StarkWare, a prominent blockchain developer with a valuation of $8 billion, is set to revolutionize Bitcoin scalability with its cutting-edge technology. The company, known for its significant contribution to Ethereum Layer 2 Starknet, is now gearing up to implement a zero-knowledge scaling solution for Bitcoin. The recent discussion around the Bitcoin OP_CAT proposal in the community has spurred StarkWare to extend its expertise to the Bitcoin network.

In a recent statement, StarkWare CEO and co-founder, Eli Ben-Sasson, revealed the ambitious vision of Starknet becoming the first network to settle on both Bitcoin and Ethereum simultaneously. The plan aims to boost Bitcoin's transaction throughput to thousands per second, a milestone expected to be achieved within six months post the potential Bitcoin upgrade, OP_CAT.

A key highlight of StarkWare's strategy is that it does not involve the creation of an additional chain. Instead, the existing Starknet network will be leveraged, maintaining the same governance and tokenomics structure. This approach allows for Bitcoin scaling without necessitating a fork, offering flexibility for decentralized applications (dApps) to choose their settlement preference.

Contrary to common perception, StarkWare advocates for extensive scalability across various blockchains, not just Ethereum. Ben-Sasson emphasized that StarkWare is focused on maximizing utility and scalability, positioning itself as a leading expert in scaling solutions for diverse blockchain ecosystems like Ethereum and Bitcoin.

Furthermore, StarkWare has unveiled a $1 million fund to support Bitcoin researchers interested in contributing to its scaling initiatives. The fund, allocated for applications that highlight risks related to OP_CAT or present innovative proofs of concept, underscores StarkWare's commitment to fostering advancements in Bitcoin's scalability and network development.