Hemi connects Bitcoin to Ethereum’s smart contract ecosystem by letting dApps read and react to Bitcoin data directly, enabling cross-chain logic, decentralized finance, and trustless BTC integration.

Bitcoin has long existed just beyond Ethereum’s programmable ecosystem, but Hemi is changing that. The Hemi Virtual Machine™ (hVM), which is wrapped around a fully indexed Bitcoin node, was built to take decentralized applications and make them Bitcoin aware.

What does that mean?

This means smart contracts on Hemi can directly read Bitcoin block data, verify transactions took place, and even trigger logic based on BTC activity without relying on an oracle or relay to provide that information. With the ability to read Bitcoin state baked into the hVM, dApps on Hemi can react to Ethereum and Bitcoin in real time.

Hemi EVM dApps Do More With Bitcoin Awareness 

Hemi’s unique architecture unlocks a new design space for dApps, making possible the integration of features, including:

• Native Reaction to Bitcoin Transactions:

Smart contracts on Hemi can execute logic based on confirmed BTC deposits, spends, or address activity, providing an added layer of responsiveness based on cross-chain activity.

• On-chain Verification Bitcoin State and Proofs:

See and validate Bitcoin block headers, simplified payment verification proofs, and Merkle paths directly, without using oracles.

• Cross-Chain Logic Settlement with Bitcoin Finality:

Anchor DeFi outcomes to Block confirmations, using native BTC as a settlement or source of trust for unlocking or closing positions.

• Bitcoin Timelocks and Block Height Tracking:

Time-sensitive logic can interface with Bitcoin directly, using a particular block height to gate access, unlock funds, or expire contracts.

• Cross-Chain DAOs:

DAOs can trigger votes, execute treasury functions, or grant membership rights based on the activity on Bitcoin, or the EVM side, for a truly interoperable level of governance.

Hemi Brings Bitcoin To DeFi

Beyond giving dApps native access to Bitcoin’s data, Hemi is building tunnels that will ultimately operate without any single entity in charge of assets, instead favoring on-chain trustless logic from end to end. Currently, Hemi Tunnels are taking a phased approach to full decentralization, initially operating via an optimistic fault window on the Ethereum side and an over-collateralized multisig protocol on the Bitcoin side. Future updates will see features including ZK-proof-based settlements and expanded support for Hemi native assets.

Tunneled to the network as hemiBTC, Bitcoin can now be used to lend, borrow, earn yield, trade, stake, and more across an ecosystem of dozens of integrated protocols, with more coming. Hemi also supports other forms of wrapped Bitcoin.