Starknet enters its fourth phase, focusing on privacy breakthroughs and Bitcoin interconnection

StarkWare announced that Starknet has officially entered its fourth phase, with goals including a faster, more decentralized, and more private network, as well as strengthening its connection with Bitcoin. Highlights include the STRK20 framework that supports ERC20 privacy functionality, the strkBTC asset that can be exchanged for native Bitcoin, decentralized block verification, the gradual implementation of fully decentralized Staking v3 and v4, as well as the advancement of Bitcoin OP-CAT upgrades and research on BitVM and other bridging solutions. The S-two validator will optimize client proof verification, promote network expansion and privacy protection, while Starknet is committed to achieving comprehensive quantum security.