Alpen Labs launched a public testnet on Monday, and made efforts to build a native financial system directly on the Bitcoin blockchain.
Bitcoin ZK-Rollup TestNet is revealed along with EVM compatibility
According to the release of Alpen Labs, shared with Bitcoin.com News, the testnet allows developers to experiment with Bitcoin-based financial applications that were previously limited to centralized services or other blockchains. It supports functions such as trading, borrowing, and revenue.
Bitcoin’s financial system is coming online.
Alpen’s Public Testnet is currently live! Borrow, trade, get harvests and use Stablecoins – soon with Bitcoins. pic.twitter.com/t4naxjaw9p
– Alpen (@alpenlabs) August 4, 2025
The key component is the Bitcoin Dollar (BTD). This is a BTC-backed Stablecoin developed with the Liquity Protocol team. BTD also allows borrowing against Bitcoin (BTC) holdings. Testnet promotes the development of similar financial products protected by Bitcoin.
Technically, Alpen uses a Zero Knowledge Rollup (ZK-Rollup) architecture, layered over Bitcoin. This approach aims to reduce faster transactions and costs while inheriting Bitcoin security. TestNet is also Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible, allowing developers to use the familiar Ethereum tools.
“I don’t just have Bitcoin anymore,” Simanta Gautham, CEO and co-founder of Alpen Labs, said Monday. “Alpen makes it possible for Bitcoin holders to safely participate in Bitcoin finance in all ways without intermediaries. We are bringing together some of the best teams in this space to create a vibrant financial ecosystem for BTC.”
Founded in 2022 by four MIT alumni, Alpen Labs is supported by individuals including Ribbit Capital, Willsmark, Castle Island Ventures, and Wenss Casares. The company is based in New York. The Testnet phase precedes the planned launch of mainnets aimed at providing these financial applications directly to Bitcoin users.
