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RSK Bridge Review 2026: Rootstock's Bitcoin and Ethereum Bridge

RSK Bridge is the canonical route for moving assets between Rootstock (RSK), Ethereum and Bitcoin, with about $92.3 million in TVL on DefiLlama. It is useful for anyone who needs rBTC, but the trust model and missing audit listing deserve a close look.

By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated Nov 4, 2026

DappsAtlas score

6.8/10

Good

Visit RSK Bridge

Our verdict on RSK Bridge

6.8/10

RSK Bridge suits users who want rBTC or need to move assets between Bitcoin, Ethereum and Rootstock for DeFi. Its main strength is that it is the network's own bridge, tied to Rootstock's merged-mining security model and holding about $92 million in TVL. The main caveat is the lack of a listed audit and unpublished fee details, so read the docs, check current costs and start with a small transfer.

Score breakdown

How RSK Bridge scores

Security: 6.5/10
Ease of use: 6.5/10
Fees: n/a
Features: n/a

Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.

What is RSK Bridge?

RSK Bridge is the canonical bridge for Rootstock, an EVM-compatible network that describes itself as a Bitcoin sidechain. DefiLlama tracks it under Canonical Bridge across Bitcoin, Ethereum and RSK, with about $92.3 million in total value locked.

Rootstock presents itself as the home of Bitcoin DeFi. Its homepage names apps such as Sushi, Beefy and Oku, and says more than 150 partners are in the ecosystem. It claims 100% uptime since launching in 2018, a claim we have not verified independently.

The bridge is the entry point for getting rBTC, the network's native asset. The homepage also describes a Union bridge and says assets can come from over 20 chains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Arbitrum and Base.

How RSK Bridge works

A canonical bridge locks assets on one chain and makes a matching representation available on another. On Rootstock, bridging in Bitcoin gives you rBTC, the network's native asset, through the PowPeg. Moving back reverses the process and releases BTC.

The Rootstock homepage says the PowPeg is secured by Bitcoin's proof-of-work, since Rootstock is merge-mined with Bitcoin miners. It also lists a Union bridge as part of the platform, though public sources give no details on how it works.

For Ethereum, DefiLlama describes a bridge that converts tokens from RSK to Ethereum and vice versa. The exact contracts, signers and timing are not public, so users should read the official docs.

Pros and cons

What we like

Described as the native bridge of Rootstock, so it is the standard route for getting rBTC.
Rootstock says the PowPeg is secured by Bitcoin's proof-of-work through merged mining.
About $92.3 million in TVL per DefiLlama indicates meaningful use.
EVM compatibility lets users reuse familiar wallets and tools.
The homepage says assets can arrive from over 20 chains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Arbitrum and Base.

Watch out for

DefiLlama lists no audits for this bridge entry, and its homepage provided does not link to audit reports.
Bridges concentrate value in one system, so a flaw in the bridge or its federation would put the locked assets at risk.
The PowPeg and the Ethereum-facing bridge rely on a set of signers or functionaries, so users trust more than just Bitcoin's own consensus.
No fee schedule, withdrawal times or limits appear, so users must check costs themselves before moving funds.
TVL fell 6.2% over seven days, and this one datapoint says little about trend or health.
The DefiLlama description is brief and does not explain how the Ethereum route differs from the Bitcoin PowPeg route.

RSK Bridge fees

The project does not publish bridge fees, minimum amounts or withdrawal times. Users would normally see the exact cost in the bridge interface before signing, and would also pay network gas on the chains involved.

DefiLlama shows no token for the project, so there is no native fee token to factor in. Use the quote shown at the time of the transfer as the real cost.

Is RSK Bridge safe?

DefiLlama lists no audits for this entry, and public sources include no incident history. The homepage describes the network as resilient, with 100% uptime since 2018, but that is a project claim. Check the documentation for audit reports and the current signer or federation setup.

As with any bridge, funds are exposed to smart-contract and operator risk. Only bridge amounts you can afford to have delayed or lost, and confirm the bridge address from the official site. Rootstock publishes a public PGP key on its homepage for verifying communications.

6 steps

How to get started with RSK Bridge

1
Read the Rootstock documentation to understand the difference between the PowPeg and the Union bridge.
2
Choose the route that matches your source asset, Bitcoin or an Ethereum-based token.
3
Set up a wallet that supports the Rootstock network and make sure it points to the correct network settings.
4
Check the official site for the current bridge link and confirm you are on the right domain.
5
Send a small test transfer first and review the quoted fees and expected wait time.
6
Once rBTC or tokens arrive, explore apps listed in the ecosystem section.

Open RSK Bridge

Who RSK Bridge is for

This review fits Bitcoin holders who want to use DeFi without leaving the Bitcoin ecosystem, and Ethereum users who need rBTC for Rootstock apps. It is less suited to users who want a fully trustless bridge or who need published fee tables up front.

RSK Bridge FAQs

What is the RSK Bridge?

It is the bridge infrastructure that moves assets between the Rootstock (RSK) network and other chains. DefiLlama describes it as a bridge with Ethereum that converts tokens from RSK to Ethereum and back, and tracks it across Bitcoin, Ethereum and RSK.

What is the PowPeg?

The Rootstock homepage says its network and native bridge, the PowPeg, are secured by Bitcoin's proof-of-work through merged mining. It also mentions a separate Union bridge, but the project does not give its details.

What is rBTC?

rBTC is the native asset of Rootstock, used to pay for transactions and to interact with its apps. The homepage points users to a Bridge option to get rBTC. The project does not state its peg mechanics beyond the PowPeg description.

Is the RSK Bridge audited?

DefiLlama lists zero audits for this entry and shows no token. That does not prove the code is unaudited, since Rootstock may publish reviews elsewhere. Check the official documentation for audit reports before moving large amounts.

How much does it cost to use the bridge?

The project does not publish a fee schedule. Costs typically include network gas on the source and destination chains and may include a bridge fee. Look at the quote in the bridge interface before you confirm.

Which chains can I bridge from?

The homepage says users can bring assets to Rootstock from over 20 chains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Arbitrum and Base. The DefiLlama entry itself lists Bitcoin, Ethereum and RSK.

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