## Under the Hood: A Technical Deep Dive into FastBTC v2
Community Call #46 was a technical session dedicated to **FastBTC v2**, the upgraded version of the critical bridge that connects the Bitcoin mainnet to the Rootstock sidechain, where Sovryn operates. The development team walked through the architectural improvements, security enhancements, and new features of this vital piece of infrastructure.
### What is FastBTC?
FastBTC is a semi-decentralized bridge that allows users to quickly and easily convert their native Bitcoin (BTC) into Rootstock Bitcoin (RBTC) for use on Sovryn, and vice-versa. It’s the primary on-ramp for bringing liquidity into the Sovryn ecosystem.
### Key Improvements in FastBTC v2
The upgrade from v1 to v2 brought several major improvements:
1. **Bidirectional Swaps:** The most significant new feature was the ability to move funds in both directions. While v1 only supported deposits (BTC to RBTC), v2 introduced withdrawals (RBTC to BTC), creating a complete, seamless loop for users.
2. **Enhanced Security:** The security model of the multisignature wallet that holds the Bitcoin was significantly hardened. This included improved monitoring, automated security checks, and more robust operational procedures for the federation members who co-sign transactions.
3. **Improved Reliability and Reclaiming:** The backend infrastructure was rebuilt to be more resilient. A key user-facing improvement was the addition of a ‘reclaiming’ feature, which allows users to safely recover their funds if a transaction gets stuck for any reason, preventing funds from being permanently lost.
4. **Lower Fees:** The new architecture is more gas-efficient, which translates into lower fees for users bridging their assets.
### The Role of the Federation
The team also clarified the role of the FastBTC federation. This is a group of trusted entities within the ecosystem who run the bridge software and collectively control the keys to the multisig wallet. This federated model provides a balance between the speed and efficiency of a centralized service and the security of a decentralized system.
This deep dive provided the community with a clear understanding of the critical infrastructure that powers Sovryn’s Bitcoin on-ramp, showcasing the team’s commitment to security, reliability, and user experience.