Hotstuff L1 Public Testnet Goes Live
Hotstuff Labs has announced the public testnet for Hotstuff L1, a new DeFi Layer 1 blockchain. This chain is powered by DracoBFT, a custom-built consensus protocol. Hotstuff L1 is specifically designed to integrate a high-performance on-chain order book with a programmable finance routing layer. In this architecture, validators serve as the final gateways for trading, payments, and fiat currency integration.
Unlike general-purpose blockchains, Hotstuff L1 functions as an "Uber-style routing layer." This design enables validators to provide on-demand access to real-world financial services.
The company has secured backing from prominent investors, including Delphi Digital, Dialectic, Stake Capital, and Tykhe Ventures. Additionally, founders from leading DeFi protocols such as 1inch, Safe, Biconomy, and Socket have invested in Hotstuff Labs.
Julien Bouteloup, Founder of Stake Capital Group, commented on the project's vision: "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 is architected to allow validators to participate as permissioned financial service providers, extending beyond just consensus. On the Hotstuff L1 chain, validators act 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 the crucial last-mile connectivity for fiat-to-crypto on-ramps and off-ramps, payment services, and foreign exchange (FX) use cases.
The chain incorporates deep integrations with leading payment platforms, on-ramp/off-ramp providers, banking partners, and card programs. These integrations enable validators to generate revenue through various means:
- •Powering fiat stablecoin on-ramps and off-ramps.
- •Enabling regional payment and remittance corridors.
- •Issuing or supporting card programs and local bank accounts.
- •Serving as the last-mile connectivity solution for different currencies and regions.
The platform matches users with specific validators based on factors like stake, performance history, and quality of service. This process resembles a routing layer combined with lightweight zero-knowledge proofs for trustless verification of both on-chain and off-chain actions.
Vyom Sharma, Co-Founder & CEO of Hotstuff Labs, elaborated on the platform's unique value proposition: "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. 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 Open
The Hotstuff L1 public testnet is now live and available for several key user groups:
- •Traders & Quants: Users can test early perpetual and spot trading functionalities, multi-venue vaults, and market infrastructure built directly on the core L1.
- •Builders, Fintechs & Stablecoin Infrastructure Providers: These entities can partner with Hotstuff Labs to enable new trading primitives, payment solutions, FX services, and settlement use cases.
- •Validators & Node Operators: Participants can run DracoBFT nodes, benchmark performance, and experiment with the integrated financial service modules.
About Hotstuff Labs
Hotstuff Labs is developing Hotstuff L1, a DeFi Layer 1 blockchain specifically engineered for programmable finance. The chain is powered by the DracoBFT consensus engine and a modular execution fabric. With extensive experience in finance, consensus mechanisms, trading, cryptoeconomics, and protocol design, the team aims to create a global routing layer. This layer will facilitate high-performance on-chain trading and connect payment systems, remittance corridors, and fiat rails onto a unified and coherent blockchain.