Unfreeze ₿apps: Community March Toward Citrea Mainnet

Bitcoin’s application layer is about to hit mainnet. Citrea has been on public testnet for the past 9 months and steadily building its ₿apps ecosystem. Now, we’re nearing our mainnet launch and we want our community to explore what we’ve built.  

We’re kicking off Unfreeze ₿apps for Mainnet, a multi-phase campaign celebrating the emergence of Bitcoin applications (₿apps) built on Citrea, and forging ahead toward our mainnet launch.

Citrea is building Bitcoin's application layer, enabling Bitcoin to function as a fully programmable platform with zero-knowledge technology. It enables a new category of applications, called ₿apps, secured by the Bitcoin network and powered by a bridge whose rules are enforced by Bitcoin.

Over the coming weeks, we’re inviting early supporters to explore the category of ₿apps and unfreeze them for mainnet over two phases, exploring real Bitcoin-powered use cases.

The Campaign: Unfreeze ₿apps

The “Unfreeze ₿apps” campaign is our way of: 

• Getting ready and marching toward the mainnet.
• Introducing a new category of applications, ₿apps.
• Celebrating the first Bitcoin applications built on Citrea.
• Rewarding early community members with invite-only access and an NFT: the ​​₿apper Badge.

This will be an invite-code only campaign with 2 phases. Throughout 2-phases you’ll work to unfreeze many different and unique ₿apps, visually represented as an ice cube. By participating in a ₿app’s activity, you’ll help thaw and activate it, bringing more Bitcoin utility to the ecosystem and us closer to the mainnet.

Access is Invite-Code Only - Here’s How to Join

We’re rolling out access codes in waves. Here’s how you can get in: 

• Early Bird Access on July 15th: Request your code from bapps.citrea.xyz until the official campaign date. We’ve already given this link to our core community members to secure their spots. We have a limited number of codes. Hurry up to get your invite-code.
• Referral Unlocks for Early Birds: Every invite code from the early bird phase gives 3 invite codes to help expand participants.
• Content Creators: Win codes by posting educational threads, memes, or visuals.
  • Educate your followers about ₿apps
  • Showcase the Citrea branding in a unique way
  • Design informative graphics
  • *Be sure to tag @citrea_xyz and use #₿apps to qualify!

If you’re here early, your contributions matter, and they’ll unlock real access to the emerging ₿app layer.

Phase 1 is Launching Soon

The campaign system will officially open very soon. Community members will use their codes to enter the system and start unfreezing listed ₿apps.

Phase 1 will include 4 ₿apps to unfreeze:

• Crest
  • Crest is a self-custodial Bitcoin trading app that offers low fees, intuitive UX for all skill levels and better trade execution via their RFQ system. Accelerated by Citrea Origins program.
• Nectra
  • Nectra is a Bitcoin-backed stablecoin protocol for permissionless loans. It offers transparent, and non-custodial Bitcoin loans. Nectra's nUSD is a Bitcoin-backed stablecoin, offering sustainable protocol yield. Accelerated by Citrea Origins program.
• Satsuma
  • Satsuma is a Bitcoin-first DEX where you can swap assets with minimal fees, earn yield on your sats, and engage directly with the emerging Bitcoin economy without giving up custody. Accelerated by Citrea Origins program.
• Garden Finance
  • Garden Finance is a trustless Bitcoin bridge that enables you to swap Bitcoin anywhere in as little as 30 seconds.

Connect your wallet, complete the activities, unfreeze the ₿apps, and get closer to earning your ₿apper Badge NFT!

Phase 2, launching early August, will showcase brand new ₿apps coming out of stealth. Stay tuned for more info as we approach the start of the 2nd phase.

Marching Toward Mainnet

In the last 9 months, we implemented our proof systems including Light Client Proofs and Header Chain Circuit, see Kumquat Upgrade. We also optimized the prover’s performance with cycle count reduction and implemented our BitVM-based bridge design, Clementine, which marks the first time Bitcoin being tested for optimistically verifying a fully programmable layer, see Tangerine Upgrade.

Unfreezing ₿apps isn’t just a campaign, it’s a signal. It marks the final phase before Citrea Mainnet.

This campaign drives real users into real applications built on Bitcoin. Each ₿app unfreezing represents a new step of the journey - from passive store of value to an active, programmable asset. Throughout the campaign, we’ll be sharing major ecosystem updates, tutorials, technical deep dives, and early looks into Citrea’s mainnet. Study the ₿apps framework below and learn how we are extending Bitcoin’s utility.

Join the ₿apps Movement

Bitcoin gave us scarcity. ₿apps give us utility. Everyone who completes the Unfreeze ₿apps campaign will be eligible to mint the ₿apper Badge - an NFT that marks you as an early ₿app explorer. 

Together we’re building an application layer for Bitcoin - trust-minimized, censorship-resistant, and secured by Bitcoin and zero knowledge.

Start by registering here, earn your access code, prepare to unfreeze ₿apps, and join us as we march to Mainnet.

Follow @citrea_xyz for updates.