[GUEST ACCESS MODE: Data is scrambled or limited to provide examples. Make requests using your API key to unlock full data. Check https://lunarcrush.ai/auth for authentication information.]

![yyehazel Avatar](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:24/cr:twitter::1868587898544775168.png) yyehazel [@yyehazel](/creator/twitter/yyehazel) on x XXX followers
Created: 2025-07-20 07:46:22 UTC

1️⃣𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐩 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞    

✦ Citrea = ZK-Rollup     
✦ Merlin = Optimistic Rollup

While both scale Bitcoin, they use 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

2️⃣ 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 

Citrea uses zk-SNARKs, meaning every batch of transactions is 𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝.  No need to trust any external party. No waiting period.
Merlin uses 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳𝘀, which assume at least one honest actor will challenge invalid batches.  This introduces 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 and 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸.

3️⃣ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

✅ Citrea: Once the ZK proof is verified → it’s final.
⚠️ Merlin: Transactions can be 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 during a challenge period (typically several days).

4️⃣ 𝗢𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆  

🛑 Merlin needs oracles and staking mechanisms to operate.  🧠 Citrea doesn’t. Everything is verified 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆  through the proof.
Less complexity = better security & less trust assumptions.

5️⃣ 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 & 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 

Both store state changes (Merkle root) on Bitcoin L1.  But Citrea’s proof system ensures𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲-𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲  the transaction — just verify the proof.

6️⃣ 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Citrea supports zk-EVM, allowing Ethereum-style smart contracts on Bitcoin using zk-rollups.

![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GwSOJOPXoAAGsP1.png)

XX engagements

![Engagements Line Chart](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:600/p:tweet::1946839084820996523/c:line.svg)

**Related Topics**
[bitcoin](/topic/bitcoin)
[coins layer 1](/topic/coins-layer-1)
[coins bitcoin ecosystem](/topic/coins-bitcoin-ecosystem)
[coins pow](/topic/coins-pow)

[Post Link](https://x.com/yyehazel/status/1946839084820996523)