Introducing Hotstuff L1: A New DeFi Layer 1 Blockchain
Hotstuff Labs has announced the public testnet for Hotstuff L1, a novel DeFi Layer 1 blockchain designed to integrate trading, payments, and fiat rails. The blockchain is powered by DracoBFT, a custom-built consensus protocol. Hotstuff L1 is specifically engineered to offer a high-performance on-chain order book coupled with a programmable finance routing layer. In this architecture, validators function as last-mile gateways, providing access to trading, payments, and fiat infrastructure.
Diverging from general-purpose blockchains, Hotstuff L1 is envisioned as an "Uber-style routing layer," where validators are responsible for delivering on-demand real-world financial access.
The development of Hotstuff Labs is supported by prominent investors, including Delphi Digital, Dialectic, Stake Capital, and Tykhe Ventures. Additionally, the project has backing from the founders of leading DeFi protocols such as 1inch, Safe, Biconomy, and Socket.
Julien Bouteloup, Founder of Stake Capital Group, stated, “Hotstuff Labs is building a performant chain that links trading, payments, and real-world settlement into one coherent layer. The vision is to enable validators to become active financial access points. That aligns perfectly with how we see the future of infrastructure: decentralised, compliant, and directly plugged into the global economy.”
Validators as Financial Access Points
Hotstuff L1's architecture extends beyond simple trading functions. It is designed to allow validators to participate as permissioned financial service providers. On the Hotstuff platform, validators serve a dual role: not only for maintaining consensus but also as global financial access points for both the core trading engine and end users.
- •For the core trading engine, stablecoin rails facilitate access to off-chain liquidity.
- •For end users, validators provide last-mile connectivity for fiat-crypto on-ramp and off-ramp services, payment solutions, and foreign exchange use cases.
The chain incorporates deep integrations with leading payment platforms, on-ramp and off-ramp providers, banking partners, and card programs. These integrations enable validators to generate revenue through several avenues:
- •Facilitating fiat stablecoin on-ramp and off-ramp transactions.
- •Enabling regional payment and remittance corridors.
- •Issuing or supporting card services and local accounts.
- •Acting as last-mile connectivity for various currencies and geographical regions.
The system matches users with specific validators based on their stake, historical performance, and quality of service. This process is akin to a routing layer combined with lightweight zero-knowledge proofs, ensuring trustless verification of both on-chain and off-chain activities.
“Most chains validate blocks. Hotstuff validates and delivers trustless access to money. It’s the Uber for financial validators, routing every flow to the right provider,” explained Vyom Sharma, Co-Founder & CEO of Hotstuff Labs. “We’re building a Layer 1 that can connect a trader in Asia, a remittance corridor in LATAM, and a card issuer in Europe on the same settlement fabric.”
Hotstuff Public Testnet: Now Live
The Hotstuff L1 public testnet is now operational and accessible to several key groups:
- •Traders & Quants – can engage in early testing of perpetual and spot trading, multi-venue vaults, and market infrastructure built directly on the core L1.
- •Builders, Fintechs & Stablecoin Infrastructure Providers – are invited to partner with Hotstuff Labs to enable new trading primitives, payment systems, FX solutions, and settlement use cases.
- •Validators & Node Operators – can run DracoBFT nodes, assess performance benchmarks, and experiment with financial service modules.
About Hotstuff Labs
Hotstuff Labs is developing Hotstuff L1, a purpose-built DeFi Layer 1 focused on programmable finance. The platform is powered by the DracoBFT consensus engine and a modular execution fabric. With extensive expertise spanning finance, consensus mechanisms, trading, cryptoeconomics, and protocol design, the team is establishing a global routing layer. This layer is designed to support performant on-chain trading and integrate payments, remittances, and fiat rails onto a unified, coherent blockchain.