Frequently asked questions
FAQ
15 questions across the main categories.
Bitcoin Hyper is a Bitcoin Layer 2 rollup that uses the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) as its execution environment, with the aim of offering fast, inexpensive smart contracts anchored to Bitcoin's security.
Bitcoin (L1) is the base layer: slow (~7 TPS), secure and not programmable. Bitcoin Hyper is a layer built on top of Bitcoin: fast and programmable (SVM smart contracts), but with additional trust dependencies (the sequencer, the bridge). Ultimate security remains anchored to Bitcoin.
Thanks to the Sealevel runtime, the SVM allows parallel execution: transactions touching different accounts run at the same time, whereas the EVM is sequential. The result is higher throughput on the same hardware. On top of that, the many developers already working on Solana (Rust + Anchor) can bring their programs to Hyper with minimal changes.
As at 28 April 2026, Bitcoin Hyper is in a DevNet phase with selective access. SVM programs run natively, the block explorer is live, and SPL tokens, basic DeFi and multi-signature solutions have been tested. The canonical bridge is under test on DevNet. Mainnet and a public audit of the protocol are not yet available.
The original whitepaper put it at Q4 2025 – Q1 2026. When the book went to press (28.04.2026), mainnet was not live. Given the milestones still outstanding (the audits, the bridge, forced exit, data availability), the most credible estimate is Q3–Q4 2026, though that depends on the audits being completed and the bridge being stabilised.
As at 28 April 2026, no public audit report on the protocol or the bridge could be confirmed. The whitepaper anticipates publication “before the TGE”. This remains a critical milestone that has yet to be verified.
The sequencer periodically computes a commitment to the rollup's updated state (a Merkle root) and publishes it to the Bitcoin network via OP_RETURN or Taproot. Anyone can verify that commitment. The frequency is adjustable: anchoring more often means faster finality, but also higher Bitcoin fees.
This is one of the principal risks of the current design. If a forced exit mechanism is available (it is still in development), users would be able to withdraw their funds straight to Bitcoin without the sequencer. Without forced exit, a sequencer that goes offline could temporarily lock funds inside the rollup.
That depends on which data availability solution is ultimately adopted. If the data for every transaction is publicly available (on Bitcoin or on a dedicated DA layer), it is a genuine rollup. If the data stays with the sequencer alone, it is technically a validium. As at 28.04.2026 the final DA approach is still under study.
21,000,000,000 $HYPER — a nod to Bitcoin's 21 million BTC. The breakdown: 25% Treasury, 30% development, 20% marketing, 15% rewards, 10% listings. Presale vesting is just 7 days.
$HYPER is the rollup's native token: it is used to pay transaction fees, for staking (which, under the decentralisation roadmap, would secure the network), for governance (future decisions about the protocol) and, potentially, for buyback and burn mechanisms tied to sequencer revenue.
$HYPER is an extremely high-risk asset: the project is at a pre-mainnet stage, the audits of the protocol and bridge are outstanding, and the bridge and sequencer are centralised. It is not suitable for anyone who could not absorb the loss of the entire capital. This site is educational in purpose — for personal advice, see michelestefanelli.com. This publication does not provide personal investment advice.
The author sets out his view of the project in the book. For the detail of how positions are disclosed, see the /disclaimer page on this site.
For three kinds of reader: (1) the curious reader who wants to understand without becoming an engineer; (2) the investor or adviser assessing the project from a due diligence perspective; (3) the developer or researcher who wants to go deeper into the architectural choices. Volume I: 523 pages, 24 chapters. The complete work runs to two volumes: 36 chapters.
The book is available on Amazon. First edition July 2026. Available on amazon.com — search for “Due Diligence of a Layer 2 – The Bitcoin Hyper Case”.
Disclaimer: these answers are provided for information only. They are not financial advice. Full disclaimer.