Bitcoin Magazine
ARK Labs launches new native operating system Arkade, using Bitcoin
ARK Labs has officially launched Arkade, a Bitcoin native execution layer designed to unlock programmable financial applications using Bitcoin today. The news comes after a $2.5 million advance funding round led by Tim Draper in August 2024, backed by Fulgur Ventures and Axiom.
ARKADE aims to create a new approach built directly on Bitcoin, allowing developers to build fast and scalable applications – without the need for flanking, wrapped tokens, or any changes to the core Bitcoin protocol.
“Bitcoin is the toughest and safest asset in the world, but it’s still static,” said Marco Argentieri, CEO of ARK Labs. “ARKADE virtualizes Bitcoin’s transaction layer, converting it into a dynamic financial platform, where it can be operated immediately, programmable unlocking, and users have complete control over their assets.”
Currently, ARKADE is testing on the Bitcoin network with early partners such as Tether, Boltz, Breez and Mempool.Space. Arkade maintains Bitcoin’s core security model and avoids alternatives such as tokens for wrapping or new consensus mechanisms.
“Bitcoin is growing rapidly because of major digital assets around the world. Arkade’s virtualization approach ultimately transforms Bitcoin from a store of value into a license-free financial system,” said Tim Draper, founder and executive partner of Draper Associates.
Ark Labs said demand has been strong since January, with multiple projects requiring integration. The company plans to expand ARKADE’s toolkit in the coming months and support BTC-consolidated loans, points primitives and multi-asset transactions. The release is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025.
“Bitcoin has always had to balance the desire to scale transaction throughput and complexity with the conservative aspirations of upgrading,” said Allen Farrington, general partner at Axiom. “With this high innovation worthy of high innovation, in a sea of noise, Ark Labs is promoting what might be the most important technological breakthrough in the field since the Lightning Network.”
Arkentieri will discuss Arkade in more detail in his keynote speech at the 2025 Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas. You can watch the full keynote speech below.
The post ARK Labs has launched Arkade, a new native operating system that uses Bitcoin, first appeared in Bitcoin magazine and written by Jenna Montgomery.
