Building Botanix: Willem Schroé’s Vision for a Bitcoin Layer 2 on the EVM
Belgian Math Prodigy Turned Bitcoin Innovator: The Story of Willem Schroé
Willem Schroé, a former math competition prodigy from Belgium, is now making waves in the world of Bitcoin with his groundbreaking project, Botanix. Inspired by a book on botanics he won at age 17, Schroé has always been fascinated by the intersection of mathematics and nature. Today, he sees Bitcoin as a beacon of light in a world moving towards darkness.
After a stint in chemical engineering in Saudi Arabia, Schroé witnessed the devastating effects of hyperinflation in Lebanon, which fueled his passion for creating a better financial system on Bitcoin. His journey led him to Harvard Business School, where he honed his vision for Botanix, a Bitcoin Layer 2 that integrates the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) through a unique design structure called “the spiderchain.”
In a recent interview, Schroé shared his vision for Botanix, emphasizing the potential for Bitcoin to become the foundation of a decentralized financial system. By leveraging the EVM on Bitcoin, users can stake bitcoin, trade against other tokens, and even launch bitcoin-backed stablecoins. Schroé envisions a future where all real-world assets are tokenized on Bitcoin, creating a more efficient and open financial ecosystem.
Despite facing skepticism from both Bitcoin and Ethereum communities, Schroé remains confident in the potential of Botanix to revolutionize the crypto space. With a decentralized network of multisigs and a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, the spiderchain aims to provide a secure and scalable platform for building financial applications on Bitcoin.
As Botanix prepares to launch its mainnet, Schroé encourages developers to explore the testnet and experience the game-changing potential of integrating Bitcoin with the EVM. With a trillion dollars of total value locked in Bitcoin, Botanix offers a compelling alternative for developers looking to tap into the vast capital pool of the world’s largest cryptocurrency.
In a world where tribalism often divides the crypto community, Schroé’s vision for Botanix serves as a bridge between Bitcoin and Ethereum enthusiasts. By offering a platform that combines the best of both worlds, Schroé hopes to pave the way for a more interconnected and innovative future in the world of decentralized finance.
