Reflecting on 2024: Mintlayer Development Recap 

As 2024 draws to a close, Mintlayer has reached several significant milestones. This year has been pivotal for our development, expansion, and consolidation in the blockchain space. Here’s a look back at the key developments and achievements that shaped our journey over the past year.

January 2024: Mintlayer Mainnet Launch

We kicked off the year with the launch of the Mintlayer mainnet on January 29, 2024. This milestone was the culmination of extensive collaboration among our team of top engineers and researchers. With the creation of the genesis block, Mintlayer began its journey to redefine blockchain technology with features aimed at security, simplicity, and reliability:

• Introduction of a UTXO model for enhanced transaction flexibility.
• Implementation of non-Turing complete, hardcoded smart contracts to reduce security risks.
• A novel consensus system combining proof-of-stake with elements of proof-of-work for efficient and environmentally friendly network participation.

February to March 2024: Enhancements and Community Growth

The first quarter saw substantial enhancements across our mainnet, the Mojito Wallet Browser Extension, and the Mintlayer Blockexplorer. Highlights include:

• Over 18 million ML tokens staked on the mainnet.
• Release of the Mojito Wallet browser extension, supporting native ML tokens and mainnet integration.
• Continuous updates to the Mintlayer Core Node to ensure the security and reliability of the network.

April to May 2024: Development of Atomic Swaps

Spring brought progress in our implementation of Atomic Swaps using HTLC technology, setting the stage for true interoperability within the Bitcoin space. Our team also rolled out significant updates to the mainnet core node, introducing features like multisig wallet implementation and enhanced API functionalities.

June to July 2024: Advancements in Usability and Security

Mid-year updates focused on enhancing the usability of our platforms and bolstering security measures:

• Integration of MLS-01 token support in the Mojito Wallet Browser Extension.
• Implementation of a new staking mechanism directly accessible through the Mintlayer Block Explorer.
• Enhancements to the mobile and browser wallet interfaces to improve user interaction and security.

August to October 2024: Pioneering the ZK Thunder Network

In collaboration with our partner Salus, we made significant progress in the development of the ZK Thunder Network, our Layer 3 solution aimed at enhancing Bitcoin functionality with high-speed, EVM-compatible scaling.

November 2024: Native BTC Cross-Chain Swaps and Pulsar Consensus

A landmark achievement was the introduction of native BTC cross-chain swaps on our mainnet, facilitated by the release of Mintlayer version 1.0.0. This upgrade included major advancements like Atomic Swaps and improved trading functions. Additionally, we published a comprehensive white paper detailing the Pulsar Consensus, marking a new era for efficiency and security in blockchain technology.

RWA Tokenization Ecosystem and Token Factory

Additionally in 2024, Mintlayer made substantial advancements in the development of our RWA Tokenization Ecosystem and Token Factory. These initiatives will streamline the deployment of tokenized real-world assets for institutions through an easy-to-use template and built-in compliance services. The first phase of development of the Token Factory is completed, which enables users to launch tokens on our platform by simply filling out a form—no smart contract expertise needed. Stay tuned for the release of these pioneering platforms in 2025.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, we are excited about the continuous expansion of the Mintlayer ecosystem. Plans are underway to further decentralize the network through sophisticated voting and block co-signing processes, and the exploration of sidechain-focused protocols for enhanced security measures.

As 2024 ends, we reflect on a year of incredible growth and set our sights on even greater achievements in 2025. Stay tuned for more updates, and join us as we continue to shape the future of decentralized finance.

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