Node Design & Architecture

Sova nodes operate as multi-service systems that coordinate Ethereum-style smart contract execution with native Bitcoin interaction. Each validator runs the following core components:

Sova Execution Client (sova-reth)

A customized EVM execution engine based on Reth, extended to support native Bitcoin precompiles and slot-locking logic. It enforces Bitcoin finality through direct coordination with the Sentinel and tracks state updates tied to BTC transactions.

Consensus Client (op-node)

The canonical Optimism consensus client responsible for sequencing, block building, and L2-to-L1 rollup logic. In Sova, it also anchors each block to Bitcoin by including confirmed Bitcoin block headers.

Bitcoin Finality Provider (sentinel)

An off-chain database-backed service that tracks the confirmation status of Bitcoin transactions. It locks or reverts contract storage slots based on whether associated BTC transactions have been confirmed on-chain. Critical for enforcing 1:1 BTC-uBTC minting guarantees.

Bitcoin UTXO Indexer (network-utxos)

A Bitcoin-aware service that tracks all spendable UTXOs associated with Sova’s bech32m address derivation scheme. It provides a real-time, block-by-block UTXO lookup API used by sova-reth to construct valid Bitcoin transactions during withdrawals.

Bitcoin Core

Each validator runs its own fully-synced instance of Bitcoin Core. This ensures that all Bitcoin-related operations (e.g. tx confirmation, block hash validation, UTXO availability) are verifiable directly from the Bitcoin network without relying on third-party APIs.

Sequencers

Sequencers on the Sova Network are responsible for block production, transaction ordering, and coordination of Bitcoin-related operations. In addition to executing EVM transactions, Sova sequencers play a unique role: they coordinate and operate the network’s Native Signing Service, which securely generates Bitcoin transactions during user withdrawals.

Signing Service API

A restricted signing gateway used exclusively by sequencer nodes. It handles multi-input Bitcoin transaction signing and ensures signatures comply with consensus rules and proof-of-reserve integrity. It is not exposed to the public and includes built-in access control.

High Level Data Visualization

Broadcast Transaction Flow and Slot Locking (Double-Spend Protection)