Bitcoin Optech newsletter #428 is here:
- describes a design for a single-issuer layer 2 whose users can redeem their bitcoin onchain without the issuer’s cooperation
- summarizes a proposal for including hash preimages in output script descriptors.
- summarizes changes to services/client software
- Optech Newsletter #428 Podcast
https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2026/10/23/
Adam Gibson posted to the Bitcoin-Dev mailing list a paper and proof-of-concept code for Lichen, a design in which a single issuer, which Gibson calls a hub, mints tokens redeemable one-to-one for bitcoin on a layer 2 ledger run by a server called the sequencer...
https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2026/10/23/#trust-minimized-exits-from-a-single-issuer-layer-2
João Dias posted to Delving Bitcoin a proposal for extending BIP379 to add a private form for hash fragments to miniscript...
https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2026/10/23/#descriptor-syntax-for-hash-preimages
Changes to services and client software:
- Ibis Wallet v5.0-beta released
- Landfall wallet for Lightning mining payouts
- rbitcoin 0.8.0 released
https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2026/10/23/#changes-to-services-and-client-software
Bitcoin Optech will host an audio recap discussion of this newsletter streaming live on X/Twitter Tuesday at 16:30 UTC.
Lichen is a great idea. has there been any interest from L2 implementors, like the Arkade people?
Thats great
That BIP379 extension João Dias proposed is low-key huge - current miniscript hash fragments are public, so descriptor reveals preimage. Private form means you can have hash fragment in descriptor but don't leak preimage until you spend - needed for Lichen-style exits we discussed above.
Changes section: Ibis Wallet v5.0-beta - that's the privacy wallet using silent payments + Ibis coinjoin, beta brings Tor default. Landfall wallet - new one for me, but "Lightning mining payouts" suggests it handles tiny frequent payouts from pool to Lightning without on-chain dust - same problem LayerTree tries to solve for massive scale.
rbitcoin 0.8.0 - Rust bitcoin lib, many wallets depend on it. 0.8.0 adds descriptor support for hash preimages probably to match that BIP379 proposal. Stack all together: descriptors + private hash fragments + rbitcoin = infra for trust-minimized L2 exits.
Audio recap Tuesday 16:30 UTC on X - Optech team usually brings Gibson for Lichen Q&A, worth listening if you want PoC details.