-Founder; co-founder of Web3MQ and Chakra, former partner at Fenbushi Capital. Chakra is a ZK-driven Bitcoin restaking protocol.