AppKit for Bitcoin: Bringing better UX to the OG chain

Bitcoin is the original cryptocurrency, today boasting the largest market capitalization, the highest number of holders, and now, one of the most recognizable monetary symbols in the world.

What began as a compelling whitepaper in 2008 has catapulted into a global phenomenon, defiant of the limitations of traditional norms to such a state, that 16 years on, it has become a key point on the ballot for anyone seeking presidential office. People are talking about Bitcoin, people are buying Bitcoin, and people are looking to the promise it holds for a fairer financial landscape. On many accounts, Bitcoin is going from strength to strength – but when it comes to access and functionality within the ecosystem itself, progress has not been quite as significant. As we look toward a promising year ahead for the king of decentralization, there’s one critical question at hand: is User Experience (UX) its Achilles heel? In this blog post we will examine the current state of UX on the Bitcoin Network, the efforts underway to improve it, and what the future could hold if innovation and openness continue to thrive.

Bitcoin UX Today

The User Experience for Bitcoin has come a long way since its inception in 2008. In 2024, buying cryptocurrency is a simple process that can be completed in seconds via multiple leading exchanges. Today, virtually anyone with means and access to the internet can transact global payments, hedge against inflationary fiat currencies, and even earn their salaries and grow their pensions, all with the power of Bitcoin. With global leaders in the financial realm like Visa, Mastercard, and Goldman Sachs now backing a Bitcoin-inclusive future, the outlook for the “digital gold” has never seemed more promising.

That said, there’s more to Bitcoin than the token. Where Bitcoin has struggled is in its self-custodial, onchain experience, younger networks like Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Smart Chain have not only caught up with but, in many ways, surpassed the Bitcoin Network in terms of usability and onchain accessibility, by enabling a thriving, community-led infrastructure to exist atop their networks, creating the room to foster innovation, development, and advancements in utility.

Mobile wallet connections, Smart contracts, Smart accounts, DeFi applications, and more are largely absent from the Bitcoin Network. Some argue that this is by design, that Bitcoin’s primary purpose is to securely exchange value without the need of a trusted intermediary, a goal it accomplishes exceptionally well. Others argue that what has propelled Bitcoin’s adoption so far may not be sufficient to carry it to its ultimate destination.

Conscious of the latter point, some projects in the space today are keen to see the network scale into an environment that better caters to the wider use case globally for decentralization, and as such, have been working to innovate and build on top of the network. As a result, in recent years, we’ve seen the emergence of several Bitcoin Layer 2s that use the Bitcoin network as a security and settlement layer, while leveraging a more flexible upper layer to support dApps, Smart Contracts, Smart accounts, lower fees and faster transaction speeds.

BOB (Build on Bitcoin) is a Hybrid Bitcoin / Ethereum Network

One project innovating on Bitcoin’s infrastructure is BOB (Build on Bitcoin) – a hybrid Bitcoin/Ethereum network. While many initiatives are focused on making the native Bitcoin Network more accessible, BOB focuses on enabling smart contract functionality and expanding Bitcoin's utility beyond its original scope as a peer-to-peer payment network. Eventually, both projects like BOB and efforts working to scale native The biggest challenge is balancing innovation with Bitcoin's core ethos. While projects like BOB and mobile wallet integration improve accessibility, they risk adding complexity and potential vulnerabilities. Bitcoin’s strength lies in its simplicity and trustless design. Expanding into areas like smart contracts and chain abstraction could dilute its focus and create centralization risks.

The one key question remains: can Bitcoin scale to meet global demands without compromising its foundational principles?

In all, though they may require some level of evolution and maturity to maintain the philosophy of Bitcoin and meet the needs of the wider global market, these developments represent an exciting step forward, signaling that Bitcoin can adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving onchain ecosystem.

AppKit for Bitcoin: Easy scalability.

Reown has been enhancing the onchain user experience across the EVM for years, making the once fractured and limited UX functionality almost obsolete in areas for over 6000+ apps. Our vision is to enable a seamless, multichain future where blockchain networks are accessible to all. Expanding to Solana earlier this year was a significant first step in this direction, and we’re now expanding AppKit to support Bitcoin, helping the network to further enhance its accessibility while preserving its security and decentralization.

Reown’s Appkit is already utilized by thousands of apps across EVM and Solana networks. As a tool, its primary focus is on lowering the barrier to entry for users to connect to your app and to provide builders with a world-class developer experience.

We have re-architected Appkit so you can support concurrent connections with multiple wallets across Bitcoin, Solana, and hundreds of EVM networks. Users will be able to:

• Connect mobile wallets using the WalletConnect Network.
• View payment and ordinal addresses, check activity, and seamlessly switch between networks.

We’ll be collaborating with leading projects and wallets on the Bitcoin network to establish common standards that allow for cohesive wallet-to-app communication.

In the near future, we will be bringing additional features like onramp and cross-chain swaps to Appkit on Bitcoin, taking Bitcoin accessibility to the next level.

The Future of Bitcoin UX

35 years ago, Tim Berners-Lee created the ‘World Wide Web’, ensuring one important message was clear: “This for Everyone”. Today 67.5% of the global population uses the internet as part of their daily lives. Bitcoin is a technology for everyone, and our mission is to make it accessible to all by enhancing its onchain user experience and reducing barriers to entry. From the most experienced crypto-native to those just joining the space, we’re set to support the wider Bitcoin ecosystem, those building within it, those building on top of it, and those using it.

If you are building on the Bitcoin Network or building a Bitcoin layer2, I want to work with you! Get in touch hello@reown.com