Glock: Bitcoin Off-Chain Verification with Minimal On-Chain Cost → Research

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Briefing

This research addresses the critical challenge of high on-chain transaction costs and complexity inherent in existing optimistic verification models for Bitcoin. It proposes Glock, a novel cryptographic primitive, which fundamentally redefines off-chain computation verification by moving complexity off-chain while maintaining integrity securely bound to Bitcoin. This breakthrough promises to unlock unprecedented scalability and accessibility for Bitcoin-based systems, drastically reducing transaction fees and fostering a more robust decentralized ecosystem.

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Context

Before this research, established optimistic verification frameworks, such as earlier iterations of BitVM, encountered significant theoretical and practical limitations. These included prohibitively expensive on-chain transactions, substantial design complexity, and demanding staking requirements, which collectively constrained the viability and widespread adoption of scalable off-chain computation for Bitcoin.

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Analysis

Glock introduces a new cryptographic primitive, a garbled lock, which operates on the principle of “authenticated conditional disclosure of secrets.” This mechanism enables the verification of off-chain computation by securely tying circuit inputs and outputs directly to Bitcoin lock data. A key innovation is the integration of a novel, compact Designated Verifier SNARK (DV-SNARK). This DV-SNARK significantly reduces both proof size and verification complexity compared to conventional SNARKs like Groth16, thereby achieving up to a 1000x reduction in on-chain costs. The system ensures that if an off-chain computation fails, a designated party can derive a secret, binding the computation’s integrity to Bitcoin itself.

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Parameters

Core Concept → Authenticated Conditional Disclosure of Secrets
New System/Protocol → Glock (Garbled Lock / Garbled Circuit-Based Lock)
Key Innovation → Designated Verifier SNARK (DV-SNARK)
Cost Reduction → Up to 1000x in on-chain costs
Key Author → Liam Eagen
Publication Date → July 15, 2025

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Outlook

This research opens new avenues for scalable Bitcoin applications by making off-chain verification economically feasible and less complex. In the next 3-5 years, this theory could enable a new generation of Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions, such as more efficient ZK rollups and bridges, with significantly lower fees and broader participation. The strategic shift towards minimal-trust, cost-effective off-chain computation will foster a more dynamic and accessible Bitcoin ecosystem, potentially integrating Bitcoin into a wider array of decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.

This research fundamentally redefines Bitcoin’s scalability paradigm, establishing a new benchmark for secure and efficient off-chain computation verification.

Signal Acquired from → alpenlabs.io