As a scaling solution for the Bitcoin ecosystem, BitVM2's direction is quite clear: to move complex computations off-chain while retaining the ability to challenge incorrect results. However, the problem has always been stuck in the implementation phase—if we really throw those huge verification circuits onto the chain, the amount of execution traces and fraud proof data is likely to overwhelm the block.
At this point, GOAT's optimization approach shows its value. It does not bear the burden of putting data on-chain but instead transforms the DV-SNARK verifier into an obfuscated circuit. This way, the Bitcoin network no longer needs to handle the complete computation process; it only needs to check the encrypted verification logic. There is no need to disclose every step of the computation on-chain, just submit the encrypted circuit labels, and the verification logic remains intact, significantly reducing the on-chain data volume.
The further challenge is how to ensure that the obfuscation circuit itself is problem-free while not introducing explosive data overhead. The commonly used 'cut-and-choose' method requires generating a large number of circuit copies and making a significant portion public for verification, which places considerable pressure on storage and bandwidth. #GOAT has made a clever switch in this regard: it leverages zero-knowledge proofs to generate a concise proof that indicates the submitted circuit tags were indeed generated consistently according to the predetermined verification logic. This replaces the original sampling check step with a verifiable proof; although the off-chain computation may increase, it significantly reduces storage requirements.
The actual results are quite persuasive. According to public data, the amount of data for on-chain fraud proof has been compressed by about a thousand times. In the known BitVM2 design scheme, its off-chain storage requirements are also the lowest. Proof generation can be completed in less than an hour, with costs controlled at below $3.88. When looking at these points together, it indeed allows the Bitcoin network to maintain decentralized security while providing feasible and economically sustainable verification scalability.
From the perspective of promoting the development of the #BTC ecosystem, the GOAT design can be considered a solid step toward practical implementation of theory. It does not deviate from Bitcoin's security foundation but instead makes compact optimizations in the verification architecture, achieving a more realistic balance between off-chain computation and on-chain verification. In the context of continuously evolving scaling solutions, this path, which balances security, cost, and efficiency, actually opens up a more stable imaginative space for Bitcoin's programmability and application scenarios. If subsequent development and ecosystem follow-ups go smoothly, it could likely become a noteworthy technical option in Bitcoin Layer 2 infrastructure. $GOATED
