Bitcoin ZK-Rollup Citrea Launches Mainnet to Enhance On-Chain BTC Use Cases

Citrea has officially launched its mainnet, introducing a new Bitcoin-native application layer designed for on-chain trading, lending, and settlement.

Key Takeaways

Citrea has launched its mainnet, enabling on-chain financial activities directly on the Bitcoin network.
The platform introduces cBTC, a Bitcoin-backed asset, and ctUSD, a Bitcoin-native stablecoin to enhance liquidity.
Citrea aims to expand Bitcoin's use beyond simple storage into active financial applications.
The mainnet features over 30 secured applications, including decentralized exchanges and lending services.
Institutional compliance is emphasized with ctUSD, available in the U.S. and over 160 other countries.

Bitcoin ZK-rollup Citrea activates mainnet

Expanding Bitcoin's Application Potential

Citrea positions itself as an application layer specifically designed for Bitcoin's capital markets. This layer aims to keep liquidity connected to Bitcoin while allowing for programmable applications secured by the Bitcoin network.

"Today, Citrea Mainnet Goes Live! 🍊🍋

We are officially live with the first Bitcoin application layer that enables institutions and individuals to lend, trade, and settle directly on the Bitcoin Network."

— Citrea (@citrea_xyz) January 27, 2026

At its launch, the network introduced cBTC, a Bitcoin-backed asset that can be utilized across decentralized applications, and ctUSD, a stablecoin intended to facilitate on-chain liquidity.

Citrea indicates that cBTC utilizes zero-knowledge proofs and BitVM-based verification methods, decreasing the need for custodians or multisig setups. Any fraudulent attempts can be contested on the Bitcoin mainnet, provided at least one honest party is present. This model aims to offer improved security over previous Bitcoin bridge designs.

In addition to these new assets, the Citrea mainnet has launched with over 30 applications secured by Bitcoin, such as decentralized exchanges, liquidity tools, and privacy-focused lending services. More applications and yield-focused products are anticipated to be introduced in the near future.

Support for Stability and Ecosystem Development

To facilitate trading and settlement, Citrea has unveiled the ctUSD stablecoin. Issued by MoonPay and built on the M0 open stablecoin infrastructure, ctUSD is designed for institutional compliance and is available in the U.S. (excluding New York) and more than 160 other countries.

Citrea has also created a user dashboard that allows individuals to manage their assets across the ecosystem, monitor activities, and explore various applications. From the start, user actions on live applications are tracked, with plans for future feature expansions as more tools become available.

Looking ahead, Citrea's goal is to increase Bitcoin-denominated financial activities while providing enhanced incentives for miners through greater network usage. The team sees the mainnet launch as an important move towards transforming Bitcoin into a more dynamic financial platform rather than merely a store of value.